Genesis
Chapter 1
1In the beginning, God created the universe. 2When the earth was as yet unformed and desolate, with the surface of the ocean depths shrouded in darkness, and while the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters, 3God said, gLet there be light!h So there was light.
4God saw that the light was beautiful. He separated the light from the darkness, 5calling the light gday,h and the darkness gnight.h The twilight and the dawn were day one.
6Then God said, gLet there be a canopy between bodies of water, separating bodies of water from bodies of water!h 7So God made a canopy that separated the water beneath the canopy from the water above it. And that is what happened: 8God called the canopy gsky.h The twilight and the dawn were the second day.
9Then God said, gLet the water beneath the sky come together into one area, and let dry ground appear!h And that is what happened: 10God called the dry ground gland,h and he called the water that had come together goceans.h And God saw how good it was.
11Then God said, gLet vegetation sprout all over the earth, including seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each kind containing its own seed!h And that is what happened: 12Vegetation sprouted all over the earth, including seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each kind containing its own seed. And God saw that it was good. 13The twilight and the dawn were the third day.
14Then God said, gLet there be lights across the sky to distinguish day from night, to act as signs for seasons, days, and years, 15to serve as lights in the sky, and to shine on the earth!h And that is what happened: 16God fashioned two great lights\the larger light to shine during the day and the smaller light to shine during the night\as well as the stars. 17God placed them in the sky to shine on the earth, 18to shine both day and night, and to distinguish light from darkness. And God saw how good it was. 19The twilight and the dawn were the fourth day.
20Then God said, gLet the oceans swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth throughout the sky!h 21So God created every kind of magnificent marine creature, every kind of living marine crawler with which the waters swarmed, and every kind of flying bird. And God saw how good it was. 22God blessed them by saying, gBe fruitful, multiply, and fill the oceans. Let the birds multiply throughout the earth!h 23The twilight and the dawn were the fifth day.
24Then God said, gLet the earth bring forth each kind of living creature, each kind of livestock and crawling thing, and each kind of earthfs animals!h And that is what happened: 25God made each kind of the earthfs animals, along with every kind of livestock and crawling thing. And God saw how good it was.
26Then God said, gLet us make mankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!h
27So God created mankind in his own image;
in his own image God created them;
he created them male and female.
28God blessed these humans by saying to them, gBe fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it! Be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, and every living thing that crawls on the earth!h
29God also told them, gLook! I have given you every seed-bearing plant that grows throughout the earth, along with every tree that grows seed-bearing fruit. They will produce your food. 30I have given all green plants as food for every wild animal of the earth, every bird that flies, and to every living thing that crawls on the earth.h And that is what happened.
31Now God saw all that he had made, and indeed, it was very good! The twilight and the dawn were the sixth day.
Chapter 2
1With this the heavens and the earth were completed, including all of their vast array. 2By the seventh day God had completed the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day he stopped working on everything that he had done. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God stopped working on everything that he had been creating.
4These are the records of how the heavens and the earth were created. On the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5no shrubs had yet grown in the meadows of the earth and no vegetation had sprouted, because the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there were no human beings to work the ground. 6Instead, an underground stream would rise from the earth and water the surface of the ground. 7So the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being.
8The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, where he placed the man whom he had formed. 9The Lord God caused every tree that is both beautiful and suitable for food to spring up out of the ground. The tree of life was also in the middle of the garden, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10A river flows from Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides, becoming four branches. 11The name of the first one is Pishon\it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12The gold of that land is pure; bdellium and onyx are also found there. 13The name of the second river is Gihon\ it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14The third river is named the Tigris\ it flows to the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden in order to have him work it and guard it. 16The Lord God commanded the man: gYou may freely eat from every tree of the garden, 17but you are not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because you will certainly die during the day that you eat from it.h
18Later, the Lord God said, gIt is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a companion that is a suitable match for him.h 19After the Lord God formed from the ground every wild animal and every bird that flies, he brought each of them to the man to see what he would call it. Whatever the man called each living creature became its name. 20The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds that fly, and to each of earthfs animals, but there was not found for the man any companion corresponding to him, 21so the Lord God caused a deep sleep to overshadow the man.
When the man was asleep, he removed one of the manfs ribs and closed up the flesh where it had been. 22Then the Lord God formed the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. 23So the man exclaimed,
gAt last! This is
bone from my bones
and flesh from my flesh.
This one will be called eWoman,f
because she was taken from Man.h
24(Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife, and they will become one flesh.) 25Even though both the man and his wife were naked, they were not ashamed about it.
Chapter 3
1Now the Shining One was more clever than any animal of the field that the Lord God had made. It asked the woman, gDid God actually say, eYou are not to eat from any tree of the gardenf?h
2gWe may eat from the trees of the garden,h the woman answered the serpent, 3gbut as for the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, eYou are not to eat from it, nor are you to touch it, or you will die.fh
4gYou certainly will not die!h the Shining One told the woman. 5gEven God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and youfll become like God, knowing good and evil.h
6When the woman saw that the tree produced good food, was attractive in appearance, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. Then she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate some, too. 7As a result, they both understood what they had done, and they became aware that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
8When they heard the voice of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden during the breeze of the day, the man and his wife concealed themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9So the Lord God called out to the man, asking him, gWhere are you?h
10gI heard your voice in the garden,h the man answered, gand I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid from you.h
11gWho told you that you are naked?h God asked. gDid you eat fruit from the tree that I commanded you not to eat?h
12The man answered, gThe woman whom you provided for me gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate some of it.h
13Then the Lord God asked the woman, gWhat did you do?h
gThe Shining One misled me,h the woman answered, gso I ate.h
14The Lord God told the Shining One,
gBecause you have done this,
you are more cursed than all the livestock,
and more than all the earthfs animals,
Youfll crawl on your belly
and eat dust
as long as you live.
15gIfll place hostility between you and the woman,
between your offspring and her offspring.
Hefll strike you on the head,
and youfll strike him on the heel.h
16He told the woman,
gIfll greatly increase the pain of your labor during childbirth;
it will be painful for you to bear children.
gYour trust turns toward your husband,
yet he will dominate you.h
17He told the man,
gBecause you have listened to what your wife said,
and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you,
eYou must not eat from it,f
cursed is the ground because of you.
Youfll eat from it through pain-filled labor
for the rest of your life.
18It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and youfll eat the plants from the meadows.
19You will eat food by the sweat of your brow
until youfre buried in the ground,
because you were taken from it.
Youfre made from dust
and youfll return to dust.h
20Now Adam had named his wife gEve,h because she was to become the mother of everyone who was living. 21The Lord God fashioned garments from animal skins for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
22Later, the Lord God said, gLook! The man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, so he wonft reach out, also take from the tree of life, eat, and then live forever\h 23therefore the Lord God expelled the man from the garden of Eden so he would work the ground from which he had been taken. 24After he had expelled the man, the Lord God placed winged angels at the eastern end of the garden of Eden, along with a fiery whirling sword, to prevent access to the tree of life.
Chapter 4
1Later, Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, gI have given birth to a male child with the Lord.h 2She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel shepherded flocks and Cain became a farmer.
3Later, Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit that he had harvested, 4while Abel offered the best parts of some of the firstborn from his flock. The Lord looked favorably upon Abel and his offering, 5but he did not look favorably upon Cain and his offering.
When Cain became very upset and depressed, 6the Lord asked Cain, gWhy are you so upset? Why are you depressed? 7If you do what is appropriate, youfll be accepted, wonft you? But if you donft do what is appropriate, sin is crouching near your doorway, turning toward you. However, you must take dominion over it.h
8Instead, Cain told his brother Abel, gLetfs go out to the wilderness.h When they were outside in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9Later, the Lord asked Cain, gWherefs your brother Abel?h
gI donft know,h he answered. gAm I my brotherfs guardian?h
10gWhat did you do?h God asked. gYour brotherfs blood cries out to me from the ground. 11Now youfre more cursed than the ground, which has opened to receive your brotherfs blood from your hand. 12Whenever you work the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you, and youfll wander throughout the earth as a fugitive.h
13gMy punishment is too great to bear,h Cain told the Lord. 14gYoufre driving me from the soil today. Ifll be hidden from you, and Ifll wander throughout the earth as a fugitive. In the future, whoever finds me will kill me.h
15The Lord told him, gThis wonft happen, because whoever kills you will suffer seven times the vengeance.h Then the Lord placed a sign on Cain so that no one finding him would kill him. 16After this, Cain left the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17Later, Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain founded a city and named it after his son Enoch. 18Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19Later, Lamech married two wives. One was named Adah and the other was named Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the ancestor of those who live in tents and herd livestock. 21His brother was named Jubal; he became the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and the flute. 22Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, who became a forger of bronze and iron work. Tubal-cainfs sister was Naamah. 23Lamech told his wives,
gAdah and Zillah, listen to what I have to say:
You wives of Lamech, hear what Ifm announcing!
Ifve killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for bruising me.
24For if Cain is being avenged seven times,
then Lamech will be avenged 77 times.h
25Later on, after Adam had sexual relations with his wife, she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, because
gGod granted me another offspring to replace Abel,
since Cain murdered him.h
26Seth also fathered a son, whom he named Enosh. At that time, profaning the name of the Lord began.
Chapter 5
1This is the historical record of Adamfs generations.
When God created mankind,
he made them in his own likeness.
2Creating them male and female,
he blessed them
and called them humans
when he created them.
3After Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son just like him, that is, according to his own likeness, and named him Seth. 4Adam lived another 800 years, fathering other sons and daughters after he had fathered Seth. 5Adam lived a total of 930 years and then died.
6When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7After he fathered Enosh, Seth lived 807 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 8Seth lived a total of 912 years and then died.
9When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10After he fathered Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 11Enosh lived a total of 905 years and then died.
12When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13After he fathered Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 14Kenan lived a total of 910 years and then died.
15When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16After he fathered Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 17Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years and then died.
18When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19After he fathered Enoch, Jared lived 800 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 20Jared lived a total of 962 years and then died.
21When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22After he fathered Methuselah, Enoch communed with God for 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 23Enoch lived a total of 365 years, 24communing with God\and then he was there no more, because God had taken him.
25When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26After he fathered Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 27Methuselah lived a total of 969 years and then died.
28When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son, 29whom he named Noah, because he said, gMay this one comfort us from our work, from pain that is caused by our manual labor, and from the ground that the Lord has cursed.h 30After he fathered Noah, Lamech lived 595 years, fathering other sons and daughters. 31Lamech lived a total of 777 years and then died.
32After Noah had lived 500 years, he fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Chapter 6
1Now after the population of human beings had increased throughout the earth, and daughters had been born to them, 2some divine beings noticed how attractive human women were, so they took wives for themselves from a selection that pleased them. 3So the Lord said, gMy Spirit wonft remain with human beings forever, because theyfre truly mortal. Their lifespan will be 120 years.h
4The Nephilim were on the earth at that time (and also immediately afterward), when those divine beings were having sexual relations with those human women, who gave birth to children for them. These children became the heroes and legendary figures of ancient times.
5The Lord saw that human evil was growing more and more throughout the earth, with every inclination of peoplefs thoughts becoming only evil on a continuous basis. 6Then the Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and he was deeply grieved about that. 7So the Lord said, gI will annihilate these human beings whom Ifve created from the earth, including people, animals, crawling things, and flying birds, because Ifm grieving that I made them.h 8The Lord was pleased with Noah, however.
9These are the family records of Noah: Noah was a righteous man. Blameless during his times, Noah communed with God. 10Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11By this time, the earth had become ruined in Godfs opinion and filled with violence. 12God looked at the earth, observing how corrupt its population had become, because the entire human race had corrupted itself. 13So God announced to Noah, gIfve decided to destroy every living thing on earth, because it has become filled with violence due to them. Look! Ifm about to annihilate them, along with the earth. 14So make yourself an ark out of cedar, constructing compartments in it, and cover it inside and out with tar. 15Make the ark like this: 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16Make a roof for the ark, and finish the walls to within one and a half feet from the top. Place the entrance in the side of the ark, and build a lower, a middle, and an upper deck.
17gFor my part, Ifm about to flood the earth with water and destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18However, I will establish my own covenant with you, and you are to enter the ark\you, your sons, your wife, and your sonsf wives. 19You are to bring two of every living thing into the ark so they may remain alive with you. They are to be male and female. 20From birds according to their species, from domestic animals according to their species, and from everything that crawls on the ground according to their species\two of everything will come to you so they may remain alive. 21For your part, take some of the edible food and store it away\these stores will be food for you and the animals.h
22Noah did all of this, precisely as God had commanded.
Chapter 7
1Then the Lord told Noah, gCome\you and all your household\into the ark, because Ifve seen that you alone are righteous in this generation. 2You are to take with you seven pairs of every clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of the unclean animals, a male and its mate; 3along with seven pairs of the flying birds, male and female, in order to keep their offspring alive on the surface of all the earth. 4Seven days from now Ifll send rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, and Ifll destroy every living creature that Ifve made.h
5Noah did everything that the Lord commanded.
6Noah was 600 years old when water began to flood the earth. 7Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sonsf wives entered the ark with him before the flood waters arrived. 8From both clean and unclean animals, from birds, and from everything that crawls on the ground, 9two by two, male and female, they entered the ark to join Noah, just as God had commanded.
10Seven days later, the flooding started. 11On the seventeenth day of the second month, when Noah was 600 years old, all the springs of the great deep burst open, the floodgates of the heavens were opened, 12and it rained throughout the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. 13On that very day, Noah entered the ark with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noahfs wife, his sonsf three wives with them, 14along with every species of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and every creature that has wings. 15Two of each living creature entered the ark with Noah. 16The males and females of each living creature entered the ark, just as God had commanded. Then the Lord sealed them inside.
17The flood continued throughout the earth for 40 days, while the flood waters increased, lifting the ark so that it rose above the surface of the earth. 18The flood waters continued to surge, increasing throughout the earth, while the ark floated on the surface of the flood water. 19The flood water surged even higher throughout the earth, until all the highest mountains under the sky were covered. 20The flood waters rose 22 and a half feet above the mountains. 21Every living thing on earth died\birds, livestock, wildlife, all creatures that swarm over the earth, and all human beings. 22Everything that breathed and everything that had lived on dry land died. 23All existing creatures that had lived on the surface of the ground were annihilated, from humans to livestock, from crawling creatures to birds of the sky. They were wiped off the earth. Only Noah remained, along with those who were with him in the ark. 24The flood waters surged over the earth for 150 days.
Chapter 8
1God kept Noah in mind, along with all the wildlife and livestock that were with him in the ark. Godfs Spirit moved throughout the earth, causing the flood waters to subside. 2The water sources from the ocean depths were blocked and the floodgates of the heavens were closed. 3Then the flood waters steadily receded, diminishing completely by the end of the 150 days. 4The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. 5The flood water continued to recede until the tenth month, when, on the first of that month, the tops of the mountains could be seen.
6After 40 days, Noah opened the window of the ark that he had built 7and sent out a raven. It went back and forth as the flood water continued to evaporate throughout the earth. 8Later, he sent a dove out from the ark to see whether the water that covered the landfs surface had completely receded, 9but the dove could not yet find a place to rest, so it returned to Noah on the ark, since water still covered the land. Noah reached out his hand and took the dove back into the ark with him.
10Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove out from the ark again. 11The dove returned to him in the evening, and there in its beak was an olive leaf that it had plucked! So Noah knew that the flood waters had decreased on the land. 12He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but it did not return to him anymore.
13In the six hundred and first year of Noahfs life, during the first month, the flood water began to evaporate from the land. Noah then removed the arkfs cover and saw that the surface of the land was drying. 14By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the ground was dry.
15God spoke to Noah, 16gItfs time for you, your wife, your sons, and your sonsf wives who are with you to leave the ark. 17Bring out with you every living creature\including the birds, animals, and everything that crawls on the ground\so they may disperse throughout the land, be fruitful, and multiply throughout the earth.h 18So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sonsf wives emerged. 19Every animal, every crawling thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth emerged from the ark by groups.
20Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings on it from every clean animal and every clean bird. 21When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, he told himself, gI will never again curse the land because of human beings\even though human inclinations remain evil from youth\nor will I destroy every living being ever again, as Ifve done.
22gNever again, as long as the earth exists,
will sowing and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
and day and night ever cease.h
Chapter 9
1God blessed Noah and his sons and ordered them, gBe productive, multiply, and fill the earth. 2All the living creatures of the earth will be filled with fear and terror of you from now on, including all the birds of the sky, everything that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the ocean. Theyfve been assigned to live under your dominion.
3gEvery living, moving creature will be food for you. Just as I gave you green plants before, so now you have everything. 4However, you are not to eat meat with its life\that is, its blood\in it! 5Also, I will certainly demand an accounting regarding bloodshed, from every animal and from every human being. Ifll demand an accounting from every human being for the life of another human being.
6gWhoever sheds human blood,
by a human his own blood is to be shed;
because God made human beings
in his own image.
7Now as for you, be productive
and multiply;
spread out over the land
and multiply throughout it.h
8Later, God told Noah and his sons, 9gPay attention! Ifm establishing my covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you\the birds, the livestock, and all the wildlife of the earth that are with you\all the earthfs animals that came out of the ark. 11I will establish my covenant with you: No living beings will ever be cut off again by flood waters, and there will never again be a flood that destroys the earth.h
12God also said, gHerefs the symbol that represents the covenant that Ifm making between me and you and every living being with you, for all future generations: 13Ifve set my rainbow in the sky to symbolize the covenant between me and the earth. 14Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow becomes visible in the clouds, 15Ifll remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature, so that water will never again become a flood to destroy all living beings. 16When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will observe it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living beings on the earth.h
17God also told Noah, gThis is the symbol of the covenant that Ifve established between me and everything that lives on the earth.h
18Noahfs sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham later fathered Canaan.) 19These three were Noahfs sons, and from these men the whole earth was repopulated.
20Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant and farm a vineyard. 21He drank some of the wine, got drunk, and lay down naked right in the middle of his tent. 22Ham, who fathered Canaan, saw his fatherfs genitals and told his two brothers outside. 23Then Shem and Japheth took their fatherfs cloak, laid it across both their shoulders, and walking backwards, they both covered their fatherfs genitals. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their fatherfs genitals. 24When Noah sobered up and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25he said,
gCanaan is cursed!
He will be the lowest of slaves to his relatives.h
26He also said,
gBlessed be the Lord God of Shem,
and may Canaan be his slave.
27May God make room for Japheth;
may God live in Shemfs tents,
and may Canaan serve him.h
28Noah lived 350 years after the flood. 29After Noah had lived a total of 950 years, he died.
Chapter 10
1These are the records of Noahfs sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to whom descendants were born after the flood.
2Japhethfs descendants included Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
3Gomerfs descendants included Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
4Javanfs descendants included Elisha, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim, 5from whom the coastal peoples spread into their own lands and nations, each with their own language and family groups.
6Hamfs descendants included Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.
7Cushfs descendants included Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.
Raamahfs descendants included Sheba and Dedan.
8Cush fathered Nimrod, who became the first fearless leader throughout the land. 9He became a fearless hunter in defiance of the Lord. That is why it is said, gLike Nimrod, a fearless hunter in defiance of the Lord.h 10His kingdom began in the region of Shinar with the cities of Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. 11From there he went north to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, and Calah, 12along with Resen, which was located between Nineveh and the great city of Calah.
13Egypt fathered the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites, 14the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from which came the Philistines), and the Caphtorites.
15Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn, along with the Hittites, 16the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.
Later, the Canaanite families were widely scattered. 19The Canaanite border extended south from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and east toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
20These are Hamfs descendants, listed by their families, each with their own lands, language, and family groups.
21Shem, Japhethfs older brother, also had descendants. Shem was the father of the descendants of Eber. 22Shemfs sons included Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
23Aramfs descendants included Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
24Arpachshad fathered Cainan, Cainan fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. 25To Eber were born two sons. One was named Peleg, because the earth was divided during his lifetime. His brother was named Joktan.
26Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were Joktanfs descendants. 30Their settlements extended from Mesha towards Sephar, the eastern hill country.
31These are Shemfs descendants, listed by their families, each with their own lands, language, and family groups.
32These are the families of Noahfs sons, according to their records, by their nations. From these people, the nations on the earth spread out after the flood.
Chapter 11
1There was a time when the entire earth spoke a common language with an identical vocabulary. 2As people migrated westward, they came across a plain in the region of Shinar and settled there. 3They told each other, gCome on! Letfs burn bricks thoroughly.h They used bricks for stone and tar for mortar. 4Then they said, gCome on! Letfs build ourselves a city and a tower, with its summit in the heavens, and letfs make a name for ourselves so we wonft be scattered over the surface of the whole earth.h
5However, the Lord descended to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building. 6The Lord said, gLook! They are one people with the same language for all of them, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. Nothing that they have a mind to do will be impossible for them! 7Come on! Letfs go down there and confuse their language, so that they wonft understand each otherfs speech.h
8So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the surface of the whole earth, so that they had to stop building the city. 9Therefore it was called Babylon, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the surface of the entire earth.
10These are the family records of Shem. When Shem had lived 100 years, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11Shem lived 500 years after he fathered Arpachshad and had other sons and daughters.
12When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Cainan. 13After he fathered Cainan, Arpachshad lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters, and then died.
Cainan lived 130 years and fathered Shelah. After he fathered Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other sons and daughters, and then died.
14When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. 15After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
16When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. 17After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
18When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. 19After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
20When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. 21After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. 23After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
24When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. 25After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
26When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27Now these are the family records of Terah: Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 28Haran died during his fatherfs lifetime in the land of his birth, that is, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abramfs wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahorfs wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30Sarai was barren, so she had not borne children.
 31Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haranfs son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abramfs wife, and they journeyed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they had gone as far as Haran, they settled there, 32where Terah died at the age of 205 years.
Chapter 12
1The Lord told Abram, gYou are to leave your land, your relatives, and your fatherfs house and go to the land that Ifm going to show you. 2Ifll make a great nation of your descendants, Ifll bless you, and Ifll make your reputation great, so that you will be a blessing. 3Ifll bless those who bless you, but Ifll curse the one who curses you, and through you all the people of the earth will be blessed.h
4So Abram left there, as the Lord had directed him, and Lot accompanied him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 5Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the servants he had acquired while living in Haran. Then they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they arrived in the land of Canaan, 6Abram traveled through the land to the place called Shechem, as far as the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, gIfll give this land to your descendants.h So Abram built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8From there Abram traveled on to the hill country east of Bethel and set up his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9Then Abram traveled on, continuing on into the Negev.
10There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live because the famine was so severe. 11When he was about to enter Egypt, he told his wife Sarai, gLook, Ifm aware that youfre a beautiful woman. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, eShe is his wife.f Then theyfll kill me, but allow you to live. 13Please say that you are my sister, so things will go well for me for your sake. That way, youfll be saving my life.h
14As Abram was entering Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful Sarai was. 15When Pharaohfs officials saw her, they brought her to the attention of Pharaoh and took the woman to Pharaohfs palace. 16He treated Abram well because of her, so Abram acquired sheep, oxen, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Sarai, Abramfs wife. 18Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, gWhat have you done to me! Why didnft you tell me that she was your wife? 19Why did you say, eShe is my sister,f so that I took her as a wife for myself? Now, here is your wife! Take her and get out!h
20So Pharaoh assigned men to Abram, and they escorted him, his wife, and all that he had out of the country.
Chapter 13
1Abram traveled from Egypt, along with his wife and everyone who belonged to his household\including Lot\to the Negev.
2Now Abram had become quite wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. 3He journeyed by stages from the Negev to Bethel, the place where his tent had formerly been, between Bethel and Ai, 4where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks of sheep, other herds, and tents. 6But the land could not support them living together, because they had so many livestock that they could not stay together. 7There was strife between the herdsmen in charge of Abramfs livestock and the herdsmen in charge of Lotfs livestock. Also, at that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.
8So Abram told Lot, gPlease, letfs not have strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. 9Isnft the whole land available to you? Letfs separate: If you go to the left, then I will go to the right; if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.h
10Lot looked around and noticed that the whole Jordan plain as far as Zoar was well-watered like the garden of the Lord or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan plain. Then Lot traveled eastward, and they separated from each other.
12So Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent in the vicinity of Sodom. 13Now the men of Sodom were particularly evil and sinful in their defiance of the Lord.
14After Lot had separated from Abram, the Lord told Abram, gLook off to the north, south, east, and west from where youfre living, 15because Ifm going to give you and your descendants all of the land that you see\forever! 16Ifll make your descendants as plentiful as the specks of dust of the earth, so that if one could count the specks of dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted. 17Get up! Walk throughout the length and breadth of the land, because Ifm going to give it to you.h
18So Abram moved his tent and settled beside the oaks of Mamre that are by Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.
Chapter 14
1At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch was king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer was king of Elam, and Tidal was king of the Goiim, 2they engaged in war against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, along with the king of Bela (which was also known as Zoar). 3All of this latter group of kings allied together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4They were subject to Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but they rebelled in the thirteenth year.
5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, near El-paran by the desert. 7Next they turned back and came to En-mishpat (which was also known as Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, along with the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (which was also known as Zoar) prepared for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar\four kings against five.
10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, so when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of their people fell into them, while the rest fled to the hill country. 11The conquerors captured all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, including their entire food supply, and then left. 12They also took Abramfs nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13Someone escaped, arrived, and reported what had happened to Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, whose brothers Eshcol and Aner were allied with Abram. 14When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he gathered together 318 of his trained men, who had been born in his household, and they went out in pursuit as far as Dan. 15During the night, Abram and his servants divided his forces, conquered his enemies, and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He recovered all the goods and brought back his nephew Lot, together with his possessions, the women, and the other people.
17After Abramfs return from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with them, the king of Sodom went out to meet with him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the Kingfs Valley). 18King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine, since he was serving as the priest of God Most High. 19Melchizedek blessed Abram and said,
gAbram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
20and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies
into your control.h
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21The king of Sodom told Abram, gReturn the people to me, and you take the possessions for yourself.h
22But Abram answered the king of Sodom, gI have made an oath to the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you wonft be able to say, eI made Abram rich.f 24I will take nothing except what my warriors have eaten. But as for what belongs to the men who were allied with me, including Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their share.h
Chapter 15
1Some time later, a message came from the Lord to Abram in a vision: gDonft be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.h
2But Abram replied, gLord God, what can you give me since I continue to be childless, and the heir of my household is Eliezer from Damascus? 3Look!h Abram said, gYou havenft given me any offspring, so a servant born in my house is going to be my heir.h
4A message came from the Lord to him again: gThis one will not be your heir. Instead, the child who will be born to you will be your heir.h 5Then the Lord took him outside. gLook up at the sky and count the stars\if you can!h he said. gYour descendants will be that numerous.h 6Abram believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
7The Lord spoke to him, gI am the Lord, who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance.h
8But he replied, gLord God, how will I know that I will inherit it?h
9The Lord responded, gBring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.h
10So Abram brought him all these animals and cut each of them in half, down the middle, placing the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 11When birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12As the sun began to set, Abram was overcome with deep sleep, and suddenly a frightening and terrifying darkness descended on him.
13Then the Lord told Abram, gYou can be certain about this: Your descendants will be foreigners in a land that isnft theirs. They will be slaves there and will be oppressed for 400 years. 14However, I will judge the nation that they serve, and later they will leave there with many possessions. 15Now as for you, youfll die peacefully, join your ancestors, and be buried at a good old age. 16Your descendants will return here in the fourth generation, since the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet run its course.h
17When the sun had fully set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a fiery torch passed between the animal pieces. 18That very day the Lord made this covenant with Abram: gIfm giving this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River\ 19including the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.h
Chapter 16
1Now Abramfs wife Sarai had not borne a child for him. She had an Egyptian servant girl whose name was Hagar. 2So Sarai told Abram, gYou are well aware that the Lord has prevented me from giving birth to a child. Go have sex with my servant, so that I may possibly bear a son through her.h
Abram listened to Saraifs suggestion, 3so Abramfs wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant, Hagar, and gave her as a wife to her husband Abram. This took place ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan. 4He had sex with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
5Then Sarai told Abram, gMy suffering is your fault! I gave you my servant so you could have sex with her, and when she discovered that she was pregnant, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!h
6Abram answered Sarai, gLook, your servant is under your control, so do to her as you wish.h So Sarai dealt so harshly with Hagar that she ran away from Sarai.
7The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the desert on the road to Shur. 8gHagar, servant of Sarai,h he asked, gWhere are you coming from and where are you going?h
She answered, gI am running away from my mistress Sarai.h
9The angel of the Lord told her, gYou must go back to your mistress and submit to her authority.h 10The angel of the Lord also told her, gI will greatly multiply your offspring, who will be too many to count.
11gLook, you are pregnant and will give birth to a son,h the angel of the Lord continued to say to her. gYou will name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your cry of misery. 12Hefll be a wild donkey of a man. Hefll be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. He will live in conflict with all of his relatives.h
13So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, gYou are eGod who sees,f because I have truly seen the one who looks after me.h
14Thatfs why the spring was called, gThe Well of the Living One who looks after me.h It was between Kadesh and Bered.
15Hagar eventually gave birth to Abramfs son. Abram named his son whom Hagar bore Ishmael. 16Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for Abram.
Chapter 17
1When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and announced, gI am God Almighty. Live in constant awareness that Ifm always with you, and be blameless. 2Ifll establish my covenant between me and you, and Ifll greatly increase your numbers.h 3Then Abram fell to the ground as God continued speaking to him.
4gLook, Ifve made a covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations. 5Your name is no longer to be Abram. Instead your name will be Abraham, since Ifll make you the father of many nations. 6Ifm going to cause you to have many descendants, and Ifll bring nations from you. Kings will come from you. 7Ifm establishing my covenant between me and you, and with your descendants who come after you, generation after generation, as an eternal covenant, to be your God and your descendantsf God after you. 8Ifll give to you and to your descendants the land to which you have traveled\all the land of Canaan\as an eternal possession. I will be their God.h
9God continued to speak to Abraham, gYou and your descendants who are born in the future are to keep my covenant\that is, you and your descendants, generation after generation. 10Here is my covenant that you are to observe, between me and you and your descendants: Every male among you is to be circumcised.
11gYou are all to be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and this is to be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12Generation after generation, every male among you is to be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, including the servant born in your house or the one purchased from a foreigner, who is not of your offspring. 13The servant born in your house or the one purchased with money is to be circumcised. My covenant is to remain in your flesh as an eternal covenant. 14Any uncircumcised male who does not have the foreskin of his flesh circumcised on the eighth day after his birth is to be eliminated from his people because he has broken my covenant.h
15God told Abraham, gAs for Sarai your wife, you are not to call her Sarai any longer, because her name is to be Sarah. 16I will bless her. Furthermore, I will give you a son from her. I will bless her, so that nations, kings, and people will come from her.h
17Abraham fell to the ground, laughed, and told himself, gCan a child be born to a 100-year-old man? Can a 90-year-old Sarah give birth?h 18So Abraham responded to God, gIf only Ishmael would live in constant awareness that youfre always with him!h
19But God replied, gNo, but your wife Sarah will give birth to your son, and you are to name him Isaac. Ifll confirm my covenant with him as an eternal covenant for his descendants. 20And as for Ishmael, Ifve heard you. Ifll bless him, and hefll have many descendants. I will multiply him greatly, hefll father twelve tribal leaders, and Ifll cause his descendants to become a great nation. 21Now as to Isaac, Ifll confirm my covenant with him, to whom Sarah will give birth as your son at this time next year.h 22With that, God finished talking to Abraham, and ascended, leaving him.
23Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the servants born in his house or purchased with his money\every male among the men of his household\and circumcised them that very day, just as God had spoken to him.
24Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised, 25and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. 26Both Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on that very day. 27Every man born in his household, as well as those who had been purchased with money from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.
Chapter 18
1Later, the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting near the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day, 2he glanced up and saw three men standing there not far from him.
As soon as he noticed them, Abraham ran from the tent entrance to greet them and bowed low to the ground. 3gMy lords,h he told them, gif I have found favor with you, please donft leave your servant. 4Ifll have some water brought to wash your feet while you rest under the tree. 5Ifll bring some food for you, and after that you may continue your journey, since you have come to visit your servant.h
So they replied, gOkay! Do what youfve proposed.h
6Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, gQuick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread.h
7Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. 8Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate.
9The men asked him, gWhere is your wife Sarah?h
gThere, in the tent,h he replied.
10Then one of them said, gI will certainly return to you in about a yearfs time. By then, your wife Sarah will have borne a son.h
Now Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11Abraham and Sarah were old\really old\and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing. 12Thatfs why Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, gAfter Ifm so old and my husband is old, too, am I going to have sex?h
13The Lord asked Abraham, gWhy did Sarah laugh and think, eAm I really going to bear a child, since Ifm so old?f 14Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the time set for it, I will return to you\about a year from now\and Sarah will have a son.h
15But Sarah denied it. gI didnft laugh,h she claimed, because she was afraid.
The Lord replied, gNo! You did laugh!h
16After this, the men set out from there and looked out over Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them off.
17gShould I hide from Abraham what Ifm about to do,h the Lord asked, 18gsince Abrahamfs descendants will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? 19Indeed, Ifve made myself known to him in order that he may encourage his sons and his household that is born after him to keep the way of the Lord, and to do what is right and just, so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised.h
20The Lord also said, gHow great is the disapproval of Sodom and Gomorrah! Their sin is so very serious! 21Ifm going down to see whether theyfve acted according to the protests that have reached me. If not, I wish to know.h
22Then two of the men turned away from there and walked toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing in the presence of the Lord.
23Abraham approached and asked, gWill you actually destroy the righteous along with the wicked? 24Perhaps there are 50 righteous ones within the city. Will you actually destroy it and not forgive the place for the sake of the 50 righteous that are found there? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing\to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! The Judge of all the earth will do what is right, wonft he?h
26The Lord said, gIf I find 50 righteous people within Sodom, Ifll forgive the whole place for their sake.h
27Abraham answered, gLook, even though I am only dust and ashes, Ifve ventured to speak to my Lord. 28What if there are five less than 50 righteous ones? Will you bring destruction upon the city because of those five?h
The Lord said, gI wonft destroy it if I find 45 there.h
29Abraham continued to speak to him, asking, gWhat if 40 are found there?h
The Lord replied, gI wonft do it for the sake of those 40.h
30Abraham then asked, gI hope my Lord will not be angry if I speak. What if 30 are found there?h
The Lord answered, gI wonft do it for the sake of those 30.h
31gLook,h Abraham said, gIfve presumed to speak to my Lordc so what if 20 are found there?h
gFor the sake of those 20,h the Lord responded, gI wonft destroy it.h
32Finally, Abraham inquired, gI hope my Lord will not be angry if I speak only once more. What if ten are found there?h
He replied, gFor the sake of those ten I wonft destroy it.h
33As soon as he finished talking to Abraham, the Lord left and Abraham returned to where he had been sitting.
Chapter 19
1The two angels entered Sodom at sunset while Lot was sitting in the gate area of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up, greeted them, bowed low with his face to the ground, 2and said, gLook, my lords! Please come inside your servantfs house, wash your feet, and spend the night. Then you can get up early and be on your way.h
But they responded, gNo, we would rather spend the night in the town square.h
3But Lot kept urging them strongly, so they turned aside and entered his house. He prepared a festival and baked unleavened flat bread for them, and they ate.
4Before they could lie down, all the men of Sodom and its outskirts, both young and old, surrounded the house. 5They called out to Lot and asked, gWhere are the men who came to visit you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!h
6Lot went outside to them, shut the door behind him, 7and said, gI urge you, my brothers, donft do such a wicked thing. 8Look here, I have two daughters who are virgins. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them whatever you wish, only donft do anything to these men, because theyfre here under my protection.h
9But they replied, gGet out of our way! This man came here as a foreigner, and now hefs acting like a judge! So wefre going to deal more harshly with you than with them.h Then they pushed hard against the man (that is, against Lot), intending to break down the door.
10But the angels inside reached out, dragged Lot back into the house with them, shut the door, 11and blinded the men who were at the entrance of the house, from the least important to the greatest, so they were unable to find the doorway.
12gDo you have anyone else here in the city?h the angels asked Lot. gA son-in-law? Sons? Daughters? Get them out of this place, 13because wefre going to destroy it. The Lord knows how their behavior stinks, so he sent us here to destroy it!h
14Lot then went out and told his sons-in-law (they had married his daughters), gGet out of here! The Lord is going to destroy this city!h But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
15As dawn was breaking, the angels pressured Lot. gGet going!h they told him. gTake your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be engulfed by the devastation thatfs coming to this city.h
16But Lot kept lingering in the city, so the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters (because of the Lordfs compassion for him!), brought them out of the city, and left them outside. 17Then one of them said, gFlee for your lives! Donft look back or stop anywhere on the plain. Escape to the hills, or youfll be swept away!h
18gNo! Please, my lords!h Lot pleaded with them. 19gYour servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me your gracious love in how you have dealt with me by keeping me alive. I cannot escape to the hills, because Ifm afraid the disaster will overtake me, and Ifll die. 20Look, there is a town nearby where I can flee, and itfs a small one. Let me escape there! Itfs a small one, isnft it? That way Ifll stay alive!h
21gAll right,h the angel replied to Lot, gIfll agree with your request! I wonft overthrow the town that you mentioned. 22Hurry up and flee there, because I cannot do anything until you get to that town.h Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar.
23The sun had risen over the land about the time Lot reached Zoar. 24Then the Lord rained sulfur and fire out of the sky from the Lord on Sodom and Gomorrah, 25overthrowing those cities, all of the plain, and everyone who lived in the cities. He also destroyed the plants that grew out of the ground. 26But Lotfs wife looked back as she lingered behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
27Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord earlier. 28He looked off toward Sodom, Gomorrah, and the entire plain, and he saw smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. 29And so it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham and brought Lot out from the midst of the destruction when he overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.
30Later on, Lot and his two daughters abandoned Zoar and settled in the hills because Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived there in a cave, along with his two daughters. 31One day the firstborn told the younger one, gOur father is old, and therefs no man in the land to have sex with us, as everybody else throughout all the earth does. 32Come on! Letfs make our father drink wine, and then wefll have sex with him so we can preserve our fatherfs lineage.h
33So they had their father drink wine that night, and the older one had sexual relations with her father, but he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up. 34The next day the firstborn told the younger one, gLook! I had sex with my father last night. Letfs make him drink wine tonight again as well. Then you have sex with him, too. That way wefll preserve our fatherfs lineage.h 35So they made their father drink wine that night as well, so he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.
36Thatfs how both of Lotfs daughters became pregnant by their father. 37The firstborn gave birth to a son and named him Moab, and he is the ancestor of the Moabites to this day. 38The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-ammi, and he is the ancestor of the Ammonites to this day.
Chapter 20
1Abraham traveled from there to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar as an outsider, 2because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, gShe is my sister,h King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household.
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night and spoke to him, gPay attention! Youfre about to die, because the woman you have taken is a manfs wife!h
4Now Abimelech had not yet come near her, so he asked, gLord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5Didnft he say to me, eShefs my sisterf? And she also said, eHefs my brother.f I did this with pure intentions and clean hands.h
6Then God replied to him in the dream, gI know that you did this with pure intentions, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore, I didnft allow you to touch her. 7Now then, return the manfs wife. As a matter of fact, hefs a prophet and can intercede for you so youfll live. But if you donft return her, be aware that you and all who are yours will certainly die.h
8So Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them all these things. The men became terrified.
9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked him, gWhat have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great sin against me and my kingdom? Youfve done things to me that ought not to have been done.h
10Abimelech also asked Abraham, gWhat could you have been thinking when you did this?h
11gI thought that there is no fear of God in this place,h Abraham replied, gand that they would kill me because of my wife. 12Besides, she really is my sister\shefs my fatherfs daughter, but not my motherfs daughter\so she could become my wife. 13When God caused me to journey from my fatherfs house, I asked her to do me this favor and say, eHe is my brother.fh
14So Abimelech took some sheep and oxen, and some male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, returned his wife Sarah to him, 15and said, gLook! My land is available to you, so settle wherever you please.h
16Abimelech also told Sarah, gLook! I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver to vindicate you in the eyes of all who are with you. As a result, you will be completely vindicated.h
17Then Abraham interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could bear children, 18since the Lord had made all the women barren in Abimelechfs household on account of Abrahamfs wife Sarah.
Chapter 21
1The Lord came to Sarah, just as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the very time that God had predicted.
3Abraham named his son who was born to him Isaac\the very one whom Sarah bore for him! 4On the eighth day after his son Isaac had been born, Abraham circumcised him, just as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6Now Sarah had said, gGod has caused me to laugh, and all who hear about it will laugh with me.h 7She also said, gWho would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse sons? Yet I have given birth to a son in my husbandfs old age!h
8The child grew and eventually was weaned, so Abraham threw a tremendous banquet on the very day Isaac was weaned. 9Nevertheless, when Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian\whom Hagar had borne to Abraham\making fun of Isaac, 10she told Abraham, gThrow out this slave girl, along with her son, because this slavefs son will never be a co-heir with my son Isaac!h
11Abraham was very troubled about what was being said about his son, 12but God told Abraham, gDonft be troubled about the youth and your slave girl. Pay attention to Sarah in everything she tells you, because your offspring are to be named through Isaac. 13Nevertheless, I will make the slave girlfs son into a nation, since he, too, is your offspring.h
14So early the next morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a leather bottle of water, gave them to Hagar, and placed them on her shoulder. He then sent her away, along with the child. She went off and roamed in the Beer-sheba wilderness.
15Eventually, the water in the leather bottle ran out, so she placed the child under one of the bushes. 16Then she went and sat by herself about a distance of a bowshot away, because she kept saying to herself, gI canft bear to watch the child die!h Thatfs why she sat a short distance away, crying aloud and weeping.
17God heard the boyfs voice, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. He asked her, gWhatfs wrong with you, Hagar? Donft be afraid, because God has heard the voice of the youth where he is. 18Get up! Pick up the youth and grab his hand, because I will make a great nation of his descendants.h
19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went, filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. 20God was with the boy as he grew up. He settled in the wilderness and became an expert archer. 21Later he settled in the desert area of Paran, and his mother chose a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
22About that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, told Abraham, gGod is with you in everything that youfre doing. 23Therefore swear an oath here by God that you wonft deal falsely with me, my sons, or my descendants. Just as Ifve dealt graciously with you, wonft you do so with me and with the land in which you live as a foreigner?h
24And Abraham replied, gI agree!h 25But then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelechfs servants had seized.
26gI donft know who did this thing,h Abimelech replied. gYou didnft report this to me, and I didnft hear about it until today.h
27So Abraham took sheep and oxen and presented them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28Then Abraham set aside seven ewe lambs, 29so Abimelech asked Abraham, gWhat is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set aside?h
30He replied, gYou are to accept from me these seven ewe lambs as a witness that I have dug this well.h 31Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba, because the two of them swore an oath. 32So after they had made a covenant in Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to Philistine territory.
33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord God Everlasting. 34After this, Abraham resided as a foreigner in Philistine territory for a long period of time.
Chapter 22
1Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He called out to him, gAbraham!h
gHere I am!h he answered.
2God said, gPlease take your son, your unique son whom you love\Isaac\and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him as a burnt offering there on one of the mountains that I will point out to you.h
3So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his male servants with him, along with his son Isaac. He cut the wood for the burnt offering and set out to go to the place about which God had spoken to him. 4On the third day he looked ahead and saw the place from a distance.
5Abraham ordered his two servants, gBoth of you are to stay here with the donkey. Now as for the youth and me, wefll go up there, wefll worship, and then wefll return to you.h 6Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. Abraham carried the fire and the knife. And so the two of them went on together.
7Isaac addressed his father Abraham: gMy father!h
gIfm here, my son,h Abraham replied.
Isaac asked, gThe fire and the wood are here, but wherefs the lamb for the burnt offering?h
8Abraham answered, gGod will provide himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.h
The two of them went on together 9and came to the place about which God had spoken. Abraham built an altar there, arranged the wood, tied up his son Isaac, and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10Then he stretched out his hand and grabbed the knife to slaughter his son.
11Just then, an angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven and said, gAbraham! Abraham!h
gHere I am,h he answered.
12gDonft lay your hand on the youth!h he said. gDonft do anything to him, because Ifve just demonstrated that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only unique one, from me.h
13Then Abraham looked up and behind him to see a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went over, grabbed the ram, and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14Abraham named that place, gThe Lord Will Provide,h as it is told this day, gOn the Lordfs mountain, he will provide.h
15The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said, gI have taken an oath to swear by myself,h declares the Lord, gthat since you have carried this out and have not withheld your only unique son, 17I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies. 18Furthermore, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my command.h
19After this, Abraham returned to his servants and they set out together for Beer-sheba, where Abraham settled.
20Now after these things somebody told Abraham, gLook, Milcah has given birth to sons for your brother Nahor. 21Uz is his firstborn, Buz is his brother, and Kemuel is the father of Aram, 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.h
23Bethuel fathered Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Nahor, Abrahamfs brother. 24Also, his concubine Reumah gave birth to Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
Chapter 23
1Sarah lived for 127 years. Thatfs how long Sarahfs life was. 2She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
3Then Abraham rose up from beside his dead wife and addressed the Hittites. He said, 4gI am an alien and an outsider among you. Give me a cemetery among you where I can bury my dead away from my presence.h
5The Hittites responded to Abraham, 6gListen to us, sir. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.h
7Abraham rose and bowed before the Hittites, the people of the land, 8and addressed them, gIf you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and make a request of Zoharfs son Ephron on my behalf. 9Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site.h
10Now since Ephron the Hittite had taken a seat there among the Hittites, he responded publicly to Abraham where the Hittites and everyone who was entering the gate of his city could hear him: 11gNo, sir. Listen to me! Ifll give you the field, and Ifll give you the cave thatfs in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead.h
12Abraham bowed before the people of the land 13and then addressed Ephron so all the people of the land could hear him: gPlease listen to me! Ifm willing to pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so I may bury my dead there.h
14So Ephron answered Abraham, 15gSir, listen to me! The land is worth 400 shekels of silver, but whatfs that between us? You may bury your dead.h
16Abraham agreed with Ephron, so he weighed out to Ephron the money to which he had agreed publicly while the Hittites were listening: 400 shekels of silver at the current merchant rate.
17Thatfs how Ephronfs field in Machpelah, east of Mamre\the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were within the boundaries of the field\came to be deeded 18to Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites and everyone who was entering the city gate.
19After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.
Chapter 24
1Now Abraham had grown old, was well advanced in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 2So Abraham instructed his servant, who was the oldest member of his household and in charge of everything he owned, gMake this solemn oath to me 3as a promise to the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you wonft acquire a wife for my son from the Canaanite women among whom Ifm living. 4Instead, you are to go to my country and to my family and acquire a wife for my son Isaac.h
5gWhat if the woman doesnft want to come back with me to this land?h the servant asked. gShouldnft I have your son go to the land from which you came?h
6gMake sure not to take my son there,h Abraham replied. 7gThe Lord God of heaven, who brought me from my fatherfs house and from my familyfs land, who spoke to me and promised me eI will give this land to your descendants,f will send his angel ahead of you, and you are to acquire a wife for my son from there. 8If the woman isnft willing to follow you, then youfll be free from this oath to me. Just donft take my son back there!h 9So the servant made a solemn oath to his master Abraham regarding this matter.
10Then Abrahamfs servant took ten camels from his masterfs herd of camels and left on his journey with all kinds of gifts from his masterfs inventory. Eventually, he traveled as far as Aram-naharaim, Nahorfs home town. 11As evening approached, he had the camels kneel outside the town at the water well, right about the time when women customarily went out to draw water.
12Thatfs when he prayed, gLord God of my master Abraham, help me to succeed today. Please show your gracious love to my master Abraham. 13Ifve stationed myself here by the spring as the women of the town come to draw water. 14May it be that the young woman to whom I ask, ePlease, lower your jug so that I may drink,f responds, eHave a drink, and Ifll water your camels as well.f May she be the one whom you have chosen for your servant Isaac. This is how Ifll know that you have shown your gracious love to my master.h
15Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah appeared. She was a daughter of Milcahfs son Bethuel. (Milcah was the wife of Abrahamfs brother Nahor.) She approached the well, carrying a jug on her shoulder. 16The woman was very beautiful, young, and had not had intimate relations with a man. Going down to the spring, she filled her jug and returned home. 17Then Abrahamfs servant ran to meet her and asked her, gPlease, let me have a sip of water from your jug.h
18gDrink, sir!h she replied as she quickly lowered her jug on her arm to offer him a drink. 19When she had finished giving him a drink, she also said, gIfll also draw water for your camels until theyfve had enough to drink.h
20She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and ran to the well to draw again until she had drawn enough water for all ten of the servantfs camels. 21The man stared at her in silence, waiting to see whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. 22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a half shekel and two bracelets for her wrists, weighing 10 shekels and presented them to her.
23He asked her, gWhose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your fatherfs house for us to spend the night?h
24gI am the daughter of Bethuel,h she answered. gHefs the son of Milcah and Nahor. 25Yes,h she continued, gwe have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place to spend the night.h
26At this, the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord. 27gBlessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hasnft held back his gracious love and faithfulness from my master! The Lord has led me to the house of my masterfs relatives!h
28The young woman then ran ahead and informed her motherfs household what had happened.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to the man and met him at the spring. 30And so it was, as soon as he saw the nose ring and bracelets on his sisterfs wrists, and as soon as he heard what his sister Rebekah was saying about what the man had spoken to her, he went out to the man who was still standing by the camels at the spring!
31gCome on,h Laban said. gThe Lord has blessed you! So why are you standing out here when Ifve prepared some space in the house and a place for the camels?h
32So the servant went to the house and unbridled the camels. They provided straw and feed for the camels and water for washing his feet and those of the men with him. 33But when they had prepared a meal and set it in front of him, he said, gIfm not eating until Ifve spoken.h
gSpeak up!h Laban exclaimed.
34gIfm Abrahamfs servant,h he said. 35gThe Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become wealthy. He has provided him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36My masterfs wife Sarah gave birth to my masterfs son in her old age, and Abraham has given him everything that belongs to him. 37My master made me swear this oath: eYou are not to select a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites in this land where I live. 38Instead, you are to go to my fatherfs household, to my relatives, and choose a wife for my son there.f
39gSo I asked my master, eWhat if the woman wonft come back with me?f
40gAbraham told me, eThe Lord, who is with me wherever I go, will send his angel with you to make your journey successful. So you are to choose a wife for my son from my family, from my fatherfs household. 41Only then will you be released from fulfilling my oath. However, when you come to my family, if they donft give her to you, youfll be released from fulfilling my oath.f
42gSo today I arrived at the spring and prayed, eLord God of my master Abraham, if you wish to make the journey that I have traveled successful, 43here I am standing by the spring. May it be that the young woman who comes out to draw water, from whom I request a little water from her jug to drink, 44if she tells me to drink and also draws water for the camels, may she be the woman that the Lord has chosen for my masterfs son.f
45gBefore I had finished praying, along came Rebekah with her jug on her shoulder! She went to the spring and drew some water. I asked her to please let me have a drink. 46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and told me, eHave a drink while I also water your camels.f So I drank, and she also gave my camels water to drink.
47gThatfs when I asked, eWhose daughter are you?f
gShe replied, eIfm the daughter of Bethuel, Nahorfs son, whom Milcah bore for him.f
gSo I gave her a ring for her nose and bracelets for her wrists. 48I bowed down and worshipped the Lord, and I praised the Lord God of my master Abraham, who led me on the true way to request the daughter of my masterfs brother for his son. 49So now, if you wish to show gracious love and truth toward my master, tell me so. But if not, tell me, so that I may go elsewhere.h
50gSince this has come from the Lord,h Laban and Bethuel both replied, gwe cannot speak one way or another. 51So herefs Rebekah\shefs right in front of you. Take her and go, so she can become a wife for your masterfs son, just as the Lord has decreed.h
52When Abrahamfs servant heard what they had said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. 53Then the servant brought out some silver and gold items, along with some clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54He and the men with him ate and drank, and then they spent the night.
When they got up the next morning, the servant requested, gSend me off to my master.h
55But her brother and mother said, gLet the young lady stay with us a few days\at least ten\and after that she may go.h
56gPlease donft delay me,h the servant answered them. gThe Lord has made my journey successful. Send me off so I can return to my master.h
57But they said, gWefll call the young lady and see what she has to say about this.h
58So they called Rebekah and asked her, gDo you want to go with this man?h
gI will go,h she replied.
59So they sent off their sister Rebekah, along with her personal assistant, Abrahamfs servant, and his men. 60As they were leaving, they all blessed Rebekah by saying,
gOur sister, may you become the mother of tens of millions!
May your descendants take over
the city gates of those who hate them.h
61Then Rebekah and her young servant women got up, mounted their camels, and followed Abrahamfs servant, who took Rebekah and went on his way.
62Later on, as Isaac was returning one evening from Beer-lahai-roi (he had been living in the Negev), 63Isaac went out walking in a field. He looked up, and all of a sudden there were some camels coming. 64Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel 65and asked the servant, gWho is that man coming in the field to meet us?h
 gThatfs my master,h the servant told her. So she reached for a veil and covered herself. 66Then the servant informed Isaac about everything he had done. 67Later, Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah and married her. Isaac loved her, and thatfs how he was comforted following the loss of his mother.
Chapter 25
1Abraham had taken another wife whose name was Keturah. 2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedanfs sons were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 4Midianfs sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were Keturahfs descendants.
5Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac. 6While he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to his concubines and sent them to the east country in order to keep them away from his son Isaac.
7Abraham lived for 175 years, 8then passed away, dying at a ripe old age, having lived a full life, and joined his ancestors. 9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field that used to belong to Zohar the Hittitefs son Ephron. 10This was the same field that Abraham had bought from the son of Heth, where Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried. 11After Abrahamfs death, God blessed his son Isaac, who continued to live near Beer-lahai-roi.
12Now this is what happened to Ishmael, whom Sarahfs Egyptian servant Hagar bore for Abraham. 13Herefs a list of the names of Ishmaelfs sons, recorded by their names and descendants: Nebaioth was the firstborn, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These were Ishmaelfs children, listed by their names according to their villages and their camps. There were a total of twelve tribal chiefs, according to their clans. 17Ishmael lived for 137 years, then he took his last breath, died, and joined his ancestors. 18His descendants settled from Havilah to Shur (thatfs near Egypt), all the way to Assyria, in defiance of all of his relatives.
19This is the account of Isaac, Abrahamfs son. Abraham fathered Isaac. 20Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Later, Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, since she was unable to conceive children, and the Lord responded to him\his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
22But when the infants kept on wrestling each other inside her womb, she asked herself, gWhy is this happening?h So she asked the Lord for an explanation.
23gTwo nations are in your womb,h the Lord responded, gand two separate people will emerge. One people will be the stronger, and the older one will serve the younger.h
24Sure enough, when her due date arrived, she delivered twin sons. 25The first son came out reddish\his entire body was covered with hair\so they named him Esau. 26After that, his brother came out with his hand clutching Esaufs heel, so they named him Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.
27As the boys were growing up, Esau became skilled at hunting and was a man of the outdoors, but Jacob was the quiet type who tended to stay indoors. 28Isaac loved Esau, because he loved to hunt, while Rebekah loved Jacob. 29One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau happened to come in from being outdoors, and he was feeling famished.
30Esau told Jacob, gLet me gobble down some of this red stuff, since Ifm starving.h (Thatfs how Esau got his nickname gEdomh.)
31But Jacob responded, gSell me your birthright. Do it now.h
32gLook! Ifm about to die,h Esau replied. gWhat good is this birthright to me?h
33But Jacob insisted, gSwear it by an oath right now.h So he swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau some of his food, along with some boiled stew. So Esau ate, drank, got up, and left, after having belittled his own birthright.
Chapter 26
1Later on, a famine swept through the land. This famine was different from the previous famine that had occurred earlier, during Abrahamfs lifetime. So Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at Gerar.
2Thatfs when the Lord appeared to Isaac. gYou are not to go down to Egypt,h he said. gInstead, you are to settle down in an area within this land where Ifll tell you. 3Remain in this land, and Ifll be with and bless you by giving all these lands to you and to your descendants in fulfillment of my solemn promise that I made to your father Abraham.
4gIfll cause you to have as many descendants as the stars of the heavens, and Ifll certainly give all these lands to your descendants. Later on, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will bless one another. 5Ifm going to do this because Abraham did what I told him to do. He kept my instructions, commands, statutes, and laws.h
6So Isaac lived in Gerar.
7Later on, the men of that place asked about his wife, so he replied, gShefs my sister,h because he was afraid to call her gmy wife.h He kept thinking, gcotherwise, the men around here will kill me on account of Rebekah, since shefs very beautiful.h
8After he had been there awhile, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out through a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.
9So Abimelech called Isaac and confronted him. gShe is definitely your wife!h he accused him, gSo why did you claim, eShefs my sister?fh
Isaac responded, gBecause I had thought ecotherwise, Ifll die on account of her.fh
10gWhat have you done to us?h Abimelech asked. gAny minute now, one of the people could have had sex with your wife and you would have caused all of us to be guilty.h 11So he issued this order to everyone: gWhoever touches this man or his wife is to be executed.h
12Isaac received a 100-fold return on what he planted that year in the land he received, because the Lord blessed him. 13He became very wealthy and lived a life of wealth, becoming more and more wealthy. 14He owned so many sheep, cattle, and servants that the Philistines eventually became envious of him. 15They filled in with sand all of the wells that Isaacfs father Abrahamfs servants had dug during his lifetime.
16Then Abimelech ordered Isaac, gMove away from us! Youfve become more powerful than we are.h 17So Isaac moved from there and encamped in the Gerar Valley, where he settled.
18Isaac re-excavated some wells that his father had first dug during his lifetime, because the Philistines had filled them with sand after Abrahamfs death. Isaac renamed those wells with the same names that his father had called them.
19While Isaacfs servants were digging in the valley, they discovered a well with flowing water. 20But the herdsmen who lived in Gerar quarreled with Isaacfs herdsmen. gThe water is ours,h they said. As a result, Isaac named the well Esek, for they had fiercely disputed with him about it. 21When his workers started digging another well, those herdsmen quarreled about that one, too, so Isaac named it Sitnah. 22Then he left that area and dug still another well. Because they did not quarrel over that one, Isaac named it Rehoboth, because he used to say, gThe Lord has enlarged the territory for us. We will prosper in the land.h
23Later on, he left there and went to Beer-sheba, 24where one night the Lord appeared to him. gI am the God of your father Abraham,h he told him. gDonft be afraid, because Ifm with you. Ifm going to bless you and multiply your descendants on account of my servant Abraham.h 25In response, Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. He also pitched his tents there and his servants dug a well.
26Later, Abimelech traveled to visit Isaac from Gerar. He arrived with Ahuzzath, his staff advisor, and Phicol, the commanding officer of his army.
27gWhy have you come to see me,h Isaac asked them, gsince you hate me so much that you sent me away from you?h
28gWefve seen that the Lord is with you,h they responded, gso wefre proposing an agreement between us\between us and you. Allow us to make a treaty with you 29by which youfll agree not to do us any harm, just as we havenft harmed you, since wefve done nothing but good for you after we sent you away in peace. As a result, youfve been tremendously blessed by the Lord.h 30So Isaac held a festival for them and they ate and drank. 31They woke up early the next morning and made the treaty. After this, Isaac sent them off and they left on peaceful terms.
32That very same day, Isaacfs servants arrived and reported to him about a well that they had just completed digging. gWefve found water!h they said. 33So Isaac named the well Shebah, which is why the city is named Beer-sheba to this day.
34When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35This brought extreme grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
Chapter 27
1Eventually, Isaac grew so old that he could not see. One day, he called his eldest son Esau. gMy son,h he called out to him.
2gLook how old I am! I could die any day now, 3so go find your weapons, take your bow and arrows, go outside, and hunt some game for me. 4Then prepare some food, just the way I like it, and bring it to me so that I can eat and bless you before I die.h
5Now Rebekah overheard Isaac while he was speaking to his son Esau. When Esau had gone out to the field to hunt and bring in some game, 6Rebekah gave these instructions to her son Jacob: gQuick! Pay attention!h she said. gI heard your father talking to your brother Esau. He told him, 7eBring me some game and then prepare some food for me so I can eat and bless you in the presence of the Lord before I die.f 8So now, my son, listen to what I have to say and pay attention to what Ifm about to tell you. 9Go to the flock and bring me two healthy young goats. Ifll prepare some delicious food for your father, just the way he loves it. 10Then you are to take it to your father so that he can eat and bless you before he dies.h
11gBut look!h Jacob pointed out to his mother Rebekah, gMy brother Esau is a hairy man, but Ifm smooth skinned. 12My father might touch me and hefll realize that Ifm deceiving him. Then, Ifll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.h
13gMy son,h she replied, glet any curse against you fall on me. Just listen to me, then go and get them for me.h 14So out he went, got them, and brought them to his mother, who then prepared some delicious food, just the way his father liked it.
15Then Rebekah took some garments that belonged to her elder son Esau\the best ones available\and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16She put some goat skins over his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17Then she handed the delicious food and bread that she had prepared to her son Jacob, 18who went to his father and said, gMy fatherch
 gItfs me!h he replied. gWhich one are you, my son?h
19gIfm Esau, your firstborn!h Jacob told his father. gIfve done what you asked, so please sit up and eat what I caught so you can bless me.h
20gHow did you get it so quickly, my son?h Isaac asked.
Jacob responded, gcbecause the Lord your God made me successful.h
21So Isaac told Jacob, gCome here, my son, so I can feel you and know for sure whether or not youfre my son Esau.h
22So Jacob approached his father, who felt him and said, gItfs Jacobfs voice, but Esaufs hands.h 23He didnft recognize Jacob, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau, so Isaac blessed him.
24He asked, gAre you really my son Esau?h
gI am,h Jacob replied.
25gCome closer to me,h Isaac replied, gso I can eat some of the game, my son, and then bless you.h So Jacob came closer, and Isaac ate. Jacob also brought wine so his father could drink. 26After this, Jacobfs father Isaac told him, gCome closer and kiss me, my son.h 27So Jacob drew closer to kiss him. When Isaac smelled the scent of his sonfs clothes, he blessed him and said,
gHow my sonfs scent is the fragrance of the field
that the Lord has blessed.
28May the Lord grant you dew from the skies,
and from the fertile land;
may he grant you
abundant grain and fresh wine.
29May people serve and bow before you;
may you be master over your brothers;
may your motherfs sons bow before you;
may anyone who curses you be cursed;
and may anyone who blesses you be blessed.h
30Just after Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left his father Isaac, Jacobfs brother Esau returned from hunting, 31prepared some delicious food, brought it to his father, and told him, gCan you get up now, father, so you may eat some of your sonfs game and then bless me?h
32But his father Isaac asked him, gWho are you?h
gIfm Esau, your firstborn son,h he answered
33At this, Isaac began to tremble violently. gWho then,h he asked, ghunted some game and brought it to me to eat before you arrived, so that Ifve blessed him? Indeed, he is blessed.h
34When Esau realized what his father Isaac was saying, he began to wail out loud bitterly. gBless me,h he cried, geven me, too, my father!h
35Isaac replied, gYour brother came here deceitfully and stole your blessing.h
36Then he said, gIsnft his name rightly called Jacob?h Esau asked. gHe has circumvented me this second time. First, he took away my birthright, and now, look how he also stole my blessing.h Then he added, gHavenft you reserved a blessing for me?h
37In response, Isaac told Esau, gLook! Ifve predicted that hefs going to become your master, and Ifve assigned all his brothers to be his servants. What then can I do for you, my son?h
38Then Esau implored his father, gDonft you have even one blessing for me, my father? Bless me, even me too, my father!h Then Esau lifted his voice and wept bitterly.
39At this, his father Isaac replied to him,
gLook! Away from the fertile land will be your dwellings;
away from the dew of the skies above.
40By your sword youfll live;
but youfll serve your brother.
But when youfve become restless,
youfll break off his yoke from your neck.h
41So Esau harbored animosity toward Jacob because of the way his father had blessed him. Esau kept saying to himself, gThe time to mourn for my father is very near. Thatfs when Ifm going to kill my brother Jacob.h
42Eventually, what Rebekahfs older son Esau had been saying was reported to her, so she sent for her younger son Jacob and warned him, gLook! Your brother is planning to get even by killing you. 43Son, youfd better do what I say! Get up, run off to my brother Laban in Haran, 44and stay there with him a few days until your brotherfs fury subsides. 45After that happens and he has forgotten what youfve done to him, Ifll send for you so you can return from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?h
46Rebekah also told herself, gHethfs daughters are making me tired of living. If Jacob marries one of Hethfs daughters, and she turns out to be just like these other local women, what kind of life would there be left for me?h
Chapter 28
1Later, Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, instructing him, gDonft marry a wife from the local Canaanite women. 2Instead, get up, travel to Paddan-aram, and visit the household of Bethuel, your motherfs father. Marry one of Labanfs daughters, since hefs your motherfs brother. 3May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful so that your descendants become a whole group of people. 4May he give you and your descendants the blessings that he gave Abraham. May you possess the land where you have lived that God gave to Abraham.h
5So Isaac sent Jacob off toward Paddan-aram to visit Laban, Bethuelfs son, the Aramean and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
6Esau noticed that after Isaac had blessed Jacob as he was sending him off to Paddan-aram to marry a wife from there, he had instructed Jacob, gDonft marry a Canaanite woman.h 7After Jacob had obeyed his father and motherfs instructions to set out for Paddan-aram, 8Esau realized that Canaan women didnft please his father Isaac, 9so he went to Abrahamfs son Ishmael and married Ishmaelfs daughter Mahalath, who was the sister of Nebaioth.
10Meanwhile, Jacob had left Beer-sheba and was on his way to Haran. 11He reached a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun was setting. He found a stone there, used it for a pillow, and slept there for the night, 12when he had a dream! He saw a raised highway that had been built with its ending point on earth and its beginning point in heaven. Godfs angels were ascending and descending on it.
13And there was the Lord, standing above it and telling Jacob, gI am the Lord God of your grandfather Abraham. Ifm Isaacfs God, too. Ifm giving you and your descendants the ground on which youfre sleeping. 14Your descendants are going to become like the dust of the earth and spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15Now pay attention! Ifm here with you, and Ifm going to be watching over you wherever you go. Ifm going to bring you back to this land, because I wonft ever leave you until Ifve accomplished what Ifve promised about you.h
16Then Jacob woke up during the night and told himself, gSurely, the Lord is in this place and I never knew it!h 17In mounting terror, he cried out, gHow scary this place is! This is nothing less than Godfs house and the gateway to heaven!h 18When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the stone that he had used for his pillow, set it up as a pillar, drenched it with oil, 19and named the place Beth-el, although previously the city had been named Luz.
20Then he made this solemn vow: gIf God remains with me, watches over me throughout this journey that Ifm taking, gives me food to eat and clothes to wear, 21and returns me safely to my fatherfs house, then the Lord will be my God, 22this stone that Ifve erected in the form of a pillar will be Godfs house, and Ifll give you a tenth of everything that you give to me.h
Chapter 29
1Jacob journeyed on and reached the territory that belonged to the people who lived in the east. 2As he was observing a well that had been dug out on the open range, all of a sudden he noticed three flocks of sheep lying there, because shepherds watered their flocks from that well.
There was a very large stone that covered the opening of the well, 3and when all the flocks had been gathered there, they would roll away the stone from the opening of the well, water their flocks, and then return the stone to its place covering the opening of the well.
4Jacob asked them, gMy brothers, where are you from?h
gWefre from Haran,h they answered.
5gDo you happen to know Nahorfs son Laban?h he inquired.
gWe do,h they replied.
6So he asked them, gHowfs he doing?h
gVery well,h they answered. gAs a matter of fact, look over there! Thatfs his daughter Rachel, coming here with his sheep.h
7gLook!h Jacob replied. gThe sun is still high. Itfs not yet time for the flocks to be gathered. Letfs water the sheep, then let them graze.h
8But they responded, gWe canft do that until all the sheep have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the opening of the well. Only then can we water the flock.h 9While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her fatherfs sheep, since she was a shepherdess.
10When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his motherfs brother, accompanied by Labanfs sheep, Jacob approached the well, rolled the stone from the opening of the well, and then watered his motherfs brother Labanfs flock.
11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry out loud. 12Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father, since he was Rebekahfs son, so she ran and told her father.
13When Laban heard the news about his sisterfs son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him, kissed him, and brought him back to his house.
Then Jacob told Laban about everything that had happened. 14Laban responded, gYou certainly are my flesh and blood!h So Jacob stayed with him for about a month.
15Later, Laban asked Jacob, gShould you serve me for free, just because youfre my nephew? Letfs talk about what your wages should be.h
16Now Laban happened to have two daughters. The older one was named Leah and the younger was named Rachel. 17Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance. 18Jacob loved Rachel, so he made this offer to Laban: gIfll serve you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.h
19gItfs better that I give her to you than to another man,h Laban replied, gso stay with me.h 20Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but it seemed like only a few days because of his love for her.
21Eventually, Jacob told Laban, gBring me my wife, now that my time of service has been completed, so I can go be with her.h 22So Laban gathered all the men who lived in that place and held a wedding festival.
23That night Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. He had marital relations with her. 24Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant.
25The next morning, Jacob realized that it was Leah! gWhat have you done to me?h he demanded of Laban. gDidnft I serve you for seven years in order to marry Rachel? Why did you deceive me?h
26But Laban responded, gItfs not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage before the firstborn. 27Fulfill the week for this daughter, then wefll give you the other one in exchange for serving me another seven years.h
28So Jacob completed another seven yearsf work, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maidservant. 30Jacob also married Rachel, since he loved her. He served Laban another full seven yearsf work for Rachel.
31Later, the Lord noticed that Leah was being neglected, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless. 32Leah conceived, bore a son, and named him Reuben, because she was saying, gThe Lord had looked on my torture, so now my husband will love me.h
33Later, she conceived again, bore a son, and declared, gBecause the Lord heard that Ifm neglected, he gave me this one, too.h So she named him Simeon.
34Later, she conceived again and said, gThis time my husband will become attached to me, now that Ifve borne him three sons.h So he named him Levi.
35Then she conceived yet again, bore a son, and said, gThis time Ifll praise the Lord.h So she named him Judah.
Then she stopped bearing children.
Chapter 30
1Rachel noticed that she was not bearing children for Jacob, so because she envied her sister Leah, she told Jacob, gIf you donft give me sons, Ifm going to die!h
2That made Jacob angry with Rachel, so he asked her, gCan I take Godfs place, who has not allowed you to conceive?h
3Rachel responded, gHerefs my handmaid Bilhah. Go have sex with her. She can bear children on my knees so I can have children through her.h
4So Rachel gave Jacob her woman servant Bilhah to be his wife, and Jacob had sex with her. 5Bilhah conceived and bore a son for Jacob. 6Then Rachel said, gGod has vindicated me! He has heard my voice and has given me a son.h Therefore, she named him Dan.
7Rachelfs servant conceived again and bore a second son for Jacob, 8so Rachel said, gIfve been through a mighty struggle with my sister and won.h She named him Naphtali.
9When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children, she took her woman servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10Leahfs servant Zilpah bore a son to Jacob, 11and Leah exclaimed, gHow fortunate!h So she named him Gad.
12Later, Leahfs servant Zilpah bore a second son for Jacob. 13She said, gHow happy I am, because women will call me happy!h So she named him Asher.
14Some time later, during the wheat harvest season, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field and brought them back for his mother Leah. Then Rachel told Leah, gPlease give me your sonfs mandrakes.h
15In response, Leah asked her, gWasnft it enough that youfve taken away my husband? Now you also want to take my sonfs mandrakes!h
But Rachel replied, gOkay, letfs let Jacob sleep with you tonight in exchange for your sonfs mandrakes.h
16When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went to meet him and told him, gYoufre having sex with me tonight. I traded my sonfs mandrakes for you!h So he slept with her that night.
17God heard what Leah had said, so she conceived and bore a fifth son for Jacob. 18Then Leah said, gGod has paid me for giving my servant to my husband as his wife.h So she named him Issachar.
19Later, Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son for Jacob. 20Then Leah said, gGod has given me a good gift. This time my husband will exalt me, because Ifve borne him six sons.h So she named him Zebulun.
21After that, Leah conceived, bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.
22Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, 23so she conceived, bore a son, and remarked, gGod has removed my shame.h 24Because she had been asking, gMay God give me another son,h she named him Joseph.
25After Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob told Laban, gSend me off so that I can go back to my place and country. 26Give me my wives and children for whom Ifve served you. Then Ifll leave, since youfre aware of my service to you.h
27Then Laban responded, gIf Ifve found favor in your sight, please stay with me, because Ifve learned through divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 28Name your wage, and Ifll give it to you.h
29But Jacob replied to Laban, gYou know how Ifve served you and how your cattle thrived under my care. 30What you had previously was only a few head, but the herd has now multiplied, because the Lord has blessed you through my efforts. But now, when am I going to be able to provide for my own household?h
31gWhat do I have to give you?h Laban asked.
Jacob responded, gYou donft have to give me anything. Just do this for me: Let me tend your flock again and watch over it. 32Let me walk among your flocks today and remove every speckled or spotted sheep, along with every black lamb, and let me do the same with the speckled and spotted goats. These will be my wages. 33In the future, youfll be able to verify my honesty because, when you come to check what Ifve earned, if you find a goat thatfs not speckled or spotted or a sheep thatfs not black, then it will have been stolen by me.h
34gOkay,h Laban replied. gWefll do it the way youfve asked.h
35That very day, Laban removed the male goats that were striped or spotted, all the female goats that were speckled or spotted\that is, every one that had white on them\and all the black lambs and placed them into the care of his sons. 36He sent them as far away from Jacob as a three daysf journey could take them.
Meanwhile, Jacob kept tending the rest of Labanfs flock. 37Jacob took branches from white poplar trees, freshly cut almond trees, and some other trees, stripped off their bark to make white streaks, and uncovered the white part inside the branches. 38Then he placed the branches that he had stripped bare in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. He placed the branches in front of the flock, and they went into heat as they came to drink. 39When the flocks mated in front of the branches, they would bear offspring that were striped, speckled, or spotted.
40Jacob kept the lambs separate, facing the striped and entirely black ones that belonged to Labanfs flock. He set his own herd by itself and would not let them be with Labanfs flock. 41Whenever the more vigorous of the flock came into heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the flock to make them mate by the branches.
42But he didnft put the branches in front of any of the feeble members of the flock. As a result, the feeble ones belonged to Laban, but the stronger ones belonged to Jacob. 43Therefore the man Jacob prospered so much that he had large flocks, female and male servants, as well as camels and donkeys.
Chapter 31
1Now Jacob used to listen while Labanfs sons kept on complaining, gJacob has taken over everything our father owns! He made himself wealthy from what belongs to our father!h 2Jacob also noticed that the way Laban had been looking at him wasnft as nice as it had been just two days earlier.
3Then the Lord ordered Jacob, gGo back to your fatherfs territory and to your relatives. Ifll be with you.h
4Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to come out to the field where his flock was 5and informed them, gIfve noticed that the way your father has been looking at us hasnft been as nice as it was just two days ago. But my fatherfs God has been with me. 6You know Ifve been serving your father with all my heart. 7Even so, your father has cheated me. He broke our wage agreement ten times. However, God didnft allow him to harm me.
8gWhen Laban said, eThe speckled ones will be your wages,f then all the flock gave birth to speckled ones. Then when he said, eThe streaked ones will be your wages,f all the flock gave birth to streaked offspring.
9gSo God has taken away your fatherfs livestock and has given them to me. 10As it was, when it was time for the livestock to breed, I once looked up in a dream, and the male goats that were mating with the flock were producing streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring.
11gLater, the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, eJacob.f
geHere I am,f I replied
12geLook around!f he said. eGo ahead, look! All the male goats have been mating with the flock, producing offspring that are streaked, speckled, and spotted, because Ifve been watching everything that Laban has done to you. 13I am the God of Bethel, the place where you consecrated that stone and made a vow to me. Now get up, leave this territory, and return to your native land.fh
14Then Rachel and Leah asked him, gDo we have anything left of inheritance remaining in our fatherfs house? 15Hefs treating us like foreigners. He sold us and spent all of the money that rightfully belonged to us. 16Furthermore, all of the wealth that God has stripped away from our father belongs to us now and to our children. So do everything that God tells you to do.h
17So Jacob got up, seated his children and wives on camels, 18and drove all his livestock ahead of him, with everything that belonged to him, including the livestock that he had bought and accumulated in Paddan-aram, intending to deliver them to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19Meanwhile, Laban had been out shearing his sheep. While he was away, Rachel stole her fatherfs personal idols. 20Moreover, Jacob had deceived Laban the Syrian, because he had never told him that he was intending to leave. 21Jacob fled, taking everything that he owned. He got up, crossed the Jordan river, and headed toward the hill country of Gilead. 22Three days later, somebody reported to Laban that Jacob had fled, 23so he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob. Laban was on the road for seven days when he finally caught up with Jacob in the hill country of Gilead.
24That night, God appeared to Laban the Syrian in a dream and warned him, gBe careful what you say to Jacob, whether itfs one word good or bad.h 25Meanwhile, Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, where Laban had caught up with him. Laban and his relatives encamped on that same mountain in the hill country of Gilead, too.
26Then Laban asked Jacob, gWhat did you do? You deceived me, carried off my daughters like you would war captives, 27ran away from me secretly, and stole from me by not keeping me informed. Otherwise, I could have sent you off with a party and singing, accompanied by a band playing tambourines and harps. 28As it is, you didnft even allow me to kiss my grandchildren and daughters goodbye! Youfve acted foolishly. 29Itfs actually in my power to do some serious evil to you, but last night the God of your father told me, eBe careful what you say to Jacob whether good or evil.f 30Now, you can go if you must go, because you certainly are longing to go to your fatherfs house. But why did you steal my gods?h
31gI was afraid,h Jacob replied. gI thought you might take your daughters from me. 32Now as to your gods, if you find someone has them in their possession, hefs a dead man. Take our relatives as witnesses, search through our belongings, and take whatever belongs to you thatfs in my possession.h But Jacob didnft know that Rachel had stolen the idols. 33So Laban entered Jacobfs tent, Leahfs tent, and the tents of the two maid servants, but he didnft find them. Then he left Leahfs tent and entered Rachelfs tent.
34Meanwhile, Rachel had taken the idols, placed them inside the saddle of her camel, and sat on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but found nothing. 35Then Rachel told her father, gSir, please donft be angry that I cannot stand up in your presence. Itfs that time of the month.h So Laban searched for the idols, but never did find them.
36Then Jacob got angry and started an argument with Laban. gWhat have I done?h he demanded. gWhatfs my crime that would cause you to come pursue me so violently? 37Now that youfve searched all my belongings, what did you find that belongs to your house? Set it here in front of our relatives and wefll let them judge between us!
38gMeanwhile, these past 20 years that Ifve been with you, your sheep and goats never had miscarriages, I never once ate any of the rams from your flock, 39and whatever was torn by beasts, I never bothered to bring to you. Instead, I bore the losses myself. Even so, you demanded that I provide restitution for anything that was stolen, whether during the day or the night.
40gAs it was, I was attacked by drought during the day and by cold at night. I never got any decent rest. 41Ifve lived in your house these 20 years\serving fourteen years for your two daughters and another six years for your flocks. During all that time you changed my wages ten times. 42If the God of my father\the God of Abraham, the God whom Isaac feared\had not been with me, you would have sent me away empty handed. But God saw my misery and how hard Ifve worked with my own hands\and he rebuked you last night.h
43But Laban answered Jacob, gThese women are my daughters. These children are my children. The flocks are mine. In fact, everything that you see belongs to me. But what would I do today to my daughters and the children they have borne? 44Come, letfs make a covenant just between you and me. And let it serve as a witness between you and me.h
45So Jacob took a stone and raised it as a pillar. 46Then Jacob told his relatives, gGo gather some stones.h So they picked up stones and stacked them one on top of the other. Then they had a meal together there by the stack of stones. 47Laban named the place Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob named it Galeed.
48Then Laban said, gThis stack will serve as a witness between you and me today.h Thatfs how the place came to be named Galeed. 49It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, gMay the Lord watch between you and me, when we are estranged from each other. 50If you mistreat my daughters or if you take other wives besides them, though no one is watching us, keep in mind that God stands as a witness between you and me.h
51gLook!h Laban added, gHere is the stack of stones and here is the pillar that Ifve set up between you and me. 52This stack is a witness, and so is this pillar, reminding me not to cross beyond this stack of stones, and reminding you not to pass by this stack in my direction, intending to cause harm. 53May Abrahamfs God and Nahorfs god judge between us.h
So Jacob made an oath by his fatherfs Fear, 54offered sacrifices there on the mountain, and called on his relatives to eat some food. So they ate the food and spent the night on the mountain. 55Early the next morning, Laban woke up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, blessed them, and then left for home.
Chapter 32
1As Jacob went on his way, angels from God met him. 2As he was watching them, Jacob said, gThis must be Godfs camp,h so he named that place Mahanaim.
3Then Jacob sent messengers ahead of him into the land of Seir (that is, into the territory of Edom) to meet his brother Esau. 4He instructed them, gThis is what you are to say to my master Esau: eYour servant Jacob told me to tell you, gIfve journeyed to stay with Laban and Ifve remained there until now. 5I now have cattle, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. Ifm sending this message to you, sir, so that youfll show favor to me.hfh
6Later, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, gWe went to your brother Esau. Hefs now coming to meet you\and he has 400 men with him!h
7Feeling mounting terror and distress, Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, doing the same with the flocks, the cattle, and the camels. 8Jacob was thinking, gIf Esau comes to one group and attacks it, then the remaining group may escape.h
9Then Jacob prayed, gO God of my father Abraham, O God of my father Isaac, O Lord, you who told me, eReturn to your country and to your relatives and Ifll cause things to go well for you.f 10Ifm unworthy of all your gracious love, your faithfulness, and everything that youfve done for your servant. When I first crossed over this Jordan River, I had only my staff. But now Ifve become two groups. 11Deliver me from my brother Esaufs control, because Ifm terrified of him, and I fear that hefs coming to attack me, the mothers, and their children. 12Now, you promised me that eIfm certainly going to cause things to go well with you, and Ifm going to make your offspring as numerous as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.fh
13Jacob spent the night there. Out of everything that he had brought with him, he chose a gift for his brother Esau\ 14 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 15 30 milking camels with their young, 40 cows with ten bulls, and 20 female donkeys with ten male donkeys. 16He entrusted them into the care of his servants, one herd at a time. Then he told his servants, gGo in front of me, making sure therefs plenty of space between herds.h
17To the first group he said, gWhen you meet my brother Esau, if he asks, eTo whom do you belong? Where are you going? And to whom do these herds belong?f 18then you are to reply, eWefre from your servant Jacob. The herds are a gift. Hefs sending them to my master, Esau. Look! There he is, coming along behind us.fh
19He issued similar instructions to the second and third group, as well as to all the others who drove the herds that followed: gThis is how you are to speak to Esau when you find him. 20You are to tell him, eLook! Your servant Jacob is coming along behind us.fh
Jacob was thinking, gIfll pacify him with the presents that are being sent ahead of me. Then, when I meet him, perhaps hefll accept me.h 21So the presents went ahead of him, while he spent that night in the camp. 22Later that night, he woke up, quickly took his two wives, his two women servants, and his eleven children, and forded the river at Jabbok. 23He took them across the river, along with all his possessions.
24And so Jacob was left alone, and he struggled with a man until daybreak. 25When the man realized that he hadnft yet won the struggle, he injured the socket of Jacobfs thigh, dislocating it as he wrestled with him, 26and said, gLet me go, because the dawn has come.h
gI wonft let you go,h Jacob replied, gunless you bless me.h
27Then the man asked him, gWhatfs your name?h
gJacob,h he responded
28gYour name wonft be Jacob anymore,h the man replied, gbut Israel, because you exerted yourself against both God and men, and youfve emerged victorious.h
29gPlease,h Jacob inquired, gTell me your name.h
But he asked, gWhy are you asking about my name?h And he blessed Jacob there.
30Jacob would later call that place Peniel, because gI saw God face to face, but my life was spared.h
31The sun was rising above Jacob as he crossed over from Peniel, limping due to his wounded thigh. 32Therefore, to this day the Israelis do not eat the hip tendon that connects to the thigh socket, because he had injured the socket of the thigh where the tendon connected to Jacobfs hip.
Chapter 33
1When Jacob looked off in the distance, there was Esau coming toward him, accompanied by 400 men! So Jacob divided Leahfs children, Rachel, and the children of the two servants into separate groups. 2Then he positioned the women servants and their children first, then Leah and her children next, and then Rachel and Joseph after them. 3Then he went out to meet Esau, passing in front of all of them, and bowed low to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him. Then he fell on his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
5When Esau eventually looked around, he saw the women and the children. So he asked, gWho are these people with you?h
gThe children, whom God has graciously given your servant,h he answered. 6Then the women servants approached, accompanied by their children, and bowed low. 7Leah also approached, and she and her children bowed low. After this, Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed low.
8Then Esau asked, gWhat are all these livestock for?h
gTo solicit favor from you, sir,h Jacob answered.
9But Esau replied, gI already have so much, my brother, so keep what belongs to you.h
10gPlease,h Jacob implored him, gdonft refuse. If Ifm to receive favor from you, then receive this gift from me, because seeing your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have favorably accepted me. 11So receive my blessing, which has been sent to you, since God has been gracious to me. Besides, I have enough.h Because Jacob kept pressing him, Esau accepted the gifts.
12Then Esau suggested, gLetfs set out and travel together, but let me go in front of you.h
13gSir, you know that the children are frail,h Jacob suggested, gand the ewes and cows with me are still nursing their young. If theyfre driven even for a day, the entire flock will die. 14So allow yourself to go ahead of his servant while I travel more slowly, letting the herds set their own pace with the children until I arrive to see my lord in Seir.h
15Esau said, gLet me leave with you some of the people who are with me.h
gWhy do that?h Jacob asked. gIfve already found favor in your sight, sir.h 16So Esau set out that very day back on his way to Seir, 17but Jacob set out for Succoth, built a house there, and constructed some cattle shelters. He named the place Succoth.
18After Jacob had arrived safely from Paddan-aram, he entered the city of Shechem, which was located in the territory of Canaan, and encamped facing that city. 19Then he bought a parcel of land for 100 pieces of silver from the descendants of Hamor, Shechemfs father. He pitched his tent there, 20set up an altar, and named it El-elohe-israel.
Chapter 34
1Some time later, Dinah, Leahfs daughter whom she has borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2When Hamor the Hivitefs son Shechem, the regional leader, saw her, he grabbed her and raped her, humiliating her. 3He was attached to Dinah, Jacobfs daughter, since he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4Then Shechem told his father Hamor, gGet this young woman for me to be my wife.h
5Because Jacob learned that Shechem had dishonored his daughter Dinah while his sons were still out with their cattle on the open range, he remained silent until they returned. 6Meanwhile, Shechemfs father Hamor arrived to talk to Jacob. 7Just then Jacobfs sons arrived from the field. When they heard what had happened, they were distraught with grief and livid with anger toward Shechem, because he had committed a disgraceful deed in Israel by forcing Jacobfs daughter to have sex, an act that never should have happened.
8But Hamor said this: gMy son is deeply attracted to your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 9Intermarry with us. Give your daughters to us and take our sons for yourselves. 10Live with us anywhere you want. Live, trade, and grow rich in it.h
11Shechem also addressed Dinahfs father and brothers, saying to them, gIf youfll just approve me, Ifll give whatever you ask of me. 12No matter how big or how extensive your demands are for a dowry and wedding presents from me, Ifll provide whatever you ask. Only give me the young lady to be my wife.h
13But Jacobfs sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceptively, because Shechem had dishonored their sister Dinah. 14They told them, gWe canft do this. We canft give our sister to a man who isnft circumcised, because that would be insulting to us. 15But wefll agree to your request, only if you will become like us by circumcising every male among you. 16Then wefll give our daughters to you and take your daughters for ourselves, live among you, and be as a united people. 17But if you wonft listen to us, then wefre going to take our daughter and leave.h
18What they said pleased Hamor and his son Shechem, 19so the young man did not delay the matter any further, since he was delighted with Jacobfs daughter.
Now Shechem was the most important person in his fatherfs household. 20So Hamor and his son Shechem entered the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city. 21gThese men are at peace with us,h they announced. gTherefore, let them live in the land and trade in it. Look! The land is large enough for them. Letfs take their daughters as wives for ourselves and letfs give our sons to them.
22gHowever,h they added, gonly on this condition will the men consent to live with us and be united as a single people with us: every male among us will have to be circumcised just as they are. 23Shouldnft all their cattle, acquisitions, and animals belong to us? So, letfs give our consent to them, and then theyfll live with us.h
24All of the males who heard Hamor and his son Shechem, who had gone out to the city gate, were circumcised. 25Three days later, while they were still in pain, Jacobfs sons Simeon and Levi, two of Dinahfs brothers, each grabbed a sword and entered the city unannounced, intending to kill all the males. 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took back Dinah from Shechemfs house, and left.
27Jacobfs other sons came along afterward and plundered the city where their sister had been defiled, 28seizing all of their flocks, herds, donkeys, and whatever else was in the city or had been left out in the field. 29They carried off all their wealth, their children, and their wives as captives, plundering everything that remained in the houses.
30Then Jacob told Simeon and Levi, gYou have certainly stirred up trouble for me! Youfve made me despised by the Canaanites and the Perizzites who live in this territory. Because I have only a few men with me, theyfre going to gather themselves together and attack me until I am totally destroyed, along with my entire household!h
31gShould he have treated our sister like a whore?h they asked in response.
Chapter 35
1Later, God told Jacob, gGet up, move to Bethel, and live there. Build an altar to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.h
2Jacob announced to his household and to everyone with him, gThrow away the foreign gods that youfve kept among you, purify yourselves, and change your clothes. 3Then letfs get up and go to Bethel, where Ifll build an altar to the God who answered me when I was in distress and who was with me on the road, wherever I went.h
4So they handed over to Jacob all their foreign gods on which they had been depending, along with the rings that they were wearing on their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak that grew near Shechem. 5As they set out on their journey, because the people who lived in the cities around them feared God, they did not pursue Jacobfs sons.
6Eventually, Jacob and everyone with him arrived at Luz (also called Beth-el) in the territory of Canaan. 7He built an altar there to God and named the place El Beth-el, because God had revealed himself there when he was fleeing from his brother. 8Rebekahfs nurse Deborah died and was buried there, under the oak tree that was below Beth-el. Thatfs why the place was named Allon-bacuth.
9God appeared again to Jacob after he had arrived from Paddan-aram and blessed him. 10Then God told him,
gYour name is Jacob.
No longer are you to be called Jacob.
 Instead, your name will be Israel.h
So God called his name Israel 11and also told him,
gI am God Almighty.
You are to be fruitful
and multiply.
You will become a nation\
in fact, an assembly of nations!
Kings will come from you\
theyfll emerge from your own loins!
12Now as for the land
that I gave to Abraham and Isaac,
Ifm giving it to you
and to your descendants who come after you.
Ifm giving the land to you!h
13After this, God ascended from the place where he had been speaking to him. 14Jacob erected a pillar of stone at that very place where God had spoken to him. He poured a drink offering over it, anointed it with oil, 15and named the place where God had spoken to him Beth-el.
16Later, they set out from Beth-el. While still a long way from Ephrathah, Rachel started to have trouble giving birth. 17While she was suffering due to her difficult labor, the midwife told her, gDonft fear! Youfre going to have another son.h
18Just before she died, Rachel called her sonfs name Ben-oni, but his father Jacob named him Benjamin. 19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrathah, also known as Bethlehem. 20Jacob erected a pillar over her grave, and that pillar stands over Rachelfs grave to this day.
21Jacob continued his travels, and eventually pitched his tent facing Migdal Eder. 22But while Israel lived in that land, Reuben went inside his fatherfs tent and had sexual relations with his fatherfs concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.
Now Jacob had twelve sons. 23Leahfs sons were Reuben (Jacobfs first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24Rachelfs sons were Joseph and Benjamin. 25Rachelfs servant Bilhahfs sons were Dan and Naphtali. 26Leahfs servant Zilpahfs sons were Gad and Asher. These were Jacobfs sons who were born to him while he lived in Paddan-aram.
27So Jacob reached his father Isaac at Mamre, in Kiriath-arba (also known as Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived. 28Isaac had lived a total of 180 years 29when he died and joined his ancestors at a ripe old age. Then his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Chapter 36
1This is a record of Esaufs genealogy, that is, of Edom. 2Esau had married Canaanite women, including: Elon the Hittitefs daughter Adah, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah (who was Zibeon the Hivitefs daughter), and 3Ishamaelfs daughter Basemath (who was Nebaiothfs sister).
4Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel, and 5Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were Esaufs sons, who were born to him in the territory of Canaan.
6Later, Esau took his wives, his children, everyone in his household, his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions that he had acquired in the territory of Canaan and moved far away from his brother Jacob, 7because their holdings were too vast to allow them to stay together, since the land where they had settled was not able to support all of their livestock. 8So Esau lived in Mount Seir. (Esau was also known as Edom.)
9This is a record of the family history of Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites of Mount Seir. 10The names of Esaufs sons were Eliphaz (the son of Esaufs wife Adah) and Reuel (the son of Esaufs wife Basemath).
11Eliphazfs sons were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12Timnah was a concubine of Esaufs son Eliphaz. She bore Amalek to Eliphaz.
13Reuelfs sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esaufs wife Basemath.
14These were the sons of Esaufs wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, who was the daughter of Zibeon. She bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah for Esau.
15These were the tribal leaders of Esaufs descendants; that is, the children of Eliphaz, who was Esaufs firstborn: tribal leaders Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the tribal leaders who descended from Eliphaz in the territory of Edom. These were Adahfs sons.
17These were the descendants of Esaufs son Reuel: tribal leaders Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the tribal leaders who descended from Reuel in the territory of Edom. These were the sons of Esaufs wife Basemath.
18These were the descendants of Esaufs wife Oholibamah: tribal leaders Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These tribal leaders descended from Esaufs wife Oholibamah, Anahfs daughter. 19These were the descendants of Esau (also known as Edom) and their tribal leaders.
20These were the descendants of Seir the Horite, who lived in the territory: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the tribal leaders who descended from the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the territory of Edom.
22Lotanfs children were Hori and Hemam. Lotanfs sister was Timna.
23Shobalfs children were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24Zibeonfs children were Aiah and Anah. Anah discovered the hot springs in the wilderness while grazing his father Zibeonfs donkeys.
25Anahfs children were Dishon and Anahfs daughter Oholibamah.
26Dishonfs children were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.
27Ezerfs children were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28Dishanfs children were Uz and Aran.
29These were the tribal leaders who descended from the Horites: tribal leaders Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the tribal leaders who descended from the Horites, according to their tribal leaders in the territory of Seir.
31This is a list of the kings who ruled the territory of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelis. 32Beorfs son Bela ruled over Edom. His cityfs name was Dinhabah.
33After Bela died, Zerahfs son Jobab from Bozrah ruled in his place.
34After Jobab died, Husham from the territory of the Temanites ruled in his place.
35After Husham died, Bedadfs son Hadad, who killed Midian in the field of Moab, ruled in his place. His cityfs name was Avith.
36After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah ruled in his place.
37After Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth by the River ruled in his place.
38After Shaul died, Achborfs son Baal-hanan ruled in his place.
39After Achborfs son Baal-hanan died, Hadar ruled in his place. His cityfs name was Pau. And his wifefs name was Mehetabel, who was the daughter of Matred, and granddaughter of Me-zahab.
40These were the names of the chiefs who descended from Esau according to their clans, territories, and names: tribal leaders Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs who descended from Edom, according to their territories in their own land. This was the dynasty of Esau, who was the ancestor of the Edomites.
Chapter 37
1Jacob continued to live in the land they were occupying, where his father had journeyed in the territory of Canaan. 2This is a record of Jacobfs descendants.
When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was helping his brothers tend their flocks. He was a young man at that time, as were the children of Bilhah and Zilpah, his fatherfs wives. But Joseph would come back and tell his father that his brothers were doing bad things.
3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his brothers, since he was born to him in his old age, so he had made a richly-embroidered tunic for him. 4When Josephfs brothers realized that their father loved him more than all of his brothers, they hated him so much that they were unable to speak politely to him.
5Right about this time, Joseph had a dream and then told it to his brothers. As a result, his brothers hated him all the more! 6gLet me tell you about this dream that I had!h he said. 7gWe were tying sheaves together out in the middle of the fields, when all of a sudden, my sheaf stood up erect! And then your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf!h
8At this, his brothers replied, gDo you really think youfre going to rule us or lord it over us?h So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his interpretations of them.
9But then he had another dream, and he proceeded to tell his brothers about that one, too. gI had another dream,h he said. gThe sun, moon, and eleven of the stars were bowing down before me!h
10When Joseph told his father about this, his father rebuked him and asked him, gWhat kind of dream is that? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come to you and bow down to the ground in front of you?h 11As a result, his brothers became more envious of him. But his father kept thinking about all of this.
12Some time later, his brothers left to tend their fatherfs flock in Shechem. 13And Israel instructed Joseph, gYour brothers are tending the flock in Shechem. Come here, because Ifm going to send you to them.h
gHere I am!h he responded.
14gGo and see how things are with your brothers,h Israel ordered him. gAnd see how things are with the flock. Bring back a report for me.h Then he sent Joseph from the valley of Hebron.
When Joseph reached Shechem, 15a man found him wandering around in a field. So the man asked him, gWhat are you looking for?h
16gIfm searching for my brothers,h he responded. gTell me, where are they tending the flock?h
17gTheyfve already left,h the man answered. gI heard them saying that they were headed to Dothan.h So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there.
18Now as soon as they saw him approaching from a distance, before he arrived they plotted together to kill him. 19gLook!h they said. gHere comes the Dream Master! 20Come on! Letfs kill him and toss him into one of the cisterns. Then wefll report that some wild animal devoured him and wait to see what becomes of his dreams!h
21When Reuben heard about it, he tried to save Joseph from their plot. gLetfs not do any killing,h 22Reuben told them. gAnd no blood shedding, either. Instead, letfs toss him into this cistern thatfs way out here in the wilderness. But donft lay a hand on himch (Reuben intended to free Joseph and return him to his father.)
23As it was, when Joseph arrived where his brothers were, they stripped off the tunic that Jacob had given him, that is, the richly-embroidered tunic that he was wearing. 24They seized him and tossed him into the cistern, but the cistern was empty. (There was no water in it.)
25After this, while they were seated, eating their food, they looked around and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with camels carrying spices, balm, and myrrh for sale down in Egypt.
26Then Judah suggested to his brothers, gWherefs the profit in just killing our brother and shedding his blood? 27Come on! Letfs sell him to the Ishmaelites! That way, we wonft have laid our hands on him. After all, hefs our brother, our own flesh.h
So Judahfs brothers listened to him. 28As the Midianite merchants were passing through, they extracted Joseph from the cistern and sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who then took Joseph down to Egypt.
29Later, when Reuben returned to the cistern, Joseph wasnft there! In mounting panic, he tore his clothes, 30returned to his brothers, and shouted, gHefs not there! Now what? Where am I to go?h
31So they took Josephfs coat, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. 32Then they stretched out the richly-embroidered tunic to dry, and brought it to their father.
gWefve found this,h they reported. gLook at it and see if this is or isnft your sonfs tunic.h
33Examining it, he cried out, gItfs my sonfs tunic! A wild animal has no doubt torn Joseph to pieces.h
34So Jacob tore his clothes, dressed himself in sackcloth, and then mourned many days for his son. 35All his sons and daughters showed up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He kept saying, gLeave me alone! Ifll go down to the next world, still mourning for my son.h So Josephfs father wept for him.
36Meanwhile, down in Egypt, the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaohfs court officials, who was also Commander-in-Chief of the imperial guards.
Chapter 38
1Right about then, Judah left his brothers and went to live with an Adullamite man named Hirah. 2There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her, had sexual relations with her, 3and she conceived, bore a son, and named him Er. 4Later, she conceived again, bore another son, and named him Onan. 5Then she bore yet another son and named him Shelah. Judah was living in Kezib when she bore him.
6Judah found a wife for his oldest son Er. Her name was Tamar. 7But the Lord considered Er, Judahfs oldest son, to be wicked\so he put him to death.
8So Judah instructed Onan, gYou are to have sexual relations with your dead brotherfs wife, performing the duty of a brother-in-law with her, and have offspring for your brother.h
9But Onan knew that the offspring wouldnft be his own heir, so whenever he had sexual relations with his brotherfs wife, he would spill his semen on the ground to avoid fathering offspring for his brother. 10The Lord considered what Onan was doing to be evil, so he put him to death, too.
11After this, Judah told his daughter-in-law Tamar, gGo live as a widow in your fatherfs house until my son Shelah grows up.h But he was really thinking, gcotherwise, Shelah might die like his brothers.h So Tamar left and lived in her fatherfs house.
12Some years later, Shuafs daughter, that is, Judahfs wife, died. As Judah was grieving, he visited the shearers of his flock in Timnah, accompanied by his Adullamite friend Hirah.
13gLook!h somebody reported to Tamar, gYour father-in-law is going to Timnah to shear his sheep.h 14So she took off her mourning apparel, covered herself with a shawl, and concealed her outward appearance. Then she went out and sat at the entrance of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah, because she knew that even though Shelah had grown up, she wasnft being given to him as his wife.
15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, since she had concealed her face. 16So on the way, he turned aside, approached her, and said, gCome on! Letfs have some sex!h But he didnft realize that he was talking to his own daughter-in-law.
 gWhat will you give me,h she asked, gin order to have sex with me?h
17gIfll send you a young goat from the flock,h he responded.
But she pressed him, asking, gWhat security will you put up until youfve sent it?h
18Then he asked, gWhat pledge do you want me to give you?h
gYour signet ring, cord, and the staff in your hand,h she suggested.
So he gave them to her, had sex with her, and she became pregnant by him. 19Then she got up and left. Later, she took off her shawl and put on her mourning clothes.
20Later on, Judah sent his Adullamite friend to take her a young goat, intending to retrieve what he had put up as security from the woman, but he could not find her. 21He asked the men who lived in that area, gWherefs that temple prostitute who was sitting alongside the road at Enaim?h
 But they replied, gTherefs been no temple prostitute here.h
22So he returned to Judah and said, gI havenft found her. Also, the men who are from there said, eTherefs been no prostitute here.fh
23Then Judah said, gLet her have those things. Otherwise, wefll become contemptible. I sent this young goat, but you didnft find her.h
24Three months later, it was reported to Judah, gYour daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution! And look! Shefs pregnant because of it!h
gBring her out,h Judah responded. gLetfs burn her to death!h
25While they were bringing her out, she sent this message to her father-in-law: gI am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong. Furthermore,h she added, gtell me to whom this signet ring, cord, and staff belongs.h
26When Judah recognized them, he admitted, gShe is more upright than I, because I never did give her my son Shelah.h And he never had sex with her again.
27Later, when it was time for Tamar to give birth, she was carrying twins in her womb! 28While she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, so the midwife grabbed it and tied something scarlet around his hand, observing, gThis one came out first.h
29As it was, he withdrew his hand, and then his brother was born. Amazed, the midwife cried out loud, gWhatfs this? A breach birth?h So that boy was named Perez. 30Afterwards, his brother came out, and around his hand was the scarlet. So they named him Zerah.
Chapter 39
1Meanwhile, Joseph had been delivered to Egypt and turned over to Potiphar, one of Pharaohfs court officials and the Commander-in-Chief of the imperial guards. An Egyptian, he bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.
2But the Lord was with Joseph. He became a very prosperous man while in the house of his Egyptian master, 3who could see that the Lord was with Joseph, because the Lord made everything prosper that Joseph did. 4Thatfs how Joseph pleased Potiphar as he served him. Eventually, Potiphar appointed Joseph as overseer of his entire household. Moreover, he entrusted everything that he owned into his care. 5From the time he appointed Joseph to be overseer over his entire household and everything that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The Lordfs blessing rested on Joseph, whether in Potipharfs household or in Potipharfs fields. 6Everything that he owned, he entrusted into Josephfs care. He never concerned himself about anything, except for the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well built and good looking. 7Thatfs why, sometime later, Josephfs masterfs wife looked straight at Joseph and propositioned him: gCome on! Letfs have a little sex!h
8But he refused, telling his masterfs wife, gLook! My master doesnft have to worry about anything in the house with me in charge, and he has entrusted everything into my care. 9No one has more authority in this house than I do. He has withheld nothing from me, except you, and thatfs because youfre his wife. So how can I commit such a horrible evil? How can I sin against God?h
10She kept on talking to him like this day after day, but he wouldnft listen to her. Not only would he refuse to have sex with her, he refused even to stay around her. 11One day, though, he went into the house to do his work. None of the household servants were inside, 12so she grabbed Joseph by his outer garment and demanded gLetfs have some sex!h
Instead, Joseph ran outside, leaving his outer garment still in her hand. 13When she realized that he had left his outer garment right there in her hand, she ran outside 14and yelled for her household servants. gLook!h she cried out. gMy husband brought in a Hebrew man to humiliate us. He came in here to have sex with me, but I screamed out loud! 15When he heard me starting to scream, he left his outer garment with me and fled outside.h
16She kept his outer garment by her side until Josephfs master came home, 17and then this is what she told him: gThat Hebrew slave whom you brought to us came in here to rape me. 18But when I started to scream, he left his outer garment with me and ran outside.h
19When Josephfs master heard his wifefs claim to the effect that gThis is how your servant treated me,h he flew into a rage, 20arrested Joseph, and locked him up in the same prison where the kingfs prisoners were confined. So Joseph remained there in prison.
21But the Lord was with Joseph. He extended gracious love to him, causing the prison warden to be pleased with Joseph. 22So the prison warden entrusted into Josephfs care all the prisoners who were confined in prison. Whatever they did, Joseph was in charge of the work detail. 23The prison warden did not have to worry about anything under Josephfs care, because the Lord was with him. Thatfs why Joseph prospered in everything he did.
Chapter 40
1Some time later, both the senior security advisor to the king of Egypt and his head chef offended their master, Egyptfs king. 2Pharaoh was so angry with his two officers\his senior security advisor and his head chef\ 3that he locked them up in the prison dungeon operated by the captain of the guard, the very place where Joseph was imprisoned. 4The captain of the guard entrusted them to Josephfs custody, who took care of them, since they were to remain there in custody for a number of days.
5Then the two of them each had a dream. They both had their dreams the same night, and there were separate interpretations for each dream\the senior security advisor and the head chef to the king of Egypt, who had confined them in prison.
6When Joseph came to see them in the morning, he noticed how downcast they looked! They were both very sad. 7So he asked Pharaohfs officers, who were with him in prison in his masterfs house, gWhy are you so sad today?h
8gWe had a dream,h they replied, gbut therefs no one to interpret it.h
gInterpretations belong to God,h Joseph told them, gso please tell me your stories.h
9So the senior security advisor related his dream to Joseph. gIn my dream,h he said, gall of a sudden there was a vine in front of me! 10On the vine were three branches that budded. Blossoms shot out, and clusters grew up that produced ripe grapes. 11Then, with Pharaohfs cup in my hand, I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaohfs cup, then handed the cup directly to Pharaoh.h
12Then Joseph told him, gThis is what your dream means: The three branches are three days. 13Within three days, Pharaoh will encourage you and return you to your responsibilities. Youfll attend to Pharaohfs personal wine cup, just as you did when you were his senior security advisor. 14But keep me in mind when things go well for you. Be sure to extend kindness to me by remembering me to Pharaoh. Bring me out of this prison, 15because I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. Not only that, I havenft done anything that deserves me being confined to this pit.h
16When the head chef heard that the interpretation was good, he told Joseph, gI was also in my dream. All of a sudden, there were three baskets with white bread stacked on top of my head. 17There was all kinds of food in the basket that was on top, including baked food for Pharaoh. The birds were eating them from the basket on my head.h
18Joseph replied, gThis is what your dream means: The three baskets are also three days. 19Within three more days, Pharaoh will behead you and hang you on gallows, where birds will eat your flesh from you.h
20On the third day, which just happened to be Pharaohfs birthday, he threw a party for all his servants. He lifted the head of both his senior security advisor and of his head chef in front of his servants\ 21that is, he restored his senior security advisor to his former responsibilities, including attending to Pharaohfs personal wine cup, 22but he beheaded and hanged the head chef, just as Joseph had interpreted for them.
23Despite all of this, the senior security advisor not only didnft remember Joseph, he deliberately forgot him.
Chapter 41
1Two years later\to the day\Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, 2when all of a sudden seven healthy, plump cows emerged from the Nile to graze in the grass that grew in the reeds that lined the bank. 3Right after that, seven more cows came up out of the Nile. Ugly and gaunt, they stood next to the other cows on the bank of the Nile River. 4But all of a sudden they ate up the seven healthy, plump cows! Then Pharaoh woke up.
5After he had fallen back to sleep, he had a second dream, in which seven ears of plump, fruit-filled grain grew up on a single stalk. 6Suddenly seven thin ears of grain that had been scorched by an east wind sprouted up right after them 7and ate up the seven plump, fruit-filled ears. Then Pharaoh woke up a second time, and it had been a very vivid dream!
8The very next morning, he was frustrated about the dream, so he sent word to summon all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them what he had dreamed, but no one could interpret them.
9Then Pharaohfs senior security advisor spoke up. gMaybe I should make a confession. 10When Pharaoh was angry with some of his servants, he incarcerated me in custody of the captain of the bodyguard, along with Pharaohfs senior chef. 11We each had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. 12There was a Hebrew young man incarcerated with us, who was also working as a servant to the captain of the bodyguard.
gWe each related our dreams, and then he interpreted them for us. He provided specific meanings for each of our dreams. 13And what he interpreted for each of us came true! Pharaoh restored me to my responsibilities, but he executed the other man.h
14Pharoah sent word to summon Joseph quickly from the dungeon, so they shaved his beard, changed his clothes, and then sent him straight to Pharaoh. 15gIfve had a dream,h Pharaoh told Joseph, gbut nobody can interpret it. Ifve heard that you can interpret dreams.h
16gI canft do that,h Joseph replied, gbut God is concerned about Pharaohfs well-being.h
17So Pharaoh told Joseph, gIn my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, 18and all of a sudden seven healthy, plump, beautiful cows emerged from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds that line the bank. 19Just then, seven other cows emerged after them, poor, ugly, and appearing very gaunt in their flesh. Ifve never seen anything as ugly as those cows anywhere in the entire land of Egypt! 20But those thin, gaunt cows gobbled up the first seven healthy cows!
21gNot only that,h Pharaoh continued, gafter they had finished devouring the cows, nobody could tell that they had gobbled them up, because they were just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 22Later, I also dreamed about seven plump, fruit-filled ears of grain that grew up out of a single stalk. 23All of a sudden, seven thin, withered ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 24But the thin ears gobbled up the seven good ears. I told all this to my advisors, but nobody was able to explain it to me.h
25gPharaohfs dreams are identical,h Joseph replied. gGod has told Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. 26The seven healthy cows represent seven years, as do the seven healthy ears. The dreams are identical. 27The seven gaunt cows that arose after the healthy cows are seven years, as are the seven gaunt ears scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine. 28So the message that I have for Pharaoh is that God is telling Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. 29Be advised that seven years of phenomenal abundance are coming throughout all the land of Egypt, 30but after them seven years of famine are ahead, during which all of the abundance will be forgotten throughout the land of Egypt. The famine will ravage the land so severely that 31there will be no surplus in the land due to the coming famine, because it will be very severe.
32gNow since Pharaoh had that dream twice, it means that this event has been scheduled by God, and God will bring it to pass very soon. 33Therefore let Pharaoh select a wise, discerning person to place in charge over the land of Egypt. 34Also, let Pharaoh immediately proceed to appoint supervisors over the land of Egypt, who will collect one fifth of its agricultural production during the coming seven years of abundance.
35gLet them collect all the food during the coming fruitful years, store up the grain in cities governed by Pharaohfs authority, and place it under guard. 36Let the food be kept in reserve to feed the land for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout Egypt, so the people donft die during the famine.h
37What Joseph proposed pleased Pharaoh and all of his advisors, 38so Pharaoh asked his servants, gCan we find anyone else like this\someone in whom the Spirit of God lives?h
39gSince God has revealed all of this to you,h Pharaoh told Joseph, gthere is no one so wise and discerning as you. 40So you are to be appointed in charge over my palace, and all of my people are to do whatever you command them to do. Only the throne will have greater authority than you.h
41gLook!h Pharaoh confirmed to Joseph, gIfve put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt!h
42Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand, placed it on Josephfs hand, had him clothed in fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. 43Then he provided him with a chariot as his second-in-command, outfitted with a group of people who shouted out in front of him, gBow your knees!h And thatfs how Pharaoh set Joseph over the entire land of Egypt.
44Pharaoh also told Joseph, gIfm still Pharaoh, but without your permission nobody in all of the land of Egypt will so much as lift up their hands or take a step!h 45Pharaoh also changed Josephfs name to Zaphenath-paneah and gave Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, to him as his wife. And thatfs how Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.
46Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by traveling throughout the land of Egypt, independent from Pharaohfs oversight. 47While bumper crops grew during the seven abundant years, 48Joseph collected the surplus food throughout the land of Egypt, storing food in cities; that is, he gathered the food from fields that surrounded every city and stored it there. 49Joseph stored up so much grain\like sand on the seashore in so much abundance!\that he stopped keeping records because it was proving to be impossible to measure how much they were gathering.
50Before the years of famine arrived, Joseph fathered two sons with Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 51Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh because, he said, gGod has made me forget all of my hard life and my fatherfs house.h 52He named his second son Ephraim because, he said, gGod has made me fruitful in the land of my troubles.h
53As soon as the seven years of abundance throughout the land of Egypt ended, 54the seven years of famine started, just as Joseph had predicted. It was an international famine, but there was food everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. 55Eventually, the land of Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, so the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. gGo see Joseph,h Pharaoh announced to all the Egyptians, gand do whatever he tells you to do.h
56Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was beginning to be severe throughout the land of Egypt. 57In addition, all of the surrounding nations came to Joseph to buy grain from Egypt, because the famine had become severe throughout the world.
Chapter 42
1Eventually, Jacob observed that there was grain in Egypt, so he asked his sons, gWhy do you keep on staring at one another? 2Pay attention now! Ifve heard that there is grain in Egypt, so go down there and buy some grain for us, so we can live, instead of dying.h
3So ten of Josephfs brothers left to buy grain from Egypt. 4Jacob would not send Josephfs brother Benjamin to accompany them, because he was saying, gIfm afraid that hefll come to some kind of harm.h 5Israelfs sons went in a caravan that included others who were going to Egypt to buy grain, because the famine pervaded the land of Canaan, too.
6Meanwhile, Joseph continued to be ruler over the land, in charge of selling to everyone in the land. Josephfs brothers appeared and bowed down to him, face down. 7As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were, but he remained disguised and asked them gruffly, gWhere are you from?h
gFrom the land of Canaan,h they replied. gWefre here to buy food.h
8But Joseph had already recognized his brothers, even though they had not recognized him. 9Furthermore, Joseph remembered the dreams that he had about them. So he accused them, gYoufre spies! Youfve come here to spy on our undefended territories!h
10gNo, your majesty,h they replied. gYour servants have come here to buy food. 11Wefre all sons of a common father. Wefre honest men, your majesty. Wefre not spies!h
12But Joseph kept insisting, gItfs just as Ifve said\youfve come here to spy on our unguarded territories!h
13gBut your majesty,h they pleaded, gyour servants include twelve brothers, the sons of a common father back in the land of Canaan. Please! Our youngest brother remains with our father, and the other one is no longer alive.h
14gIfm right!h Joseph insisted. gJust as I said, youfre spies! 15So herefs how wefll test you. You can bet the life of Pharaoh that youfre not leaving here until your youngest brother comes here! 16One of you is to be sent back so he can get your brother while the rest of you remain in custody. That way, wefll test whether or not youfre telling the truth. If youfre not, as surely as the Pharaoh lives, youfre spies!h
17Then Joseph locked them all together in prison for three days. 18Three days later, Joseph told them, gI fear God, so do this and youfll live. 19If youfre honest men, leave one of your brothers here in custody, then the rest of you can leave and take some grain with you to alleviate the famine thatfs affecting your households. 20Just be sure to bring your youngest brother back to me so what youfve claimed can be verified. That way, you wonft die.h
21gWefre all guilty because of what we did to our brother!h they told each other. gWe kept on watching his suffering while he pleaded with us! Wefre in this mess because we wouldnft listen!h
22gDidnft I tell you!h Reuben replied. geDonft wrong the kid!f I said, but would you listen? No! Now itfs payback time!h
23Meanwhile, they had no idea that Joseph could understand them, since he was talking to them through an interpreter. 24He turned away from them and began to weep.
When he returned, he spoke with them, but then he took Simeon away from them and had him placed under arrest right in front of them.
25After this, Joseph gave orders to fill up their sacks with grain, to return each manfs money to his own sack, and to supply each of them with provisions for their return journey. All of this was done for them.
26Then they each mounted up, their donkeys having been loaded with grain, and left from there. 27Later on, one of them opened up his sack to give his donkey some fodder after they had stopped at the place where they intended to lodge for the night. There, in the mouth of his sack, was all of his money! 28He reported to his brothers, gMy money has been returned! Itfs right here in my sack!h
Trembling with mounting consternation, each of them asked one another, gWhat is God doing to us?h
29As soon as they had returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them. 30gThe man who was in charge of the land spoke harshly to us,h they said. gHe accused us of being spies! 31But we told him, eNo! Wefre honest men! Wefre not spies! 32Our father has twelve sons, but one of us isnft alive anymore, and our youngest brother is with our father today back home in Canaan.f
33gBut the man who was in charge of the land responded, eIfm going to test your honesty. Leave one of your brothers with me, take some grain for the famine thatfs afflicting your households, and leave. 34But bring your youngest brother back to me so I can be sure that youfre honest men, and not spies. Then Ifll return your brother to you, and youfll be allowed to trade anywhere in the land.fh
35Later on, as they went about unloading their sacks, each manfs bundle of money was found in each manfs sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were greatly distressed. 36Their father Jacob told them, gYoufre causing me to lose my children! Joseph is gone. Now Simeon is gone, and youfre planning to take Benjamin, too. Everythingfs going against me!h
37gFeel free to put my own two sons to death,h Reuben responded to his father, gif I donft bring him back to you. Trust me\Ifll bring him back to you.h
38But Jacob replied, gMy son isnft going back with you, since his brother is dead and hefs the only one left. If something should harm him as you travel, then itfll be death for me and my sad, gray hair!h
Chapter 43
1Meanwhile, the famine remained severe throughout the region. 2As a result, when Jacobfs family was beginning to eat the last of the grain that they had brought back from Egypt, their father Jacob told his sons, gGo back to Egypt and buy us some food.h
3But Judah reminded him, gThe man distinctly warned us: eYoufll never see my face unless your brother comes with you.f 4So if you send our brother with us, wefll go down and buy some food. 5But if you donft send him, wefre not going, because the man told us, eYoufll never see my face unless your brother is with you.fh
6Israel replied, gWhy did you make all this trouble by telling the man that you have another brother?h
7gThe man specifically asked about us and our relatives,h they responded. gHe asked us, eIs your father still alive?f and eDo you have another brother?f So we answered his questions. How could we have known that he would tell us to bring our brother back with us?h
8gSend the young man with me,h Judah told his father Israel, gand wefll get up and go so we can survive and not die\and that includes all of us, you and our families. 9Ifll even offer myself to guarantee that Ifll be responsible for him. If I donft bring him back and present him to you, Ifll personally bear the consequences forever. 10After all, if we hadnft delayed, we could have been there and back twice by now!h
11gIf thatfs the way it has to be,h their father Israel replied, gthen do this: take some of the best produce of the land in your containers and take them to the man as a gift\some resin ointment, some honey, fragrant resins, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds. 12Also take twice as much money with you so you can return the money that had been replaced in the mouth of your sacks. Maybe it was an accounting mistake on his part. 13And be sure to take your brother, too. So get up, return to the man, 14and may God Almighty cause the man to show compassion toward you. May he send all of you back, including your other brother and Benjamin. Now as for me, if I lose my children, I lose them.h
15So the men took their gift and double the money. Then they got up, took Benjamin with them, and set out for Egypt, and eventually appeared before Joseph.
16As soon as Joseph noticed that Benjamin had come with them, he ordered his palace manager, gBring the men into the palace. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, because these men will be dining with me for lunch.h 17So the man did what Joseph had ordered, and brought the men to Josephfs palace.
18The men were terrified as they were being taken to Josephfs palace. gItfs because of that money that was returned to our sacks the first time we were brought to him,h they reasoned. gHefs seeking an excuse to attack us, enslave us, and confiscate our donkeys!h
19So they approached Josephfs palace manager and talked with him at the palace entrance. 20gYour Excellency,h they said, gThe first time we came here to buy food, 21when we arrived at our overnight lodging place, we opened our sacks and discovered each manfs money was still in the mouth of his sack. All of our money was there! Wefve brought it back with us in full. 22Wefve also brought along some more money to buy supplies, but we donft know who put our money back into our sacks.h
23gRelax,h the manager said. gYou can stop being afraid, now. Your God, the God of your father, has placed hidden treasure within those sacks for you. Ifve been paid in full.h Then he brought Simeon out to them, 24ushered the men into Josephfs palace, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25Then off he went to prepare the honorary meal that was to be made ready for Josephfs arrival at noon, since they had been informed that they were going to be eating there.
26When Joseph arrived at his palace, his brothers brought to him their gifts that they had carried with them and bowed to the ground in front of him.
27Joseph asked them how they had been doing. gIs your father well, the older gentleman about whom you spoke?h he inquired. gIs he still alive?h
28gYour servant, our father, is doing well,h they replied. gHe is still alive.h Then they bowed down in humility.
29As Joseph looked up and recognized his brother Benjamin, his own motherfs son, he asked, gIs this your youngest brother about whom you spoke to me?h And he addressed him directly, gMay God be gracious to you, my son.h
30At this, Joseph hurried out, deeply moved because of his brother, and looked for a place to weep by himself. He entered his personal quarters, wept there awhile, 31then washed his face and came out. Barely controlling himself, he ordered his staff to serve the meal.
32Josephfs staff served him by himself, his brothers separately, and the Egyptian staff members by themselves, because the Egyptians wouldnft take their meal with the Hebrews, since doing so was detestable for the Egyptians.
33Meanwhile, the brothers were seated in front of Joseph in birth order, from firstborn to youngest. The men stared at one another in astonishment. 34Joseph himself brought portions to them from his own table, except that he provided to Benjamin five times as much as he did for each of the others. So they feasted together and drank freely with Joseph.
Chapter 44
1Later, Joseph commanded his palace manager, gFill the menfs sacks to full capacity with food and replace each manfs money at the top of the sack. 2Then place my cup\the silver one\in the top of the sack belonging to the youngest one, along with the money he brought to buy grain.h So the manager did precisely what Joseph told him to do.
3Early the next morning, the men were sent on their way, along with their donkeys. 4They had not traveled far from the city when Joseph ordered his palace manager, gGet up, follow those men, and when youfve caught up with them, ask them, eWhy did you repay evil for good? 5Donft you have the cup that my master uses to drink from and also uses to practice divination? Youfre wrong to have done this.fh 6So he went after them and made that accusation.
7gYour Excellency,h they replied, gWhy do you speak like this? Far be it from your servants to act like this. 8Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money that we found at the top of our sacks. How, then, could we have stolen silver or gold from your masterfs palace? 9Go ahead and execute whichever one of your servants is discovered to have it, and wefll remain as your masterfs slaves.h
10gAgreed,h he responded. gJust as youfve said, the one who is found to have it in his possession will become my slave, and the rest of you will be innocent.h
11So they quickly dismounted, unloaded their sacks onto the ground, and each one of them opened his own sack. 12The palace manager searched for the cup, beginning with the oldest brotherfs sack and ending with the youngest brotherfs sack, and there it was!\in Benjaminfs sack. 13At this, they all tore their clothes, reloaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.
14Joseph was waiting for them back at his palace when his brothers returned. They fell to the ground in front of him, 15and Joseph asked them, gWhy did you do this? Donft you know that Ifm an expert at divination?h
16gWhat can we say, Your Excellency,h Judah replied. gHow can we explain this or justify ourselves? God has discovered the sin of your servants, and now wefve become slaves to you, Your Excellency, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been discovered.h
17gFar be it from me to do this,h Joseph responded. gThe man in whose possession the cup was discovered will be my slave, but the rest of you may leave in peace to be with your father.h
18But Judah approached him and begged him, gYour Excellency, please allow your servant to speak to you privately. Please donft be angry with your servant, since you are equal to Pharaoh. 19Your Excellency asked his servants, eDo you have a father or brother?f 20and we answered Your Excellency, eWe have an aged father and a younger child who was born when he was old. His brother is now dead, so hefs the only surviving son of his mother. His father loves him.f
21gBut then you ordered your servants, eBring him here to me so I can see him for myself.f
22gSo we told Your Excellency, eThe young man cannot leave his father, because if he were to do so, his father would die.f 23But then you told your servants, eUnless your youngest brother comes back with you, you wonft see my face again.f
24gLater on, after we had gone back to your servant, my father, we told him what Your Excellency had said.
25geGo back,f our father ordered, eand buy us a little food.f
26gBut we told him, eWe canft go back there. If our youngest brother accompanies us, wefll go back, but we cannot see the manfs face again unless our youngest brother accompanies us.f
27gThen your servant, our father, told us, eYou know my wife bore me two sons. 28One of them left me, so I concluded gIfm certain that he has been torn to pieces,h and I havenft seen him since then. 29If you take this one from me, too, and then something harmful happens to him, then it will be death for me and my sad, gray hair!f
30gSo when I go back to your servant, my father, and the young man isnft with us, since hefs constantly living life focused on his son, 31when he notices that the young man hasnft come back with us, hefll die, and your servants really will have brought death to your servant, our father, along with his sad, gray hair! 32Also, your servant pledged his own life as a guarantee of the young manfs safety. I told my father, eIf I donft bring him back to you, you can blame me forever.f
33gTherefore, please allow your servant to remain as a slave to Your Excellency, instead of the young man, and let the young man go back home with his brothers. 34After all, how can I go back to my father if the young man doesnft accompany me? Ifm afraid of what might happen to my father.h
Chapter 45
1At this point, Joseph could not control his emotions any longer, so he cried out to everyone who was standing nearby, gEverybody! Leave me!h As a result, none of his staff was anywhere near him when he revealed himself to his brothers. 2He cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, including Pharaohfs household.
3Joseph blurted out, gIfm Joseph! Is my father really alive?h But his brothers could not answer him, because they had become terrified to be in his presence.
4Joseph implored his brothers, gPlease come close to me.h So they did.
gIfm your brother Joseph, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt!h he told them. 5gBut donft be distressed or angry at yourselves because you sold me here, because God sent me ahead of you all in order to deliver us. 6Thatfs because this famine has been going on for two years now in this region, and there are still five years left, during which there wonft be any plowing or harvesting.
7gGod sent me ahead of you to keep you alive on the earth, and to save you all in a magnificent way. 8As a result, it wasnft you who sent me here, but God himself! He established me as a father-figure to Pharaoh himself! Ifm in charge of his entire palace and ruler over the entire land of Egypt. 9So hurry up, go back to my father, and tell him that his son Joseph tells him, eGod has made me master of all of Egypt. Hurry up! Come live with me!f
10gYou are to live in the land of Goshen, near where I am\you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything that you own. 11Ifll provide for you there, since there are still five years of famine left to go, and you, your households, and everything you own would have otherwise become impoverished.
12gLook, now! All of you can see me! And my own brother Benjamin can tell that itfs really me speaking to you! 13So go tell my father about all of my splendor in Egypt. Tell him about everything that youfve seen. Be quick about it, and bring my father down here!h
14Then he threw his arms around Benjamin and wept as they embraced. 15He kissed all of his brothers and wept with them, too, and then his brothers were able to talk with him.
16As soon as the news reached Pharaohfs palace that Josephfs brothers had arrived, Pharaoh and his servants were ecstatic. 17Pharaoh told Joseph, gBe sure to tell your brothers, eDo this: load up your livestock, go back to the land of Canaan, 18get your father and your households, and come back to me. Ifll give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can live off the abundance of the land.f
19gIn addition,h Pharaoh ordered, gDo this: take some transport wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones to ride in, along with your wives, and bring your father and come! 20Donft worry about your household goods, because the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.h
21So Israelfs sons did what they were asked to do, and Joseph provided wagons for them, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them provisions for the journey. 22He gave each of them some changes of clothes, but he also gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. 23He sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the best of Egyptian goods and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for his father during the journey.
24Then Joseph sent his brothers away, and they left for home. As they were leaving, Joseph admonished them, gDonft quarrel on the way back!h
25So Josephfs brothers left Egypt and returned to the land of Canaan and to their father Jacob, 26where they informed their father, gJoseph is still alive! As a matter of fact, hefs ruling the entire land of Egypt.h But Jacob didnft believe them, because he had become cynical. 27However, as soon as his sons had told him everything Joseph had said, and after he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent along to carry him, their father Jacobfs spirit was encouraged.
28gItfs enough,h Israel replied. gMy son Joseph is still alive. Ifm going to go see him before I die!h
Chapter 46
1Later, Israel began his journey, taking along everything that he owned, and arrived at Beer-sheba, where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2God spoke to Israel through night visions, addressing him, gJacob! Jacob!h
gHere I am!h Jacob replied.
3gIfm God, your fatherfs God. Donft be afraid to move down to Egypt, because Ifm going to turn you into a mighty nation there. 4Ifm going down with you to Egypt, and Ifm certainly going to bring you back again. And Joseph himself will be with you when you die.h
5So Jacob got up and left Beer-sheba, and Israelfs sons carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives in the transport wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry them. 6They took their livestock and their household property that they had acquired in the land of Canaan and traveled to Egypt. Jacob and all of his descendants went with him\ 7including his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters\every one of his descendants accompanied him to Egypt.
8Herefs a list of the names of Israelfs sons, that is, of Jacob and his sons who moved to Egypt: Reuben, Jacobfs firstborn; 9Reubenfs sons Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; 10Simeonfs sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, who was the son of a Canaanite woman; 11Levifs sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; 12and Judahfs sons Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Technically, Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan.) Perezfs sons were Hezron and Hamul. 13Also included were Issacharfs sons Tola, Puvvah, Job, and Shimron; 14along with Zebulunfs sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15These were all sons from Leah, whom she bore for Jacob in Paddan-aram, along with his daughter Dinah. He had 33 sons and daughters.
16Also included were Gadfs sons Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli; 17Asherfs sons Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriahfs sons Heber and Malchiel were also included. 18These were all sons from Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah. She bore these sixteen children for Jacob.
19Jacobfs wife Rachelfs sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
20Josephfs sons born in the land of Egypt were Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, bore for him. 21Benjaminfs sons included Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22These were all the sons of Rachel, who were born for Jacob\fourteen in all.
23Also included were Danfs son Hushim; 24Naphtalifs sons Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25These were sons of Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel. She bore these children for Jacob\seven in all.
26All of these people, who belonged to Jacobfs family, traveled to Egypt. All of Jacobfs direct descendants, not including his sonsf wives, numbered 66 persons in all. 27Joseph had two sons born to him in Egypt, and all of Jacobfs household who went to Egypt numbered 70.
28Jacob sent Judah ahead of them to meet with Joseph, who would be guiding them to Goshen, and so they arrived. 29Joseph prepared his chariot and went to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as Jacob appeared in his presence, he embraced him and wept for a long time as he held on to him. 30gNow let me die,h Israel told Joseph, gsince Ifve seen your face and confirmed that youfre still alive!h
31But Joseph addressed his brothers and his fatherfs household and told them, gIfll go up and tell Pharaoh that my brothers and my fatherfs household have arrived from Canaan to be with me. 32Ifll mention that the men are shepherds. Because theyfve been taking care of livestock, they brought along their flocks, their herds, and everything else that they own. 33When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you eWhatfs your occupation?f 34you are to tell him, eYour servants have been taking care of livestock since we were youths. We and our ancestors have taken care of livestock.f That way, youfll be able to live in the Goshen territory, since shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.h
Chapter 47
1After this, Joseph went to inform Pharaoh. gMy father and brothers have come here from Canaan,h he said, gand theyfve come with their flocks, herds, and everything else they have. I settled them in the Goshen territory!h 2He brought along five of his brothers to present before Pharaoh.
3Pharaoh asked his brothers, gWhat are your occupations?h
gYour servants are shepherds,h they replied, gboth we and our ancestors. 4Wefve come to live for a while in this region, since there is no pasture back in Canaan for your servantsf flocks. May your servants please live in the Goshen territory?h
5Then Pharaoh replied to Joseph, gNow that your father and your brothers have come to you, 6Egypt is at your disposal, so settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land! Let them live in the Goshen territory. If you learn that any of them are especially skilled, put them in charge of my livestock.h
7Later, Joseph brought his father Jacob to Pharaoh and introduced him. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8gHow old are you?h Pharaoh asked Jacob.
9gIfm 130 years old,h Jacob replied. gMy years have turned out to be few and unpleasant, but I havenft yet reached the age my ancestors did during their travels on earth.h 10Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and then left the throne room.
11Joseph settled his father and brothers, assigning them their own land in the best part of Egypt (in the territory of Rameses), just as Pharaoh had ordered. 12Joseph provided food for his father, his brothers, and all of his fatherfs household, proportionate to the number of young children.
13Meanwhile, there continued to be no food throughout the land, because the famine remained very severe. As a result, both Egypt and Canaan languished under the effects of the famine. 14So Joseph kept on accumulating all the money that was to be found throughout Egypt and Canaan in exchange for the grain that was being purchased. He stored the money in Pharaohfs palace.
15After all the money had been spent throughout Egypt and Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and demanded, gGive us food! Why should we die right in front of you? Our money is spent!h
16gYou can surrender your livestock,h Joseph replied. gIfll feed them in exchange, since your money is gone.h
17So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph traded food in exchange for horses, various flocks and herds, and donkeys. He fed them with food in exchange for their livestock during that year.
18The following year, they came to him and reminded him, gWe wonft hide from you, your Excellency, that wefve spent all of our money, and that our livestock all belong to you. Therefs nothing left to trade with you, your Excellency, except our bodies and our territories. 19So why should we and our land die right in front of you? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seed, so we can survive and not die, and so the land wonft stay desolate.h
20So Joseph purchased all of the Egyptian territory for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his field, because the faminefs effect was so severe. Thatfs how Pharaoh came to own the land. 21Then Joseph transported the people to cities from one end of Egypt to the other. 22However, he did not purchase land belonging to the priests, because the priests held an allotment, previously provided to them by Pharaoh, from which they lived. Thatfs why they did not sell their land.
23After this, Joseph addressed the people. gPay attention,h he said. gIfve bought you and your land for Pharaoh today, in exchange for seed for you. Now go sow the land. 24When harvest season arrives, you are to provide a fifth of the harvest to Pharaoh. The remaining four fifths are to be for your use, for seed, and to feed you, your households, and your little ones.h
25gYoufve saved our lives,h they replied. gIf it pleases you, your Excellency, wefll be Pharaohfs slaves.h
26So Joseph crafted a statute concerning Egypt that remains valid to this day that Pharaoh should own a fifth of the produce, excluding the land belonging to the priests, which remained outside of Pharaohfs control.
27Israel remained in Egyptfs Goshen territory, acquired land there, became prosperous, and his descendants grew very numerous. 28He lived for seventeen more years in Egypt, until he was 147 years old. 29As the time approached for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and addressed him. gPlease,h he asked, gif youfre happy with me, make a solemn promise that youfll treat me fairly and kindly by not burying me in Egypt. 30Instead, when Ifve died, as my ancestors have, you are to carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their tomb.h
gIfll do what youfve asked,h Joseph replied.
31gPromise me,h Israel insisted. So Joseph promised. Then Israel collapsed on his bed.
Chapter 48
1Some time later, somebody informed Joseph, gYour father is ill!h So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit Jacob.
2As soon as Jacob was informed, gLook! Your son Joseph has come to visit you,h Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.
3Jacob reminded Joseph, gGod Almighty revealed himself to me at Luz in Canaan and blessed me. 4He told me, ePay attention! Ifm going to make you fruitful and numerous. Ifm going to build you into a vast nation of people and then Ifll give this land to your descendants for an eternal possession.f
5gYou have two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to be with you, whom I now take as my own. Ephraim and Manasseh are mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are. 6Your descendants are to be reckoned as yours, but are to be referred to among the names of their brothers in their respective inheritances.
7gNow as for me, Rachel died after I arrived in Canaan from Paddan, much to my sorrow. While I was on my journey to Ephrathah (also known as Bethlehem), I buried her there.h
8Just then, Israel saw Josephfs sons and asked, gWho are these?h
9gThese are my sons,h Joseph replied. gGod gave them to me here in Egypt.h
gPlease bring them close to me,h Jacob said, gso I can bless them.h
10Now Israelfs eyesight had become poor from age. Because he couldnft see well, Joseph brought them close to him, and Israel kissed them both and embraced them. 11Then he told Joseph, gI never thought Ifd see you again, and now God has allowed me to see your children as well!h
12Joseph took them off his knees and then bowed low with his face to the ground. 13Then he brought them both close to his father, placing Ephraim with his right hand toward Israelfs left and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israelfs right. 14But Israel stretched out his right hand, laying it on Ephraimfs head (he was the younger son) and laying his left hand on Manassehfs head (even though Manasseh was the firstborn).
15Then Israel blessed Joseph by saying:
gMay the God in whose presence
 my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has continued shepherding me
my whole life even until today,
16the angel who has been rescuing me
from all sorts of evil,
bless these young men.
May my name continue to live on within them,
including the names
of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac,
and may they grow into a vast multitude
 throughout the earth.h
17But Joseph observed that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraimfs head. That displeased him, so he grabbed his fatherfs hand and started to move it from Ephraimfs head to Manassehfs head. 18gNo, father, this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.h
19But his father refused. gI know,h he said. gI know. Hefs going to produce a large nation, and hefs going to be very great. However, his younger brother will become even greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.h
20That very day, Jacob blessed them with this blessing:
gBy you Israel will extend this blessing:
eMay God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!fh
By doing this, he placed Ephraim before Manasseh. 21Then Israel told Joseph, gPay attention! Ifm about to die, but God will be with you. Hefll bring you back to the land that belongs to your ancestors. 22Ifm assigning you one portion more than your brothers from the land that I confiscated from the control of the Amorites in battle.h
Chapter 49
1After this, Jacob called his sons together and told them, gAssemble yourselves around me so I can tell you all what is going to happen to you in the last days.
2gGather together and listen,
you children of Jacob.
Listen to your father Israel.h
3gReuben, youfre my firstborn,
my strength,
and the first fruit of my vitality.
You excel in rank
and excel in power.
4But youfre as undisciplined as a roaring river,
so eventually you wonft succeed,
because you got in your fatherfs bed,
defiled it, and then approached my couch.h
5gSimeon and Levi are brothers;
their swords are violent weapons.
6Ifll never join their council;
Ifll never enter their assembly.
In their anger they committed murder
and lamed cattle just for fun.
7Their anger is cursed,
because it is so fierce,
as is their vehemence,
because it is so cruel.
I will separate them throughout Jacobfs territory
and disperse them throughout Israel.h
8gYour brothers will praise you, Judah.
Your hand will be at the throat of your enemies,
and your fatherfs children will bow down to you.
9Judah is a lion cub.
My son, you have gone up from the prey.
Crouching like a lion,
he lies down,
Like a lioness,
who would dare rouse him?
10The scepter will never depart from Judah,
nor a rulerfs staff from between his feet,
until the One comes, who owns them both,
and to him will belong the allegiance of nations.
11Binding his donkey to the vine
and his marefs foal to its thick tendrils,
he will wash his garments in wine
and his robe in the juice of grapes.
12His eyes are darker than wine
and his teeth whiter than milk.h
13gZebulun will settle down near the sea shore
and become a safe haven for shipping,
bordering Sidon.h
14gIssachar is a strong donkey,
resting between sheepfolds.
15He observed that his resting place was excellent,
and that the land was pleasant;
he bent down,
picked up his burdens,
and became a slave at forced labor.h
16gDan will judge his people
as one of Israelfs tribes.
17Dan will be a snake on the path,
a viper on the road
that snaps at the heels of horses,
causing their riders to fall off.
18gLord, Ifm waiting for your salvation.h
19gBandits will raid Gad,
but Gad will raid them back.h
20gAsherfs food will be delicious;
he will be a provider of delicacies fit for royalty.h
21gNaphtali is a free running deer
who produces eloquent literature.h
22gJoseph is descended from a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine planted near springs of water.
His branches climb over walls.
23Even though enemies attacked him,
shooting at him
and pursuing him viciously,
24nevertheless his bow remained steady
and his arms kept in shape
by the strength of Jacobfs Mighty One,
in the name of the Shepherd,
Israelfs Rock,
25by your fatherfs God,
who will continually help you,
by the Almighty,
who will keep on blessing you
with blessings from heaven above,
with blessings from the deepest ocean,
with blessing from the breasts and the womb.
26Your fatherfs blessings will prove to be stronger
than blessings from the eternal mountains
or bounties from the everlasting hills.
May they come to rest on Josephfs head,
May they be set upon the brow of the one
who was separated from his own brothers.h
27gBenjamin is vicious like a wolf;
what he kills in the morning
he devours in the evening.h
28Thatfs how Israel blessed these twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father told them when he pronounced his blessing for them, blessing each one with a blessing suitable for them.
29In his last words, Jacob issued this set of instructions to them all: gIfm about to join our ancestors. Bury me alongside my ancestors in the cave in the field that used to belong to Ephron the Hittite. 30Itfs the cave in the field near Mamre at Machpelah in the land of Canaan that Abraham bought to serve as a cemetery. 31Itfs where Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, where Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and where I buried Leah. 32Both the field and the cave thatfs in it were purchased from the Hittites.h
33After concluding this set of instructions to his sons, Jacob tucked his feet up into bed, quit breathing, and was gathered to his ancestors.
Chapter 50
1Then Joseph embraced his father, cried over him, and kissed him. 2After this, he issued orders to his physician servants to embalm his father. So they embalmed Israel. 3It took 40 days to complete the process, the normal period required for embalming. Meanwhile, the Egyptians mourned for him for 70 days.
4At the conclusion of the mourning period, Joseph addressed Pharaohfs household. gIf youfre satisfied with me, would you please take this message to Pharaoh for me? Tell him, 5eMy father told me, gLook! Ifm about to die. Bury me in my grave that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.h So please let me travel to bury my father. Ifll be right back.fh
6gPlease go,h Pharaoh replied. gBury your father, as he asked you to do.h
7So Joseph got up and went to bury his father, accompanied by all of Pharaohfs servants, all of the elders of Egypt, 8all of Josephfs household, his brothers, and his fatherfs household. They left behind in the territory of Goshen only their youngest children, their flocks, and their herds. 9Chariots and horsemen also accompanied Joseph, so there were a lot of people.
10When they arrived at Atadfs threshing floor, which is located beyond the Jordan River, they held a great and mournful memorial service, during which Joseph spent seven days mourning for his father.
11As soon as the Canaanites who lived in the land observed the mourning going on at Atadfs threshing floor, they commented gThis is a significant time of mourning for the Egyptians.h Thatfs why the place, which is located beyond the Jordan River, became known as Abel-mizraim.
12And so Israelfs sons did what he had instructed them to do: 13they carried him to the territory of Canaan and buried him in the cave in Machpelah field near Mamre that Abraham had purchased as a cemetery from Ephron the Hittite. 14After he had buried his father, Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt, along with everyone who had gone with him to attend the burial.
15Later, after Josephfs brothers faced the reality of their fatherfs death, they asked themselves, gWhat happens if Joseph decides to hold a grudge against us? What if he pays us back in full for all the wrong things we did to him?h
16So they sent this message to Joseph: 17gBefore he died, your father left some instructions. He told us, eTell Joseph, gPlease forgive your brothersf offenses. I beg you, forgive their sins, because they wronged you.hf So please forgive the transgression of the servants of your fatherfs God.h
Joseph wept when they talked to him. 18So Josephfs brothers went to visit him, fell prostrate in front of him, and declared, gLook! Wefre your servants.h
19gDonft be afraid,h Joseph responded. gAm I sitting in Godfs place? 20As far as youfre concerned, you were planning evil against me, but God intended it for good, planning to bring about the present result so that many people would be preserved alive. 21So donft be afraid! Ifll take care of you and your little ones.h So Joseph kept on comforting them, speaking to the needs of their hearts.
22Joseph continued to live in Egypt, along with his fatherfs household, until he was 110 years old. 23Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraimfs children, as well as the children who had been born to Manassehfs son Machir, whom he adopted as his own.
24Later, Joseph told his brothers, gIfm going to die soon, but God will certainly provide for you and bring you up from this land to the land that he promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.h 25So Joseph made all of Israelfs other children make this promise: gBecause God is certainly going to take care of you, you are to carry my bones up from here.h
26Some time later, Joseph died at the age of 110 years, and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Exodus
Chapter 1
1These are the names of the Israelis who entered Egypt with Jacob, each one having come with his family: 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 3Issacar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 4Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5All those who descended from Jacob totaled 75 persons.
Now Joseph was already in Egypt. 6Then Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. 7But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly. They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them.
8Eventually a new king who was unacquainted with Joseph came to power in Egypt. 9He told his people, gLook, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are. 10Come on, letfs be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they wonft join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land.h 11So the Egyptians placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. 12But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis, the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians became terrified of the Israelis. 13The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, 14making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them.
15Later, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. 16gWhen you help the Hebrew women give birth,h he said, gwatch them as they deliver. If itfs a son, kill him; but if itfs a daughter, let her live.h 17But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead, they let the boys live.
18When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, gWhy have you done this and allowed the boys to live?h
19gHebrew women arenft like Egyptian women,h the midwives replied to Pharaoh. gTheyfre so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help them.h
20God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21Because the midwives feared God, he provided families for them. 22Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, gYoufre to throw every Hebrew son who is born into the Nile River, but youfre to allow every Hebrew daughter to live.h
Chapter 2
1A man of the family of Levi married the daughter of a descendant of Levi. 2Later, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a beautiful child, and hid him for three months. 3But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus container, coated it with asphalt and pitch, placed the child in it, and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4Then his sister positioned herself some distance away in order to find out what would happen to him.
5Then Pharaohfs daughter came down to the Nile to bathe while her maids walked along the river bank. She saw the container among the reeds and sent a servant girl to get it. 6When she opened it and saw the child, the little boy suddenly began crying. Filled with compassion for him, she exclaimed, gThis is one of the Hebrew children!h
7Then his sister asked Pharaohfs daughter, gShall I go and call one of the nursing Hebrew women so she can nurse the child for you?h
8Pharaohfs daughter told her, gGo,h so the young girl went and called the childfs mother. 9Pharaohfs daughter instructed her, gTake this child and nurse him for me, and Ifll pay you a salary.h So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10After the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaohfs daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, because she said, gI drew him out of the water.h
11Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people, and took notice of their heavy burdens. He saw an Egyptian beating up a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12Looking around and seeing no one else, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13Going out the next day, Moses noticed two Hebrew men fighting right in front of him. He told the one who was at fault, gWhy did you strike your companion?h
14The man replied, gWho appointed you to be an official judge over us? Are you planning to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?h
Then Moses became terrified and told himself, gSurely this event has become known!h
15When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh, settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. 16Meanwhile, the seven daughters of a certain Midianite priest would come to draw water in order to fill water troughs for their fatherfs sheep. 17Some shepherds came to drive them away, but Moses got up, came to their rescue, and watered their sheep. 18When they returned to their father Reuel, he asked, gWhy have you returned so quickly today?h
19gAn Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,h they replied, gand he even drew water for us and watered the sheep!h
20gThen where is he?h He asked his daughters. gWhy did you leave the man behind? Go invite him to have something to eat.h
21Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, because he used to say, gI became an alien in a foreign land.h
23The king of Egypt eventually died, and the Israelis groaned because of the bondage. They cried out, and their cry for deliverance from slavery ascended to God. 24God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25God watched the Israelis and took notice of them.
Chapter 3
1Meanwhile, Moses continued tending the sheep that belonged to his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the sheep to the western desert and came to Horeb, Godfs mountain, where 2the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flaming fire from the center of a bush. As Moses continued to watch, amazingly the bush kept on burning but was not consumed. 3Then Moses told himself, gIfll go over and see this remarkable sight. Why isnft the bush burning up?h
4When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from the center of the bush, gMoses! Moses!h
He said, gHere I am.h
5gDo not come any closer,h God said. gRemove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.h 6Then he said, gI am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.h At this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7The Lord said, gI have certainly seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry caused by their slave masters. I really do understand their pain, 8so I have come down to deliver them from their domination by the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the territory of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9Now, listen carefully! The cry of the Israelis has come to my attention about how severely the Egyptians have been oppressing them. 10So go! I am sending you to Pharaoh. Bring my people the Israelis out of Egypt.h
11But Moses told God, gWho am I? How can I go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelis out of Egypt?h
12Then God said, gI certainly will be with you. And this will be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will serve God on this mountain.h
13Moses told God, gLook, when I go to the Israelis and tell them, eThe God of your ancestors sent me to you,f theyfll say to me, eWhat is his name?f What should I say to them?h
14God replied to Moses, gI AM WHO I AM,h and then said, gTell the Israelis: eI AM sent me to you.fh
15God also told Moses, gTell the Israelis, eThe Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.f This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation. 16Go and gather the elders of Israel. Tell them, eThe Lord, the God of your ancestors, appeared to me\the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob\and he said, gI have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17I have said that I will bring you out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites\to a land flowing with milk and honey.hf
18gThe elders of Israel will listen to you, and then you and they are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, eThe Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now, let us take a three-day journey into the desert to sacrifice to the Lord our God.f 19I know that the king of Egypt wonft allow you to go unless compelled to do so by force, 20so I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do there. After that he will release you. 21I will grant this people public favor with the Egyptians, and as a result, when you leave you wonft go empty-handed. 22Each woman is to ask her neighbor or any foreign woman in her house for articles of gold and for clothing, and use them to clothe your sons and daughters. You will plunder the Egyptians.h
Chapter 4
1Then Moses answered, gLook, they wonft believe me and they wonft listen to me. Instead, theyfll say, eThe Lord didnft appear to you.fh
2gWhatfs that in your hand?h the Lord asked him.
Moses answered, gA staff.h
3Then God said, gThrow it on the ground.h He threw it on the ground and it became a snake. Moses ran away from it.
4Then God told Moses, gReach out and grab its tail.h So he reached out, grabbed it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5God said, gIfve done this so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors\the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob\has appeared to you.h
6Again the Lord told him, gPut your hand into your bosom.h He put his hand into his bosom and as soon as he brought it out it was leprous, like snow. 7Then God said, gPut your hand back into your bosom.h He returned it to his bosom and as soon as he brought it out, it was restored like the rest of his skin.
8gThen if they donft believe you and respond to the first sign, they may respond to the second sign. 9But if they donft believe even these two signs, and wonft listen to you, then take some water out of the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you took from the Nile will turn into blood on the dry ground.h
10Then Moses told the Lord, gPlease, Lord, Ifm not eloquent. I never was in the past nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly and I have a speech impediment.h
11Then God asked him, gWho gives a person a mouth? Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame? Is it not I, the Lord? 12Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech, and Ifll teach you what you are to say.h
13Moses said, gPlease, Lord, send somebody else.h
14Then the Lord was angry with Moses and said, gThere is your brother Aaron, the descendant of Levi, isnft there? I know that he certainly is eloquent. Right now hefs coming to meet you and he will be pleased to see you. 15Youfre to speak to him and tell him what to say. Ifll help both you and him with your speech, and Ifll teach both of you what you are to do. 16He is to speak to the people for you as your spokesman and you are to act in the role of God for him. 17Now pick up that staff with your hand. Youfll use it to perform the signs.h
18Moses left and returned to his father-in-law Jethro. Moses told him, gPlease let me go and return to my own people in Egypt so I can see whether theyfre still alive.h
Jethro told Moses, gGo in peace.h
19The Lord told Moses in Midian, gGo back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.h 20So Moses took his wife and son, put them on the donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
21Then the Lord told Moses, gWhen you set out to return to Egypt, keep in mind all the wonders that Ifve put in your power, so that you may do them before Pharaoh. But Ifll harden his heart so that he wonft let the people go. 22You are to say to Pharaoh, eThis is what the Lord says: gIsrael is my firstborn son. 23And I say to you, eLet my son go so he may serve me.f If you refuse to let him go, then I will kill your firstborn son.hfh
24But later on, at the lodging place along the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. 25Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sonfs foreskin, and touched Mosesf feet with it, saying while doing so, gcbecause you are a bridegroom of blood to me.h 26Then the Lord withdrew from him, and she said, gca bridegroom of blood because of circumcision.h
27The Lord told Aaron, gGo meet Moses in the desert.h So Aaron went, found him at the mountain of God, and kissed him. 28Moses told Aaron all of the Lordfs messages that he had sent with Moses, and all of the signs that he commanded him to do. 29Later, Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelis. 30Aaron spoke everything that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Moses performed the miracles before the very eyes of the people. 31The people believed and understood that the Lord had paid attention to the Israelis and had seen their affliction. They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves in worship.
Chapter 5
1After Moses and Aaron arrived, they told Pharaoh, gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eLet my people go so they may make a pilgrimage for me in the desert.h
2Pharaoh said, gWho is the Lord that I should listen to him and let Israel go? I donft know about the Lord, nor will I let Israel go!h
3Then they said, gThe God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God so he does not strike us with pestilence or sword.
4The king of Egypt replied to them, gMoses and Aaron, why are you keeping the people from their labor? Go back to your work!h 5Then Pharaoh said, gLook, the people in the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.h
6That day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters of the people and their officials, 7gYoufre no longer to give the people straw for making bricks, as in the past. They must gather straw for themselves. 8But youfre to impose the previous quota of bricks that theyfre making. Youfre not to reduce it! It is because theyfre lazy that theyfre crying out, eLetfs go offer sacrifices to our God.f 9So increase the work load on the people, and let them do it so they donft pay attention to deceptive speeches.h
10Then the taskmasters of the people and their officials went out and told the people, gThis is Pharaohfs response: eIfll no longer give you any straw. 11Go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work quotas wonft be reduced at all.fh 12So the people scattered throughout the entire land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw.
13The taskmasters pressured them by saying, gFinish your work\each dayfs quota\just as when you were given straw.h
14The Israeli supervisors whom Pharaohfs taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten and told, gWhy didnft you, both yesterday and today, fulfill your quota for making bricks as before?h
15The Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, gWhy are you doing this to us? 16No straw is being given to us, yet theyfre saying to us, eMake bricks!f Look, we are being beaten. Itfs wrong how you are treating your people!h
17Then Pharaoh said, gYou are lazy, lazy! Thatfs why youfre saying, eLetfs go offer sacrifices to the Lord.f 18Now, go! Work! And straw wonft be given to you, but you will deliver the same number of bricks!h 19The Israeli supervisors realized they were in trouble when he said, gYou wonft reduce each dayfs quota of bricks!h
20As they left Pharaohfs presence, they met Moses and Aaron standing there. 21The supervisors told them, gMay the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us repulsive to Pharaoh and his servants. You have put a sword in their hands to kill us.h
22So Moses returned to the Lord and asked him, gLord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why have you sent me here? 23Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have done nothing to deliver your people.h
Chapter 6
1The Lord told Moses, gNow you will see what Ifll do to Pharaoh. Indeed, hefll send them out under compulsion and hefll drive them out of his land violently.h
2Later, God told Moses, gI am the Lord. 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, and did I not reveal to them my name eLordf? 4I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as resident aliens for a time. 5Also, Ifve heard the groaning of the Israelis whom the Egyptians have forced to labor for them, and Ifve remembered my covenant. 6Therefore, say to the Israelis, eI am the Lord. Ifll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and Ifll deliver you from their bondage. Ifll redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7Ifll take you for my own people, and Ifll be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8Ifll bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Ifll give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.fh
9Then Moses reported this to the Israelis, but they did not listen to Moses due to their irritation and impatience because there was no deliverance and because of the cruel bondage.
10Then the Lord told Moses, 11gGo, speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he should let the Israelis go out of his land.h
12Then Moses said right in front of the Lord, gLook, the Israelis didnft listen to me, so how will Pharaoh? Ifm not a persuasive speakerh 13Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, issuing orders to them regarding the Israelis for delivery to Pharaoh, king of Egypt; that is, to bring the Israelis out of the land of Egypt.
14These are the heads of their ancestorsf households: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch and Pallu; Hezron and Carmi.
These are the families of Reuben, including 15Simeonfs sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the Canaanite womanfs son. These are the families of Simeon.
16These are the names of Levifs sons according to their genealogies: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
17Gershonfs sons were Libni and Shimei, according to their families. 18Kohathfs descendants included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Now Kohath lived for 133 years. 19The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the descendants of Levi according to their genealogies.
20Amram married Jochebed, his fatherfs sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived for 137 years. 21The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23Then Aaron married Elisheba daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon. She bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the families of the descendants of Korah. 25Aaronfs son Eleazar married one of Putielfs daughters, and she bore him Phineas. These are the heads of the ancestors of the descendants of Levi, according to their families.
26This is the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, gBring the Israelis out of the land of Egypt by their tribal divisions.h 27They were the ones speaking to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the Israelis out of Egypt; this is the same Moses and Aaron.
28And it happened when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt 29that the Lord told Moses, gI am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything that Ifm saying to you.h
30Moses said in the presence of the Lord, gLook, Ifm not a persuasive speaker, so how will Pharaoh listen to me?h
Chapter 7
1The Lord told Moses, gListen! Ifve positioned you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2You are to speak all that Ifve commanded you, and then your brother Aaron will speak to Pharaoh, telling him to let the Israelis go out of his land. 3Ifll harden Pharaohfs heart and Ifll add more and more of my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4When Pharaoh wonft listen to you, Ifll let loose my power upon Egypt. Ifll bring out my tribal divisions\my people the Israelis\from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand over Egypt to bring the Israelis out from among them.h 6Moses and Aaron did what the Lord commanded them. 7Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8Then the Lord told Moses and to Aaron, 9gWhen Pharaoh says to you, ePerform a miraculous sign,f then you are to say to Aaron, eTake your staff and throw it in front of Pharaoh.f It will become a serpent.h 10Then Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. 11Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and sorcerers, and they\along with the Egyptian magicians\did the same thing with their secret arts. 12So each one threw down his staff and it became a serpent, but Aaronfs staff swallowed up their staffs. 13Yet Pharaohfs heart was stubborn and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said would happen.
14Then the Lord told Moses, gPharaohfs heart is hard. He has refused to let the people go. 15Go to Pharaoh in the morning as hefs going down to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him. Be sure to take with you the staff that was turned into a snake. 16Then say to him, eThe Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you. He says, gLet my people go so they may serve me in the desert, but until now you havenft obeyed.h
17geThis is what the Lord says: gThis is how youfll know that I am the Lord: Right now Ifm going to strike the water of the Nile with the staff thatfs in my hand, and it will be turned to blood. 18The fish in the Nile will die and the river will stink. The Egyptians will be unable to drink water from the Nile.hfh
19The Lord also told Moses, gTell Aaron, eTake your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their Nile, over their ponds, and over their reservoirs, and theyfll become blood. There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in their wood and stone containers.fh
20Moses and Aaron did just what the Lord had commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the water in the Nile in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and all the water in the Nile turned to blood. 
21The fish in the Nile died and the river stank. The Egyptians were not able to drink water from the Nile, and blood was throughout the land of Egypt. 
22But the Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their secret arts. Pharaohfs heart was stubborn, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. 
23Then Pharaoh turned away, went to his palace, and paid no attention to any of this. 
24All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink because they could not drink from the water in the Nile.
25Seven days after the Lord had struck the Nile, 
Chapter 8
1he told Moses, gGo to Pharaoh and tell him, eThis is what the Lord says: gLet my people go so they may serve me. 2And if you refuse to let them go, then Ifm going to strike all your territory with frogs. 3The Nile will swarm with frogs. Theyfll come up and enter your house, your bedroom, your bed, and your servantsf houses. Theyfll jump on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs. 4The frogs will be all over you and your servants.hfh
5Then the Lord told Moses, gTell Aaron, eStretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the Nile, and over the ponds, and bring up frogs over the land of Egypt.fh 6So Aaron stretched his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7But the magicians did the same thing with their secret arts, and they brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
8Then Pharaoh called to Moses and Aaron and said, gPlead with the Lord so that he may remove the frogs from me and my people. Ifll let the people go so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.h
9Moses told Pharaoh, gYou decide when I should plead for you, your servants, and your people to remove the frogs from you and your household. Theyfll remain only in the Nile.h
10Pharaoh said, gTomorrow.h
Moses said, gIt will be just as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11The frogs will leave you, your house, your officials, and your people. Theyfll remain only in the Nile.h
12Then Moses and Aaron left Pharaohfs presence, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs which he had sent on Pharaoh. 13The Lord did just as Moses asked, and the frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards, and in the fields. 14They gathered them up into large piles and the land smelled terrible. 15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
16Then the Lord told Moses, gTell Aaron, eStretch out your staff, strike the dust of the ground, and the dust will become gnats throughout the land of Egypt.fh 17They did this. Aaron stretched his hand out with his staff, struck the dust of the land, and gnats came on people and animals\all the dust of the ground became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. 18The magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but they were unable to bring out the gnats. The gnats were on the people and the animals.
19The magicians told Pharaoh, gIt is the finger of God!h But Pharaohfs heart was stubborn and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
20The Lord told Moses, gGet up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as hefs going down to the water. You are to say to him, eThis is what the Lord says: gLet my people go so they can serve me. 21But if you donft let my people go, Ifll send swarms of insects upon you, your servants, your people, and your households. The houses of Egypt\and even the ground on which they stand\will be filled with swarms of insects. 22On that day Ifll treat the land of Goshen where my people live differently so that swarms of insects wonft be there. As a result, you will know that I the Lord am in the midst of the land. 23Ifll make a distinction between my people and your people, and this sign will occur tomorrow.hfh
24The Lord did this, and dense swarms of insects came into the house of Pharaoh and into the houses of his servants. The land was ruined throughout Egypt because of the swarms of insects.
25Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, gGo, offer sacrifices to your God in the land.h
26Moses said, gIt wouldnft be right to sacrifice in this way because if we do, we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is offensive to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are offensive to the Egyptians in front of them, theyfll stone us, wonft they? 27We must go a three-day journey into the desert, and wefll offer sacrifices to the Lord our God just as he has told us.h
28Then Pharaoh said, gIfll let you go so you can offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert. But you must not go very far away. Pray for me.h
29Moses said, gRight now Ifm going to leave you, and Ifll pray to the Lord that the swarms of insects may depart from Pharaoh, from his officials, and from his people tomorrow. But Pharaoh, donft continue lying by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.h
30Then Moses left Pharaohfs presence and prayed to the Lord. 31The Lord did what Moses asked, and the swarms of insects departed from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not one remained. 32But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart, and he did not let the people go.
Chapter 9
1Then the Lord told Moses, gGo to Pharaoh and say to him, eThis is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: gLet my people go so they may serve me. 2But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, 3then the hand of the Lord will come with a very severe plague on your livestock in the fields, on horses, on donkeys, on camels, on cattle, and on sheep. 4The Lord will distinguish between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of the Egyptians, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelis will die.hfh
5The Lord set the time: gTomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.h 6The Lord did this thing the next day, and all the livestock of the Egyptians died. But not one of the livestock died that belonged to the Israelis. 7Then Pharaoh inquired and discovered that not a single one of the livestock of Israel had died, but Pharaohfs heart was stubborn and he would not let the people go.
8Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, gTake handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it into the air in front of Pharaoh. 9The soot will become dust over the entire land of Egypt, and it will become boils erupting into sores on people and animals throughout the land of Egypt.h 10So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. Then Moses threw it into the air, and it became boils producing running sores on people and animals. 11The magicians were not able to stand before Moses because of the boils, because the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12The Lord made Pharaohfs heart stubborn so that he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had told Moses.
13The Lord told Moses, gGet up early in the morning, present yourself to Pharaoh, and say to him, eThis is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: gLet my people go so they may serve me. 14Indeed, this time Ifm sending all my plagues against you, your officials, and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15Indeed, by now I could have sent forth my hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. 16However, Ifve kept you standing in order to show you my power and to declare my name in all the earth. 17You are still acting arrogantly against my people by not letting them go. 18Look! About this time tomorrow, Ifll send a severe hail storm, such as has not happened in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19So send for your livestock and everything that belongs to you thatfs out in the field, because every person and animal found in the field that has not been brought inside to shelters will die when the hail comes down on them.hfh
20Whoever feared the message from the Lord among Pharaohfs officials made his servants and livestock flee into shelters. 21But whoever did not pay attention to the message from the Lord left his servants and his livestock outside in the fields.
22Then the Lord told Moses, gStretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people, animals, and all the vegetation of the field throughout the land of Egypt. 23When Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. The Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.
24There was very heavy hail, and lightning was continually flashing in the midst of the hail. There had not been anything like it in the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25The hail struck everything, including people and animals, outside in the fields throughout the land of Egypt. The hail struck all the vegetation of the fields and shattered all the trees in the orchards. 26Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelis were, was there no hail.
27Pharaoh sent word and called for Moses and Aaron. gIfve sinned this time,h he told them. gThe Lord is righteous, but I and my people are wicked. 28Pray to the Lord! There has been enough of Godfs thunder and hail! Ifll let you go, and you need not stay any longer.h
29Moses told him, gWhen I leave the city Ifll spread out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease and the hail wonft continue, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the Lord. 30But as for you and your officials, I know that you donft yet fear the Lord God.h 31(Now the flax and the barley were ruined because the barley was in ear and the flax was in bud. 32The wheat and the wild grain were not ruined because they were late crops.)
33Then Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord. The thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured out on the land. 34When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he continued to sin. He, along with his officials, hardened his heart. 35Pharaohfs heart was stubborn, and he did not let the Israelis go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.
Chapter 10
1Then the Lord told Moses, gGo to Pharaoh, for Ifve hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials in order to perform these signs of mine among them, 2so you may tell your children and your grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians and about my miraculous signs that I performed among them, so all of you may know that I am the Lord.
3Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, gThis is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: eHow long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so they may serve me. 4But if you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow Ifm going to bring locusts into your territory. 5Theyfll cover the surface of the land so a person cannot see the ground, and theyfll eat what is left for you of the residue from the hail. Theyfll also eat all your trees that grow in the orchards. 6Your houses will be filled along with the houses of all your officials and the houses of all the Egyptians\something that neither your fathers nor your ancestors ever saw from the time they were on earth until now.fh Then Moses turned and left Pharaohfs presence.
7Then the officials of Pharaoh told him, gHow long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go so they may serve the Lord their God! Donft you realize yet that Egypt is about to be destroyed?h
8Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh and he told them, gGo, serve the Lord your God. But exactly who will go?h
9Moses said, gWe will go with our young and with our old. We will go with our sons and our daughters, with our sheep and our cattle, because itfs a festival to the Lord for us.h
10Then Pharaoh told them, gThe Lord will certainly be with you if I let you and your little ones go. I know some evil plan is in your mind. 11No! Let the men go and serve the Lord, for that is what you were seeking.h Then they were driven out from the presence of Pharaoh.
12The Lord told Moses, gStretch out your hand over the land of Egypt to bring the locusts, and theyfll come up over the land of Egypt and eat all the vegetation of the land, everything that the hail left.h 13Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord sent an east wind into the land all that day and throughout the night. When morning came, the east wind brought the locusts.
14The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on all the territory of Egypt in great swarms. There had never been locusts like this before nor would there ever be again. 15They covered the surface of the entire land so that it was dark. They ate all the vegetation of the land and the fruit from the trees that the hail left. Nothing green was left on the trees or on the vegetation in all the land of Egypt.
16Pharaoh quickly called Moses and Aaron and said, gIfve sinned against the Lord your God and against you. 17Now, please forgive my sin only this time, and pray to the Lord your God that he would at least remove this from me.h
18Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 19Then the Lord brought a very strong west wind that took the locusts and drove them into the Reed Sea. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt. 20But the Lord made Pharaohfs heart stubborn and he would not let the Israelis go.
21Then the Lord told Moses, gStretch your hand toward the sky and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that one can feel.h 22So Moses stretched his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23No one could see anyone else, nor could anyone get up from his place for three days. But there was light for all the Israelis in their dwellings.
24Pharaoh called Moses and said, gGo serve the Lord, but your flocks and your cattle are to remain. Even your little ones can go with you!h
25Moses said, gYou must let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings to offer to the Lord our God. 26And even our livestock must go with us. Not a hoof will be left behind because we will use some of them to serve the Lord our God, and until we get there we wonft know what we need to serve the Lord.h
27The Lord made Pharaohfs heart stubborn, and he did not want to let them go. 28Then Pharaoh told him, gGet away from me! Watch out that you never see my face again, because on the day you see my face, you will die!h
29Moses said, gJust as you have said, I wonft see your face again!h
Chapter 11
1Then the Lord told Moses, gIfll bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that hefll let you leave from here, and when he lets you go, he will certainly drive you out from here. 2Tell the people that each man is to ask his neighbor and each woman her neighbor for articles of silver and gold.h 3The Lord made the Egyptians look on the people with favor. Also the man Moses was highly regarded in the land of Egypt, both in the opinion of Pharaohfs officials and in the opinion of the people.
4So Moses announced to Pharaoh, gThis is what the Lord says: eAbout midnight Ifm going throughout Egypt, 5and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave girl who operates the hand mill, along with the firstborn of the animals. 6There will be a great cry throughout the land of Egypt, like there has never been and never will be again. 7But among the Israelis, from people to animals, not even a dog will bark, so you may know that the Lord is distinguishing between the Egyptians and the Israelis.f 8All these officials of yours will come down to me, prostrate themselves to me, and say, eGet out, you and all the people following you!f After that Ifll go out.h Then Moses angrily left Pharaoh.
9The Lord told Moses, gPharaoh wonft listen to you. As a result, my wonders will increase throughout the land of Egypt. 10Then Moses and Aaron did all these wonders in front of Pharaoh, but the Lord made Pharaohfs heart stubborn, and he would not let the Israelis go out from his land.
Chapter 12
1The Lord told Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2gThis month will mark the beginning of months for you. It will be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell the entire congregation of Israel, eOn the tenth of this month theyfre each to take a lamb for themselves, according to their ancestorsf households, one lamb for each household. 4If a household is too small for a lamb, then it and its closest neighbor are to obtain one based on the number of individuals\dividing the lamb based on what each person can eat. 5Your lamb is to be a year old male without blemish. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6It is to remain under your care until the fourteenth day of this month, and then the entire assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight. 7Theyfre to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat the lamb. 8That very night theyfre to eat the meat, roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9Donft eat any of it raw or boiled in water. Instead, roast it over the fire, with its head, legs, and internal organs. 10Donft leave any of it until morning, and whatever does remain of it until morning you are to burn in the fire.
11geThis is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it hurriedly\itfs the Lordfs Passover. 12Ifll pass through the land of Egypt that night and strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. Ifll execute judgments on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. Ifll see the blood and pass over you. There will be no plague to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14geThis day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it as a perpetual ordinance from generation to generation. 15You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days. On the first day be sure to remove all the leaven from your houses, because any person who eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh will be cut off from Israel. 16Also, on the first day youfre to hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day youfre to hold a holy assembly. No work is to be done during those days, except for preparing what is to be eaten by each person.
17geYou are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread, since on this very day I brought your tribal divisions from the land of Egypt. You are to observe this day from generation to generation as a perpetual ordinance. 18In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day of the month until the evening of the twenty-first day of the month, you are to eat unleavened bread. 19For seven days leaven is not to be found in your houses. Indeed, any person who eats anything leavened, is to be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether an alien or a native of the land. 20You are not to eat what is leavened. You are to eat unleavened bread in all your settlements.fh
21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, gChoose sheep for your families, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22Take a bundle of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply some of the blood in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts. None of you is to go out of the doorway of his house until morning, 23because the Lord will pass through to strike down the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the doorway, and wonft allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down. 24You are to observe this event as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children forever. 25When you enter the land that the Lord will give you, just as he promised, you are to observe this ritual. 26And when your children say to you, eWhat does this ritual mean?f 27you are to say, eIt is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelis in Egypt when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.fh Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28The Israelis did this. Moses and Aaron did just what the Lord had commanded.
29And so at midnight the Lord struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30Pharaoh got up during the night, he, all his officials, and all the Egyptians, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead in it. 31Then he summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and told them: gGet up, go out from among my people, both you and the Israelis! Go, serve the Lord as you have said. 32Take both your sheep and your cattle, just as you demanded and go! And bless me too!h
33The Egyptian officials urged the people to send them out of the land quickly, because they were saying, gWefll all be dead!h 34So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35Meanwhile, the Israelis had done as Moses said; they had asked the Egyptians for objects of silver and objects of gold, and for clothes. 36The Lord had given the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they requested; and so they plundered the Egyptians.
37About 600,000 Israeli men traveled from Rameses to Succoth on foot, not counting children. 38A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with a very large number of livestock, including sheep and cattle. 39They baked the dough that they brought out of Egypt into thin cakes of unleavened bread. It had not been leavened because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.
40Now the time that the Israelis lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41At the end of 430 years, to the very day, all the tribal divisions of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42That was for the Lord a night of vigil to bring them out of the land of Egypt. This same night belongs to the Lord, and is to be a vigil for all the Israelis from generation to generation.
43The Lord told Moses and Aaron, gThese are the regulations for the Passover: No foreigner is to eat it, 44though any slave purchased with money may eat it after you have circumcised him. 45But no temporary resident or a hired servant is to eat it. 46It is to be eaten in one house, and you are not to take any of the meat outside the house, nor are you to break any of its bones. 47The whole congregation of Israel is to observe it. 48If an alien who resides with you wants to observe the Passover to the Lord, every male in his household must be circumcised, and then he may come near to observe it. He is to be like a native of the land, but no uncircumcised person is to eat it. 49A single law exists for the native and the alien who resides among you.h
50All the Israelis did this. They did exactly as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51And on that very day, the Lord brought the Israelis out of the land of Egypt by their tribal divisions.
Chapter 13
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gConsecrate to me every firstborn male. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelis, both of humans and of animals, belongs to me.h
3Then Moses told the people, gRemember this day on which you came out of Egypt, from the house of bondage, because the Lord brought you out from this place with a strong show of force. Moreover, nothing leavened is to be eaten. 4Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your ancestors to give you\a land flowing with milk and honey\you are to observe this ritual in this month. 6You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord. 7Unleavened bread is to be eaten for seven days, and nothing leavened is to be seen among you, nor is leaven to be seen among you throughout your territory. 8And you are to tell your child on that day, eThis is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.f 9It is to be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead, so that you may speak about the instruction of the Lord; for the Lord brought you out of Egypt with a strong show of force. 10You are to keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.h
11gWhen the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite and gives it to you, just as he promised you and your ancestors, 12you are to dedicate to the Lord everything that first opens the womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 13You are to redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you donft redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14gThen when your child asks you in the future, eWhat is this?f, you are to say to him, eThe Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage with a strong show of force. 15And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of humans to the firstborn of animals. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but I redeem every firstborn of my sons.f 16It is to be a sign on your hand and an emblem on your forehead, because the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong show of force.h
17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer, because God had said, gIf the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.h 18So God led the people the roundabout way of the desert toward the Reed Sea. The Israelis went up from the land of Egypt in military formation.
19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelis take this solemn oath: gGod will certainly take notice of you, and then you must carry my bones up with you from here.h
20They left Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the desert. 21The Lord went in front of them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel both day and night. 22Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Chapter 14
1The Lord told Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that they are to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it by the sea. 3Pharaoh will say about the Israelis, eTheyfre wandering aimlessly in the land, and the desert has closed in on them.f 4Ifve made Pharaohfs heart stubborn so he will pursue them. But Ifll receive honor by means of Pharaoh and his army, so that the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.h So this is what the Israelis did.
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials changed toward the people, and they said, gWhat have we done in releasing Israel from serving us?h 6So Pharaoh had his chariot prepared and took his troops with him.
7He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers in charge of each one. 8The Lord made the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, stubborn, and he defiantly pursued the Israelis as they were leaving. 9The Egyptians pursued them\all the chariot-horses of Pharaoh, along with his horsemen and army\and they overtook them camped by the sea, near Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal Zephon.
10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelis looked up, and there were the Egyptians bearing down on them! Extremely frightened, the Israelis cried out to the Lord. 11They also told Moses, gWas it because there were no graves in Egypt that you took us out to die in the desert? What have you done to us, by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Is this not what we told you in Egypt, when we said, eLeave us alone!f and eLet us serve the Egyptians!f? Indeed, it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!h
13Moses told the people, gDonft be afraid! Stand still and watch how the Lord will deliver you today, because you will never again see the Egyptians whom youfre looking at today. 14The Lord will fight for you while you keep still.h
15Then the Lord told Moses, gWhy are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelis to move out! 16You are to raise your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it, so the Israelis may go into the middle of the sea on dry land. 17Even now Ifm hardening the heart of the Egyptians so theyfll go after the Israelis. Then Ifll receive honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I receive honor by means of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.h
19Then the angel of God, who was going in front of the camp of Israel, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front of them and stood behind them, 20coming between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. The cloud remained there even in the darkness, illuminating the night, so that the one side did not come near the other all night.
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the water to retreat by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. As the waters were divided, 22the Israelis went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall for them on their right and on their left.
23The Egyptians pursued\all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen\and they went into the middle of the sea after them. 24In the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian camp into confusion. 25He made the wheels of their chariots wobble so that they drove them with difficulty. The Egyptians said, gLetfs flee from Israel because the Lord is fighting for them and against us.h
26Then the Lord told Moses, gStretch out your hand over the sea and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, and over their horsemen.h 27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the water returned to its normal depth at daybreak. The Egyptians tried to retreat in front of the advancing water, but the Lord destroyed the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. 28The waters returned, covering the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaohfs entire army that had pursued the Israelis into the sea. Not a single one of them remained. 29But the Israelis walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters stood like a wall for them on their right and on their left.
30On that day the Lord delivered Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead along the seashore. 31When Israel saw the great force by which the Lord had acted against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed the Lord and Moses his servant.
Chapter 15
1Then Moses and the Israelis sang this song to the Lord:
gIfll sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has thrown into the sea.
2The Lord is my strength and song,
and he has become my salvation.
This is my God and Ifll praise him,
the God of my father and Ifll exalt him.
3The Lord is a man of war,
the Lord is his name!
4gPharaohfs chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea;
his best officers sank in the Reed Sea.
5The deep covered them,
they went down into the depths like a rock.
6Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in strength,
your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.
7In the greatness of your majesty
you broke down your enemies.
You sent forth your anger,
it consumed them like stubble.
8By the breath of your nostrils
the waters were piled up,
the flowing waters stood up like a hill,
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9gThe enemy said, eIfll pursue them, Ifll overtake them,
Ifll divide the spoil.
Ifll satisfy my anger on them,
Ifll draw my sword,
and my hand will bring them to ruin.f
10gYou blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11gWho is like you among the gods, Lord?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in splendor, and working wonders?
12You stretched out your right hand,
and the earth swallowed them.
13gYou have led with your gracious love
this people whom you redeemed.
You have guided them with your strength
to your holy dwelling.
14gThe people heard and they quaked,
anguish has seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
15Then the chiefs of Edom were terrified,
the nobles of Moab trembled uncontrollably,
and all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.
16Dread and fear have fallen on them,
because of the strength of your arm.
They have become silent as a stone,
until your people pass by, Lord,
until this people you acquired pass by.
17gYou will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance.
You have made a place where you will reside, Lord.
Your own hands have established a sanctuary, Lord.
18The Lord will reign forever and ever.h
19When the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord caused the waters of the sea to come back over them, but the Israelis walked through the middle of the sea on dry land.
20Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaronfs sister, took a tambourine in her hand and went out with all the women behind her with tambourines and dancing. 21Miriam sang to them,
gSing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted!
The horse and its rider
he has thrown into the sea.h
22Then Moses led Israel from the Reed Sea and they went to the desert of Shur. They traveled into the desert for three days and did not find water. 23When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter. (That is why itfs called Marah.)
24Then the people complained against Moses: gWhat are we to drink?h 25Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which he threw into the water, and the water became sweet.
There the Lord presented to them a statute and an ordinance, and there he tested them. 26He said, gIf you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in his eyes, listen to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then I wonft inflict on you all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians, because I am the Lord your healer.h
27Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and 70 palm trees, and they camped there by the water.
Chapter 16
1Later, they left Elim, and the whole congregation of the Israelis came to the desert of Sin, which lay between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2The whole congregation of the Israelis complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert. 3The Israelis told them, gIf only we had died by the Lordfs hand in the land of Egypt when we sat by the cooking pots, when we ate bread until we were filled\because you brought us to this desert to kill this entire congregation with hunger.h
4The Lord told Moses, gListen very carefully! Ifll cause food to rain down for you from heaven, and the people are to go out and gather each dayfs portion on that day. In this way Ifll test them to demonstrate whether or not theyfll live according to my instructions. 5On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be double what they gather on other days.h
6So Moses and Aaron addressed the entire congregation of the Israelis, gThis evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for he has heard your complaints against him. After all, who are we that you complain against us?h
8Moses also said, gWhen the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread in the morning to satisfy you, the Lord will hear your complaints directed against him. Who are we? Your complaints arenft against us, but rather against the Lord.h
9Then Moses instructed Aaron, gSay to the whole congregation of the Israelis, eCome near into the Lordfs presence, because he has heard your complaints.fh
10While Aaron was speaking to all the congregation of the Israelis, they turned toward the desert, and there the glory of the Lord was seen in the cloud. 11The Lord told Moses, 12gIfve heard the complaints of the Israelis. Tell them, eAt twilight you are to eat meat and in the morning you are to be filled with bread, so you may know that I am the Lord your God.fh
13Later that evening quail came up and covered the camp, and then in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14When the layer of dew evaporated, on the surface of the desert a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost, appeared on the ground. 15When the Israelis saw it, they asked one another, gWhat is it?h, because they did not know what it was.
Moses told them, gItfs the food that the Lord has given you to eat. 16This is what the Lord has commanded: eYou are to gather from it what each person is to eat, about two quarts per person according to the number of your people, and one person is to gather for everyone in his tent.fh
17The Israelis did this, some gathering much, some little. 18When they measured it with two quart vessels, the one who gathered much did not have an excess, while the one who gathered little did not lack. They gathered exactly what each needed to eat.
19Then Moses told them, gNo one is to leave any of it until morning.h 20But they did not listen to Moses\some people left part of it until morning, and it produced maggots and smelled bad, so Moses got angry at them. 21Every morning they gathered it, according to what each needed to eat; and when the sun became hot, it melted.
22On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, about four quarts per person. Then all the leaders of the congregation came and reported to Moses, 23and he told them, gThis is what the Lord said: eTomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and put aside whatever remains to be kept for yourselves until morning.fh
24They put it away until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not smell bad, and there were no maggots in it. 25Moses said, gEat it today, since today is a Sabbath to the Lord, and today you wonft find it in the field. 26For six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there wonft be any.h
27Nevertheless, that seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any. 28Then the Lord asked Moses, gHow long will you people refuse to keep my commandments and my instructions? 29You see that the Lord has given you the Sabbath, and so on the sixth day he gives you food for two days. Let each person stay where he is; let no one leave his place on the seventh day.h 30So the people rested on the seventh day.
31The Israelis named it gmannah. It was white like coriander seed, and tasted like a wafer made with honey. 32Moses said, gThis is what the Lord has commanded: eSet aside about two quarts of it for future generations, so that they may see the food with which I fed you in the desert when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.fh
33Then Moses told Aaron, gTake a jar, fill it with about two quarts of manna, and place it in the Lordfs presence, to be preserved throughout future generations.h 34So Aaron placed it before the Testimony to be kept, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 35The Israelis ate manna for 40 years until they came to a land where they could settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36Now two quarts is a tenth of an ephah.
Chapter 17
1The whole congregation of the Israelis set out from the desert of Sin, traveling from place to place according to the command of the Lord. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
2The people quarreled with Moses: gGive us water to drink.h
Moses told them, gWhy are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing the Lord?h
3But the people were thirsty there for water and they complained against Moses: gWhy did you bring us up from Egypt to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?h
4So Moses cried out to the Lord: gWhat am I to do with these people? Just a little more and theyfll stone me.h
5Then the Lord told Moses, gGo over in front of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Ifll be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock and water will come out of it, so the people can drink.h Moses did this in front of the elders of Israel.
7He named the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelis quarreled and tested the Lord by saying: gIs the Lord really among us or not?h
8Then the Amalekites came and fought with the Israelis at Rephidim. 9Moses told Joshua, gChoose some men for us and go out to fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow Ifll stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.h 10So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11Whenever Moses raised his hand, the Israelis prevailed, but when his hand remained at his side, then the Amalekites prevailed. 12When Mosesf hands became heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, and so his hands were steady until the sun went down. 13Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.
14Then the Lord told Moses, gWrite this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua: eIfll certainly wipe out the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven.fh 15Moses built an altar and named it gThe Lord is My Banner.h 16He said, gBecause a fist has been raised in defiance against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will wage war against Amalek from generation to generation.h
Chapter 18
1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Mosesf father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Now Jethro, Mosesf father-in-law, had taken back Mosesf wife Zipporah after she had been sent away, 3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, for he said, gI was an alien in a foreign land,h 4while the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, gMy fatherfs God helped me and delivered me from Pharaohfs sword.h
5Mosesf father-in-law Jethro, together with Mosesf two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God. 6He told Moses, gI, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons.h 7When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent.
8Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israelfs behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10Jethro said, gBlessed be the Lord, who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because of what happened to the Egyptians when they acted arrogantly against Israel.h 12Jethro, Mosesf father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Mosesf father-in-law in the presence of God.
13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14When Mosesf father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, gWhat is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?h
15Moses told his father-in-law, gBecause the people come to me to seek Godfs will. 16When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions.h
17Mosesf father-in-law told him, gWhat you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself. 19Now listen to me. Ifll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God. 20You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way theyfre to go and the things theyfre to do.
21gYou are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and theyfll bear it with you. 23If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace.h
24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. 27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land.
Chapter 19
1On the third New Moon after the Israelis went out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came to the desert of Sinai. 2They had set out from Rephidim and arrived at the desert of Sinai where they camped in the desert. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 3Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: gThis is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and declare to the sons of Israel, 4eYou saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eaglesf wings and brought you to myself. 5And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you are to be my special possession out of all the peoples. For the whole earth belongs to me, 6but you are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.f These are the words you are to declare to the Israelis.h
7When Moses came, he summoned the elders of the people and told them everything that the Lord had commanded him. 8All the people answered together: gAll that the Lord has said, we will do!h
Then Moses reported all the words of the people back to the Lord. 9The Lord told Moses, gLook, Ifm coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you always.h Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
10The Lord told Moses, gGo to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes, 11and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12You are to set boundaries for the people all around: eBe very careful that you donft go up on the mountain or touch the side of it. Anyone who touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 13No hand is to touch that person, but he is surely to be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or person, he is not to live.f They are to approach the mountain only when the ramfs horn sounds a long blast.h
14When Moses went down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. 15He told the people, gBe ready for the third day; donft go near a woman.h
16When morning came on the third day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain and the very loud sound of a ramfs horn. All the people in the camp trembled. 17Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the base of the mountain. 18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord had come down in fire on it. Smoke went up from it like smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19As the sound of the ramfs horn grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer with thunder. 20When the Lord came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21The Lord told Moses, gGo down and warn the people so they donft break through to look at the Lord, and many of them perish. 22Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves. Otherwise, the Lord will attack them.h
23Moses told the Lord, gThe people cannot come up to Mount Sinai because you warned us: eSet boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.fh
24The Lord told him, gGo down, and come back up with Aaron, but the priests and the people must not break through to go up to the Lord. Otherwise, he will attack them.h 25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
Chapter 20
1Then God spoke all these words:
2gI am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3You are to have no other gods besides me.
4gYou are not to make for yourselves an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above, or on earth below, or in the water under the earth. 5You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them; because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the iniquity of the parents, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6but showing gracious love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7gYou are not to misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave the one who misuses his name unpunished.
8gRemember to keep the Sabbath day holy. 9Six days you are to labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You are not to do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your livestock, nor the alien who is within your gates, 11because the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, in six days, then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12gHonor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13gYou are not to murder.
14gYou are not to commit adultery.
15gYou are not to steal.
16gYou are not to testify falsely against your neighbor.
17gYou are not to covet your neighborfs house. You are not to covet your neighborfs wife, or his male or female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.h
18All the people experienced the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ramfs horn, and the smoking mountain. And as the people experienced it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19They told Moses, gYou speak to us and we will listen, but donft let God speak with us, or we may die.
20Moses told the people, gDonft be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you may fear him in order that you donft sin.h 21Then the people stood at a distance, and Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.
22The Lord told Moses, gThis is what you are to say to the Israelis, eYou have seen for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven. 23You are not to make gods of silver alongside me, nor are you to make for yourselves gods of gold.
24eYou are to make an altar of earth for me, and you are to sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep, and your cattle. Everywhere I cause my name to be remembered, Ifll come to you and bless you. 25If you make an altar of stone for me, you must not build it of cut stones, because if you strike it with your chisel, you will profane it. 26You are not to ascend to my altar on steps, so that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.f
Chapter 21
1gThese are the ordinances that you are to set before them.
2gWhen you acquire a Hebrew servant he is to serve for six years, and in the seventh he is to go out a free man without paying anything. 3If he came in by himself, he is to go out by himself. If he was married, his wife is to go out with him. 4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and children belong to her master, and he is to go out by himself.
5gBut if the servant, in fact, says, eI love my master, my wife, and my children and I wonft go out a free man,f 6then his master is to bring him before the judges and he is to bring him to the door or the doorpost. His master is to pierce his ear with an awl, and he is to serve him permanently.
7gWhen a man sells his daughter as a servant, she wonft go out as the male servants do. 8If shefs displeasing to her master who selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He does not have the right to sell her to foreign people because he has dealt unfairly with her. 9If he has selected her for his son, he is to treat her according to the ordinance for daughters. 10If he takes another woman for himself, he may not withhold from the first her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11If he does not do these three things for her, she may go out without paying anything at all.
12gWhoever strikes a man so that he dies is surely to be put to death. 13If he didnft lie in wait, but God let him fall into his control, then Ifll appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14If a man acts deliberately against his neighbor to kill him by treachery, you are to take him to die even if hefs at my altar.
15gWhoever strikes his father or his mother is surely to be put to death.
16gWhoever kidnaps a person, whether he has sold him or whether the victim is still in his possession, is surely to be put to death.
17gWhoever curses his father or his mother is surely to be put to death.
18gIf people quarrel and one strikes the other with a rock or his fist, and he does not die but ends up in bed, 19and the injured person then gets up and walks around outside with the help of his staff, the one who struck him is not liable, except that he is to compensate him for his loss of time and take care of his complete recovery.
20gIf a man strikes his male or female servant with a stick and he or she dies as a direct result, the master must be punished. 21But if the servant survives a day or two, the master is not to be punished because the servant is his property.
22gIf two men are fighting and they strike a pregnant woman and her children are born prematurely but there is no harm, he is surely to be fined as the husband of the woman demands of him, and he will pay as the court decides. 23If there is harm, then you are to require life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.
26gIf a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his eye. 27If he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his tooth.
28gIf an ox gores a man or woman so that they die, the ox is surely to be stoned and its flesh may not be eaten, but the owner of the ox is free from liability. 29But if the ox has gored previously, and its owner has been warned about it but didnft restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, the ox is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30If a fine is imposed on him, he may pay all that was imposed on him as a ransom for his life. 31This same ordinance applies if it gores a son or daughter.
32gIf the ox gores a male or female servant, the owner is to give 30 shekels of silver to the servantfs master, and the ox is to be stoned. 33If a man opens a pit or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or donkey falls into it, 34the owner of the pit is to make restitution. He is to pay money to its owner, and the dead animal will become his.
35gIf a manfs ox strikes his neighborfs ox and it dies, they are to sell the live ox and divide the money. They also are to divide the dead animal. 36But if it was known that the ox had gored previously, and its owner didnft restrain it, he shall surely repay ox for ox, and the dead ox will become his.
Chapter 22
1gIf a man steals an ox or sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he is to repay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
2gIf a thief is found while breaking into a house, and is struck down and dies, it is not a capital crime in that case, 3but if the sun has risen on him, then it is a capital crime in that case.
gA thief shall surely make restitution, but if he has nothing, he is to be sold for his theft. 4If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox, a donkey or a sheep, he is to repay double.
5gWhen a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed over or releases his livestock so that they graze in another manfs field, he is to make restitution from the best of his field or vineyard.
6gWhen a fire breaks out and spreads into thorn bushes and consumes stacked grain or standing grain or the field, the one who started the fire surely is to make restitution.
7gWhen a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and itfs stolen from the neighborfs house, the thief, if found, is to repay double. 8If the thief is not found, the owner of the house is to appear before the judges to see whether or not the thief took his neighborfs property.
9gIn every ownership dispute involving an ox, donkey, sheep, garment, or anything that is lost where a person says, eThis is mine,f the case between the two of them is to come before the judges, and the one that the judges declare guilty is to repay double to his neighbor.
10gWhen a man gives a donkey or ox or sheep or any animal to his neighbor for safe keeping, and it dies or is injured or is driven away when no one is looking, 11the two of them are to take an oath in the Lordfs presence that the accused has not taken his neighborfs property. Its owner is to accept this, and the neighbor is not to make restitution. 12But if it was actually stolen from him, the neighbor is to make restitution to its owner. 13If it was torn to pieces, let the neighbor bring the remains as evidence, and he is not to make restitution for what was torn apart.
14gWhen a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and itfs injured or dies while its owner was not with it, he is surely to make restitution. 15If its owner was with it, he is not to make restitution. If it was hired, its fee covers the loss.h
16gWhen a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and has sexual relations with her, he must pay her bride-price, and she is to become his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he is to pay an amount equal to the bride-price for virgins.
18gYou are not to allow a sorceress to live.
19gWhoever has sexual relations with an animal is surely to be put to death.
20gAnyone who sacrifices to a god, except the Lord alone, is to be utterly destroyed.
21gYou are not to wrong or oppress an alien, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 22You are not to mistreat any widow or orphan. 23If you do mistreat them, theyfll surely cry out to me, and Ifll immediately hear their cry. 24And Ifll be angry and will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows and your children orphans.
25gIf you loan money to my people, to the poor among you, donft be like a creditor to them and donft impose interest on them. 26If you take your neighborfs coat as collateral, you are to return it to him by sunset, 27for itfs his only covering; itfs his outer garment, for what else can he sleep in? And when he cries out to me, Ifll hear him, for I am gracious.
28gYou are not to blaspheme God or curse a ruler of your people.
29gYou are not to hold back the fullness of your harvest and the outflow of your wine presses. You are to give to me the firstborn of your sons. 30You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep. They shall be with their mother for seven days and then on the eighth day you are to give them to me.
31gYou are to be people set apart for me. You are not to eat flesh torn apart in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.h
Chapter 23
1gYou are not to spread a false report, nor are you to join forces with the wicked to be a malicious witness. 2You are not to follow the majority in doing wrong, and you are not to testify in a lawsuit so as to follow the majority and pervert justice. 3You are not to show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit.
4gIf you come across your enemyfs ox or donkey wandering off, you are to certainly return it to him. 5If you see your enemyfs donkey lying helpless under its load, you must not abandon it, rather, you are surely to return it to him.
6gYou are not to pervert justice for the poor among you in their lawsuits. 7Stay far away from a false charge, and donft kill the innocent or the righteous, because I wonft acquit the guilty. 8You are not to take a bribe because a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and distorts the words of the righteous. 9You are not to oppress the resident alien, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
10gYou are to sow your land and gather its crops for six years, 11but you are to let it rest the seventh year, leaving it unplanted. The poor of your people may eat from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. You are to do the same with your vineyards and olive groves. 12You are to do your work for six days, but on the seventh day you are to refrain from work so that your ox and donkey may rest, and so the son of your maidservant and the alien may be refreshed.
13gBe careful about everything Ifve told you, and donft mention the name of other gods. Donft let them be heard in your mouth!
14gThree times a year you are to celebrate a festival for me. 15You are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty handed. 16You are to observe the Festival of Harvest, celebrating the first fruits of your work in planting the field, and the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather the fruit of your work from the field. 17Three times a year all your males shall appear in the presence of the Lord God.h
18gYou are not to offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, and you are not to let the fat portion of my sacrifice remain overnight until morning.
19gYou are to bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
gYou are not to boil a young goat in its motherfs milk.h
20gLook, Ifm sending an angel in front of you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place Ifve prepared. 21Be careful! Be sure to obey him. Donft rebel against him, for he wonft forgive your transgression, since my Name is in him. 22Indeed, if you carefully obey him and do everything that I say, then Ifll be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23For my angel will go ahead of you and will bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and Ifll annihilate them. 24You are not to bow down to their gods or serve them. You are not to follow their practices, but you are to completely overthrow them and smash their sacred stones to pieces. 25You are to serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your food and water, and Ifll remove sickness from you. 26No woman will miscarry or be barren in your land, and Ifll make every day of your life complete.
27gIfll go ahead of you and terrorize all the people to whom you are coming. Ifll confuse your enemies and make them turn their backs on you and run away. 28Ifll send hornets ahead of you and theyfll drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you. 29I wonft drive them out before you in a single year, so that the land does not become desolate and so that wild animals do not overrun you. 30Ifll drive them out ahead of you little by little until you increase in numbers and possess the land.
31gIfll set your borders from the Reed Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates River, for Ifll bring the inhabitants of the land under your control, and you are to drive them out ahead of you. 32You are not to make a covenant with them or with their gods. 33They are not to live in your land. Otherwise they will cause you to sin against me. If you worship their gods, it will become a snare for you.h
Chapter 24
1The Lord told Moses, gCome up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance. 2Only Moses is to approach the Lord, but the others are not to approach; the people are not to come up with him.h
3Then Moses came and reported all the words of the Lord and all the statutes to the people, and they all answered with one voice, gAll the things that the Lord has spoken, we will do.h 4So Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He got up early in the morning and built an altar with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel at the bottom of the mountain. 5He sent young Israeli men to offer up burnt offerings and sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6Moses took half the blood and put it in bowls, while he sprinkled the other half on the altar. 7He took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They said, gAll that the Lord has spoken we will do and obey.h
8Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, gThis is the blood of the covenant which the Lord made with you based on all these words.h
9Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel went up 10and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, and as clear as the sky. 11Because God did not punish the Israeli leaders, they looked at God, yet lived to eat and drink.
12Then the Lord told Moses, gGo up to me on the mountain and stay there. Ifll give you stone tablets with the instruction and law that Ifve written to teach the people.h
13Moses got up with Joshua his servant, and went up on the mountain of God. 14He told the elders, gWait here for us until we return to you. Look, Aaron and Hur are with you, and whoever has a dispute, let him come to them.h
15When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it. 16The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. Then on the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. 17To the Israelis the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18When Moses went up on the mountain, he went into the center of the cloud and was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.
Chapter 25
1The Lord told Moses, 2gTell the Israelis to take an offering for me, and you are to accept my offering from every person whose heart moves him to give. 3This is the offering that you are to accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen and goat hair; 5ram skins dyed red, dolphin skins, and acacia wood; 6oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for aromatic incense; 7onyx stones, stones for setting on the ephod and the breast piece. 8Let them make a sanctuary for me so I may dwell among them. 9This is how you are to make it: according to all that Ifm showing you, according to the pattern for the tent and the pattern for all its furnishings.h
10gThey are to make an ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11You are to overlay it with pure gold\you are to overlay it inside and outside\and you are to make a gold molding around it. 12You are to cast four rings for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. 13You are to make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14You are to put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark with which to carry it. 15The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark and are not to be removed from it. 16You are to put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.
17gYou are to make a Mercy Seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 18You are to make two cherubim of gold; you are to make them of hammered work at the two ends of the Mercy Seat. 19Place one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. You are to make the cherubim at the two ends of the Mercy Seat, and of one piece with it. 20The cherubim shall spread their wings upward, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the Mercy Seat. 21You are to put the Mercy Seat on top of the ark, and put the Testimony that Ifll give you into the ark. 22Ifll meet with you there, and Ifll tell you all my commandments for the Israelis from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the Ark of the Testimony.
23gYou are to make a table of acacia wood, three feet long, a foot and a half wide, and 27 inches high. 24You are to overlay it with pure gold, and put a gold molding around it. 25You are to make a three-inch wide rim around it, and you are to make a gold molding around the rim. 26You are to make four gold rings for it, and put the rings on the four corners where its four feet are. 27The rings shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28You are to make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold so the table can be carried with them. 29You are to make its plates, dishes, jars, and bowls from which libations will be poured, and you are to make them of pure gold. 30You are to put the bread of the Presence on the table before me continually.h
31gYou are to make a lamp stand of pure gold: the lamp stand and its base and stem shall be of hammered work, and its cups, calyxes, and flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32Six branches shall extend from its sides, three branches of the lamp stand from one side of it and three branches of the lamp stand from its other side. 33Three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers shall be on one branch and three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers shall be on the other branch, and so for the six branches extending from the lamp stand.
34gOn the lamp stand itself there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with their calyxes and flowers. 35A calyx is to be under the two branches that extend out of the stem; a calyx is to be under the next pair of branches that extend out of the stem; and a calyx is to be under the last pair of branches that extend out of the stem, and so for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 36Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it; all of it is to be made of one piece of hammered work of pure gold.
37gYou are to make seven lamps for it, and its lamps shall be mounted so as to give light in front of it. 38Its tongs and trays shall be of pure gold. 39The lamp stand and all its furnishings shall be made from a talent of pure gold. 40Now see that you make them according to the pattern for them which you are being shown on the mountain.h
Chapter 26
1gYou are to make the tent with ten curtains of fine woven linen and with blue, purple, and scarlet material. You are to make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2The length of each curtain is to be 42 feet, the width of each curtain six feet, and all the curtains shall have the same measurements.
3gFive of the curtains shall be joined together, and the other five curtains shall be joined together. 4You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you are to make loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 5You are to make 50 loops in the one curtain, and you are to make 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that is in the second set, with the loops opposite each other. 6Then you are to make 50 gold clasps, and join the curtains to each other with the clasps so that the tent will be one piece.
7gYou are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tent. You are to make 11 curtains. 8The length of each curtain is to be 45 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; the measurements of each of the 11 curtains is to be the same. 9You are to join five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and you are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10You are to make 50 loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain of the other set. 11You are to make 50 bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and join the tent together so that it will be one piece. 12As for the excess that remains of the curtains of the tent\the half curtain that remains\is to hang over the back of the tent. 13The nine inches that remain on either end of the length of the curtains of the tent is to hang over each side of the tent to cover it.
14gYou are to make a cover for the tent of ram skins dyed red and a covering of dolphin skins above that.
15gYou are to make upright boards of acacia wood for the tent. 16Each board is to be fifteen feet long and 27 inches wide. 17Each board is to have two pegs joined to one another, and you are to do this for all the boards of the tent. 18You are to make the boards for the tent: twenty boards for the south side. 19And you are to make 40 silver sockets under the twenty boards: two sockets under the one board for its two pegs and two sockets under the next board for its two pegs.
20gFor the second side of the tent to the north you are to make twenty boards 21and 40 silver sockets for them, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board. 22On the west you are to make six boards for the rear of the tent, 23and you are to make two boards for the rear corners of the tent. 24They shall be interlocked together at the bottom and connected on top by one ring. Do this for the two of them, and they are to be the two corners. 25There shall be eight boards with their sixteen silver sockets, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board.
26gYou are to make bars of acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the tent, 27five bars for the boards on the second side of the tent, and five bars for the boards on the back side of the tent to the west. 28The center bar in the middle of the boards is to pass through from end to end. 29You are to overlay the boards with gold, and you are to make gold rings for them as holders for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold. 30You are to erect the tent according to the plan for it that was shown you on the mountain.
31gYou are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. You are to make it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold, and are set on four sockets of silver. 33You are to hang the curtain from the clasps and bring the Ark of the Testimony there inside the curtain. The curtain is to separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
34gYou are to put the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35You are to put the table outside the curtain. You are to put the table on the north side with the lamp stand opposite the table on the south side of the tent. 36For the doorway of the tent you are to make a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37You are to make five pillars of acacia for the screens and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you are to cast five bronze sockets for them.h
Chapter 27
1gYou are to make the altar of acacia wood. It is to be seven and a half feet long, seven and a half feet wide; the altar is to be a square, and it is to be four and a half feet high. 2You are to make horns on its four corners. Its corners shall be of one piece with it, and you are to overlay it with bronze. 3You are to make pans for removing its ashes, shovels, bowls, forks, and fire-pans for it, and you are to make all its utensils of bronze. 4You are to make a lattice, a netting of bronze for it, and you are to make four bronze rings on the netting at its four corners. 5You are to put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the netting extends halfway up the altar. 6You are to make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you are to overlay them with bronze. 7The poles for it shall be put through the rings, so the poles will be on the two sides of the altar when itfs carried. 8You are to make it hollow out of boards\just as it was shown you on the mountain, so they are to make it.h
9gYou are to make the court of the tent. On the south side there shall be hangings of fine woven linen for the court, 150 feet long on one side. 10It is to have twenty pillars, with twenty bronze sockets, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. 11Likewise for the length of the north side there shall be hangings 150 feet long, and it is to have twenty pillars with twenty bronze sockets, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.
12gThe width of the court on the west side is to have hangings 75 feet long with ten pillars and ten sockets. 13The width of the court on the east side is to be 75 feet. 14The hangings for the one section shall be twenty-two and a half feet, with their three pillars and three sockets.
15gFor the second section there shall be hangings of twenty-two and a half feet with their three pillars and three sockets. 16There is to be a screen of 30 feet of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer, for the gate of the court, and it is to have four pillars and four sockets. 17All the pillars around the court shall be banded with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18The length of the court is to be 150 feet, the width 75 feet, and the height seven and a half feet, with the hangings of fine woven linen, and the sockets of bronze. 19All the utensils of the tent for its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs for the court shall be of bronze.h
20gAnd you are to command the Israelis to bring you pure olive oil, extracted by hand, for the light in order to keep the lamp burning continually. 21In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall maintain the lamp stand from evening until morning in the Lordfs presence. It is to be a perpetual ordinance from generation to generation among the Israelis.h
Chapter 28
1gYou are to bring your brother Aaron, along with his sons, from among the Israelis so they can serve as priests for me: Aaron and his sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2You are to make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for dignity and beauty. 3You are to speak to all who are skilled, whom Ifve endowed with talent, that they should make Aaronfs garments for consecrating him to serve me as priest. 4These are the garments that they are to make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and for his sons to serve me as priests. 5They shall use gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, as well as fine linen.h
6gThey shall make the ephod of gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, all of it skillfully worked. 7It is to have two shoulder-pieces attached to its two edges so it can be joined together. 8The skillfully woven band that is on it is to be made like it, of one piece with it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. 9You are to take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them, 10six of their names on one stone, and the six remaining names on the other stone. Engrave them according to their order of birth. 11With work like a jeweler engraves on a signet, you are to inscribe the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel, and you are to mount them in settings of gold filigree. 12You are to put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, and Aaron is to carry their names into the Lordfs presence on his two shoulders for remembrance. 13You are to make settings of gold filigree, 14and you are to make two chains of pure gold twisted like cords, and then fasten the twisted chains to the filigree settings.h
15gYou are to make a breast piece to be worn by the high priest when he makes legal decisions. It is to be skillfully worked, made like the work of the ephod from gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and from fine woven linen. 16It is to be square when folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide. 17You are to mount on it a setting for four rows of stones. The first row is to contain carnelian, topaz, and emerald; 18the second row ruby, sapphire, and crystal; 19the third row jacinth, agate, and amethyst; 20the fourth row beryl, onyx, and jasper, and they are to be set in gold filigree. 21The stones shall correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve stones corresponding to their names. They shall be engraved like a signet, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
22gYou are to make chains of pure gold, twisted like cords for the breast piece. 23You are to make two gold rings for the breast piece, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breast piece. 24You are to put the two gold cords on the two gold rings at the edges of the breast piece, 25and you are to attach the other two ends of the two cords to the filigree settings and attach them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front.
26gYou are to make two gold rings and attach them to the two edges of the breast piece, on the side of it which is toward the inner side of the ephod. 27You are to make two gold rings and attach them in front on the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod close to the place where itfs joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28They shall fasten the rings on the breast piece to the rings on the ephod with a blue cord so it will rest on the skillfully woven band of the ephod and so the breast piece wonft come loose from the ephod.
29gAaron is to carry the names of Israelfs sons on his heart on the breast piece to be worn by the high priest when he makes legal decisions whenever he goes into the Holy Place in order to remember them in the Lordfs presence continually. 30You are to put the Urim and Thummim into the breast piece of judgment, and they are to be on Aaronfs heart when he goes into the Lordfs presence. He is to carry the breast piece of Israelfs sons on his heart in the Lordfs presence continually.
31gYou are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue. 32There is to be an opening at its top, in the middle, with a woven binding around the opening like the opening of a coat of mail so that it cannot be torn. 33On its hem you are to make blue and purple and scarlet pomegranates, all around the skirt, with gold bells between them all the way around. 34You are to have a gold bell and a pomegranate, then a gold bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all the way around it. 35Aaron is to wear the robe when he ministers so its sound may be heard when he enters and leaves the Holy Place in the Lordfs presence, so that he wonft die.
36gYou are to make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave on it eHoly to the Lord,f like the engravings of a signet. 37You are to put it on a blue cord and place it on the turban. It is to be on the front of the turban 38and worn on Aaronfs forehead in order to take away any guilt contained in the holy things which the Israelis consecrate as holy gifts. It is to remain on his forehead continually, so they may be accepted in the Lordfs presence. 39You are to weave the checkered tunic of fine linen, you are to make a turban of fine linen, and you are to make an embroidered sash. 40gYou are to make tunics for the sons of Aaron, you are to make sashes for them, and you are to make head coverings for them for dignity and beauty. 41You are to put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them to serve as my priests. 42You are to make linen undergarments for them to cover their naked flesh, and they are to reach from the loins to the thighs. 43They shall be on Aaron and his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place so they donft incur guilt and die. This is to be a perpetual ordinance for him and his descendants after him.h
Chapter 29
1gThis is what you are to do to them to consecrate them to serve me as priests: Take a young bull, two rams without blemish, 2unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, which you are to make from fine wheat flour. 3You are to put them in one basket and bring them in the basket along with the bull and the two rams. 4You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 5Take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breast piece, and then gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 6Then put the turban on his head, and place the holy crown on the turban. 7You are to take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him. 8Then you are to bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. 9You are to gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and tie headdresses on them. The priesthood is to belong to them by perpetual ordinance, and you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.
10gYou are to bring the bull in front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. 11Then you are to slaughter the bull in the Lordfs presence at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 12Take some of the blood of the bull, put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 13You are to take all the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them and send them up in smoke on the altar. 14You are to burn the flesh of the bull, its hide, and its refuse with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering.
15gYou are to take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. 16Then you are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and scatter it around the altar. 17You are to cut the ram into pieces, wash its entrails and legs, put them on the altar along with the pieces and its head, 18and send up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord; itfs a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord.
19gYou are to take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 20You are to slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the lobe of Aaronfs right ear, the lobe of his sonsf right ears, the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet. Then you are to scatter the rest of the blood around the altar. 21You are to take some of the blood which is on the altar, along with some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. He is to be consecrated with his garments, along with his sons and their garments
22gYou are to take the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, the right thigh (for itfs a ram of ordination), 23and one loaf of bread, one cake of bread mixed with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is in the Lordfs presence. 24You are to put all of these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and present them as a wave offering in the Lordfs presence. 25Then you are to take them from their hands and send them up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering for a soothing aroma in the Lordfs presence. It is an offering by fire to the Lord.
26gYou are to take the breast of the ram of Aaronfs ordination, and present it as a wave offering in the Lordfs presence, and it is to be your portion. 27You are to consecrate the portion of the ram of ordination that belongs to Aaron and his sons: the breast of the wave offering that was waved and the thigh of the presented offering that was presented. 28These offerings from the Israelis shall be a perpetual ordinance for Aaron and his sons. They are presented offerings, and they are to be presented offerings from the Israelis out of their peace offerings. They are presented offerings to the Lord.
29gThe holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him so that they may be anointed in them and ordained in them. 30Aaronfs son who is priest in his place is to wear them for seven days when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place.
31gYou are to take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a Holy Place. 32Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram along with the bread that is in the basket at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 33They shall eat these things by which atonement was made at their ordination to consecrate them, but an unqualified person is not to eat because these things are holy. 34If any of the flesh of the ordination ram or any of the bread is left until morning, you are to burn what is left with fire. Because itfs holy, what remains is not to be eaten. 35You are to do this for Aaron and his sons, just as Ifve commanded you. You are to ordain them for seven days, 36and every day you are to offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Offer the sin offering on the altar when you make atonement for it and anoint the altar to consecrate it. 37You are to make atonement for the altar for seven days and consecrate it. It will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.h
38gThis is what you are to offer on the altar continually: two one year old lambs each day. 39gYou are to offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, 40and there is to be a tenth measure of choice flour mixed with one quart of oil extracted by hand, and one quart of wine as a drink offering for one lamb. 41You are to offer the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. You are to offer it as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord. 42It is to be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway to the Tent of Meeting in the Lordfs presence, where Ifll meet with you to speak to you there.
43gIfll meet there with the Israelis, and it is to be consecrated by my glory. 44Ifll consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and Ifll consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve as my priests. 45Ifll dwell among the Israelis, and Ifll be their God. 46They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of Egypt so I might dwell among them. I am the Lord your God.h
Chapter 30
1gYou are to make an altar for burning incense. You are to make it of acacia wood. 2It is to be a square, one and a half feet long and one and a half feet wide, and it is to be three feet high, with its horns of one piece with it. 3You are to overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides all around, and its horns, and you are to make a molding of gold all around it.
4gYou are to make two gold rings for it under its molding; you are to make them on its two opposite sides, and they are to be holders for poles by which to carry it. 5You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6You are to put the altar in front of the curtain that is over the Ark of the Testimony, in front of the Mercy Seat that is over the Testimony where Ifll meet with you. 7Aaron is to offer fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he trims the lamps he is to offer it, 8and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he is to offer it as a continual incense offering in the Lordfs presence throughout your generations. 9You are not to offer strange incense, a burnt offering, or a grain offering on it, nor are you to pour out a libation on it. 10Each year Aaron is to make atonement on its horns with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. He is to make atonement on it each year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.
11The Lord told Moses, 12gWhen you take a census of the Israelis to register them, each is to give a ransom for himself to the Lord when theyfre registered so there wonft be a plague among them when theyfre registered. 13This is what everyone who is registered is to give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as a contribution to the Lord. 14All who are registered, twenty years of age and older, shall give a contribution to the Lord. 15The rich is not to give more nor shall the poor give less than the half shekel, when you give a contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves. 16You are to take the atonement money from the Israelis and give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting, and it is to be a memorial for the Israelis in the Lordfs presence to make atonement for yourselves.h
17The Lord told Moses, 18gYou are to make a bronze basin with a bronze base for washing. You are to put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it, 19and Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it. 20When they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to minister to make an offering by fire to the Lord, they are to wash with water so they donft die. 21They shall wash their hands and their feet so that they donft die, and it is to be for them a perpetual ordinance for Aaron and his seed from generation to generation.h
22The Lord told Moses, 23gYou are to take for yourself the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much fragrant cinnamon (250 shekels), 250 shekels of fragrant reeds, 24 500 shekels of cassia\all according to the shekel of the sanctuary\and a gallon of olive oil. 25You are to make them into a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture made by a perfumer. It is to be a holy anointing oil.
26gWith it you are to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, 27the table and all its utensils, the lamp stand and its utensils, the altar of incense, 28the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils, and the basin and its base. 29You are to consecrate them and they are to be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy. 30You are to anoint Aaron and his sons, and you are to consecrate them to serve as my priests. 31You are to speak to the Israelis saying, eThis is to be holy anointing oil for me from generation to generation. 32It is not to be poured out on a personfs body, nor are you to make anything like it with similar formulations. It is holy, and it is to be holy to you. 33Anyone who mixes anything like it or who puts any of it on an unqualified person is to be cut off from his people.fh
34The Lord told Moses, gTake for yourself spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and spices with pure frankincense, all in equal amounts. 35You are to make it into a fragrant incense, expertly blended, pure, and holy. 36You are to grind some of it fine, and put some before the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting where I shall meet with you. It is to be most holy to you. 37You are not to make the incense that you make in this formulation for your own use. It is to be holy to the Lord for you. 38Anyone who makes anything like it to use it as perfume is to be cut off from his people.h
Chapter 31
1The Lord told Moses, 2gLook, Ifve called Urifs son Bezalel, grandson of Hur from Judahfs tribe 3and Ifve filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of craftsmanship 4to create plans for work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5and for cutting stones to set them, for carving wood, and for doing all kinds of craftsmanship.
6gIfm now appointing with him Ahisamachfs son Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, and Ifve given wisdom to all who are skilled so they can make everything that Ifve commanded you, 7including the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the Mercy Seat that is on it, all the furnishings of the tent\ 8the table and its furnishings, the lamp stand of pure gold, all its furnishings, the altar of incense, 9the altar for burnt offerings, its furnishings, the basin, its base, 10the woven garments, the holy garments of Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons as they serve as priests, 11the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them in accordance with everything that I commanded you.h
12The Lord told Moses, 13gYou are to speak to the Israelis: eYou are to surely observe my Sabbaths because itfs a sign between me and you from generation to generation, so you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14You are to observe the Sabbath, because itfs holy for you. Whoever profanes it shall surely die; indeed, whoever does work on it is to be cut off from among his people. 15Work may be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does work on the Sabbath shall surely die. 16The Israelis shall keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation. 17It is a sign forever between me and the Israelis, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.fh
18When he finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two Tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone written by the finger of God.
Chapter 32
1When the people saw that Moses took a long time to come down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and told him, gCome here and make us a god who will go before us, because, as for this fellow Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we donft know what has become of him.h
2Aaron told them, gTear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.h
3All the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to him. 4He took them from them and, using a tool, fashioned them into a molten calf. The people said, gThis, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.h
5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it, and then he proclaimed, gTomorrow is to be a festival to the Lord.h 6They got up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up to play.
7The Lord told Moses, gGo down immediately, for your people whom you led out of Egypt have behaved corruptly. 8They have been quick to turn aside from the way I commanded them, and they have made for themselves a molten calf. They have bowed down to it in worship, they have offered sacrifices to it, and they have said, eThis, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.fh
9Then the Lord told Moses, gIfve seen these people and indeed theyfre obstinate. 10Now let me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may consume them, but Ifll make a great nation of you.h
11But Moses implored the Lord his God: gLord, why are you angry with your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a show of force? 12Why should the Egyptians say, eHe brought them out with an evil intention to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earthf? Turn from your anger and change your mind about the calamity against your people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you swore by yourself as you told them, eIfll increase the number of your descendants like the stars of the heavens, Ifll give your descendants all of this land about which I have spoken, and they are to possess it forever.fh
14So the Lord changed his mind about the calamity he had said he would bring on his people.
15Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides. They were written on one side and the other. 16The tablets were the work of God and the writing was Godfs writing, inscribed on the tablets. 17When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he told Moses, gThe sound of war is coming from the camp.h
18Moses said,
gIt is not the sound of a victory shout,
and itfs not the sound of a shout of defeat,
but itfs the sound of singing that I hear.h
19As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he became angry. He threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the base of the mountain. 20He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, and ground it into powder. He scattered it on the water and made the Israelis drink it.
21Then Moses told Aaron, gWhat did this people do to you that you brought such great sin upon them?h
22Aaron said, gSir, donft be angry. You know the people\that theyfre intent on evil. 23They told me, eMake a god for us who will go before us because, as for this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we donft know what has become of him.f 24So I told them, eWhoever has gold ornaments, tear them off.f When they gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.h
25When Moses saw that the people were out of control\for Aaron had let them get out of control, something that brought ridicule from their enemies\26he stood in the gate of the camp and called out: gWhoever is for the Lord come over to me,h and all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27He told them, gThis is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, eEvery man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and each of you kill his brother and friend and neighbor.fh
28The descendants of Levi did just as Moses told them, and about 3,000 people died that day. 29Moses said, gYou have been ordained to serve the Lord today, and you have brought a blessing on yourselves today because every man opposed his son or brother.h
30The next day Moses told the people, gYou committed a great sin, and now Ifll go up to the Lord, and perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.h
31Moses returned to the Lord and said, gPlease, Lord, this people committed a great sin by making a god of gold for themselves. 32Now, if you will, forgive their sin\but if not, blot me out of your book which you have written.h
33The Lord told Moses, gWhoever sins against me, Ifll blot him out of my book. 34Now, go, and lead the people where I told you, and now my angel will go before you, but on the day when I do punish, Ifll punish them for their sin.h 35Then the Lord sent a plague on the people because they made the calf (the one Aaron made).
Chapter 33
1The Lord told Moses, gGo up from here, you and the people whom you brought out of Egypt, to the land about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saying, eIfll give it to your descendants.f 2Ifll send an angel in front of you and Ifll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I wonft go up among you, because you are an obstinate people, and otherwise I might consume you along the way.h
4When the people heard this troubling word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5The Lord had told Moses, gSay to the Israelis, eYou are an obstinate people, and if for one moment I went up among you, I would put an end to you. Now take off your ornaments so I may decide what to do with you.fh 6So the Israelis did not wear their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.
7Moses used to take the tent and set it up outside the camp at a distance from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. When anyone sought the Lord, he would go out to the Tent of Meeting which was outside the camp. 8When Moses would go out to the tent, all the people would get up, and each would stand in the doorway of his tent, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the doorway of the tent while God spoke with Moses. 10When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the doorway of the tent, all of them would get up and prostrate themselves in worship, each one at the doorway of his tent. 11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face just as a man speaks with his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, Nunfs son Joshua, his young servant, would not leave the tent.
12Moses told the Lord, gLook, you have told me, eBring up this people,f but you havenft let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, eI know you by name,f and also, eYou have found favor in my sight.f 13Now, if Ifve found favor in your sight, please show me your ways so I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. And remember, this nation is your people.h
14He said, gMy presence will go with you, and Ifll give you rest.h 15Then Moses told the Lord, gIf your presence does not go with us, donft bring us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that your people and I have received favor from you, unless you go with us and that we, your people and I, are distinguished from all the people on the face of the earth?h
17The Lord told Moses, gIfll do the very thing that you have said, because you have found favor in my sight and I know you by name.h
18Then Moses said, gPlease show me your glory.h
19God said, gIfll cause all my goodness to pass before you, and Ifll proclaim the name ethe Lordf before you. Ifll be gracious to whom Ifll be gracious, and Ifll show compassion on whom Ifll show compassion. 20But,h he said, gYou cannot see my face, because a man cannot see me and live.
21The Lord said, gLook, there is a place near me where you can stand on the rock; 22and as my glory passes by, Ifll put you in a crevice in the rock, and cover you with my hand until Ifve passed by. 23Then Ifll remove my hand so you may see my back, but my face must not be seen.h
Chapter 34
1The Lord told Moses, gCut out for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones, and Ifll write on the tablets the words which were on the first tablets which you broke. 2Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning on Mount Sinai, where you are to present yourself to me there on the top of the mountain. 3No one is to come up with you, nor shall anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain. Also, the sheep and cattle are not to graze in front of that mountain.h
4Moses cut out the two stone tablets like the first ones, got up early in the morning, and climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him. He took with him the two stone tablets. 5The Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed,
gThe Lord, the Lord God,
compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger,
and filled with gracious love and truth.
7He graciously loves thousands,
and forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin.
But he does not leave the guilty unpunished,
visiting the iniquity of the ancestors on their children,
and on their childrenfs children
to the third and fourth generation.h
8Moses quickly bowed to the ground and prostrated himself in worship. 9He said, gIf Ifve found favor in your sight, Lord, please, Lord, walk among us. Certainly this is an obstinate people, but pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your own inheritance.h
10Then the Lord said, gNow Ifm going to make a covenant. Before all your people Ifll do miraculous deeds that havenft been done in all the earth or in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the Lord, for itfs an awesome thing that Ifll do with you. 11Obey what I am commanding you today. Ifll drive out from before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 12Be very careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, so they wonft be a snare among you. 13Rather, you are to tear down their altars, you are to smash their sacred pillars, and you are to cut down their sacred poles\14indeed, you are not to bow down in worship to any other god, because the Lordfs name is Jealous\hefs a jealous God\15Otherwise, you may make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and when they prostitute themselves with their gods and offer sacrifices to their gods, someone may invite you and then you may eat some of their sacrifices. 16You are not to take any of their daughters for your sons. Otherwise, when their daughters prostitute themselves with their gods, they may cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods.h
17gYou are not to make molten gods for yourselves.
18gYou are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days, at the appointed time in the month Abib, you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you, for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt.
19gEverything firstborn belongs to me: all the males of your herds, the firstborn of both cattle and sheep. 20You are to redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, and if you donft redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn of your sons, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed.
21gFor six days you are to work, but on the seventh day you are to rest; even during plowing time and harvest you are to rest.
22gYou are to observe the Festival of Weeks, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year. 23Three times during the year all your males shall appear in the presence of the Lord God of Israel. 24For Ifll drive out nations before you, and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up to appear in the presence of the Lord your God three times a year.
25gYou are not to offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, nor are you to allow the sacrifice of the Festival of Passover to remain until morning.
26gYou are to bring the best of the first fruits of the ground to the house of the Lord your God.
gYou are not to boil a young goat in its motherfs milk.h
27Then the Lord told Moses, gWrite down these words, for Ifm making a covenant with you and with Israel according to these words.h 28While Moses was there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, he did not eat or drink. He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.
29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he had the two tablets in his hand, and he did not know that the skin of his face was ablaze with light because he had been speaking with God. 30Aaron and all the Israelis saw Moses and immediately noticed that the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 31When Moses called to them, Aaron and the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and he spoke to them. 32Afterwards all the Israelis came near and he gave them everything the Lord told him on Mount Sinai as commandments.
33When Moses finished speaking with them he put a veil over his face, 34and then whenever Moses would come in the Lordfs presence to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he left the Lordfs presence. When he went out, he would tell the Israelis what he had been commanded. 35The Israelis would see the face of Moses and that the skin of his face shone; then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with God.
Chapter 35
1Moses assembled the entire congregation of the Israelis and told them, gThese are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do: 2For six days work is to be done, but on the seventh day you are to have a holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest in dedication to the Lord. Anyone who does work on that day is to be executed. 3You are not to light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath.h
4Then Moses told the entire congregation of the Israelis, gThis is what the Lord has commanded, 5eTake from among yourselves an offering for the Lord. Everyone whose heart is willing is to bring it as an offering for the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; 6blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen and goat hair; 7ram skins dyed red, dolphin skins, acacia wood, 8oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for aromatic incense, 9onyx stones, and stones for setting in the ephod and the breast piece.
10geLet everyone who is skilled among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded: 11the tent, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets, 12the ark, its poles, the Mercy Seat, the curtain, 13the table, its poles, all its furnishings, and the bread of the presence, 14the lamp stand for light, its furnishings, its lamps, and oil for the light, 15the altar of incense, its poles, the anointing oil, the aromatic incense, and the screen for the doorway at the entrance to the tent, 16the altar for burnt offerings, the bronze lattice for it, its poles, and all its furnishings, the basin and its base, 17the hangings for the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, 18the pegs for the tent, the pegs for the court, and their cords, 19the woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments of Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons for serving as priests.fh
20Then the entire congregation of the Israelis withdrew from Mosesf presence, 21and every person whose heart moved him and all whose spirits prompted them, brought an offering to the Lord for constructing the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22Both the men and women came, all whose hearts prompted them, and brought brooches, earrings, rings, pendants, and all kinds of gold jewelry. Every person presented a wave offering of gold to the Lord. 23Everyone who had blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, and dolphin skins brought them. 24Everyone who could give an offering of silver and bronze brought it as a contribution for the Lord. Also all who had acacia wood for any use in the work brought it.
25Every skilled woman spun with her hands, and brought what she spun: blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine linen. 26All the women who were skilled artisans spun the goat hair.
27The leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set in the ephod and the breast piece, 28spices and oil for the light and for the anointing oil and the aromatic incense. 29Each Israeli man and woman whose heart was prompted brought something as a freewill offering to the Lord for all the work which the Lord had commanded them to do through Moses.
30Moses told the Israelis, gLook, the Lord has called Urifs son Bezalel, grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, 31and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge of all kinds of work, 32to make artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 33to cut stones for setting, to carve wood, and to engage in all kinds of artistic work. 34And he has given both him and Ahisamachfs son Oholiab from the tribe of Dan the ability to teach. 35He has equipped them to do all kinds of work done by an engraver, designer, embroider in blue, purple and scarlet material and in fine linen, or as a weaver. They were able to do all kinds of work and were skilled designers. 
Chapter 36
1Bezalel and Oholiab and all the skilled craftsmen to whom the Lord gave wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work in constructing the sanctuary shall do everything that the Lord has commanded.h
2Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the skilled people to whom the Lord had given ability, including everyone whose hearts stirred them to come forward to do the work. 3They received from Moses all the offerings that the Israelis had brought for doing the work of constructing the sanctuary, and the people continued to bring freewill offerings every morning. 4All the craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left the work they were doing 5and told Moses, gThe people are bringing much more than enough for the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.h 6Then Moses issued an order, and the message was taken throughout the camp, gMen and women, donft bring more offerings for the sanctuary.h The people were restrained from bringing any more, 7since the material was more than sufficient for doing all the work.
8All the skilled craftsmen among the workers made the tent with ten curtains of fine woven linen, blue, purple, and scarlet material. He made them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 9The length of each curtain was 42 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet. All the curtains had the same measurements. 10He joined five of the curtains together, and the other five curtains he joined together. 11He made loops of blue material along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise, he made loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 12He made 50 loops in the one curtain, and he made 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that is in the second set, with the loops opposite each other. 13Then he made 50 gold clasps, and joined the curtains to each other with the clasps so the tent was one piece.
14He made curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tent; he made 11 curtains. 15The length of each curtain was 45 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; the measurements of each of the eleven curtains was the same. 16He joined five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17He made 50 loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain of the other set. 18He made 50 bronze clasps to join the tent together so it would be one piece. 19Then he made a cover for the tent of ram skins dyed red and a covering of dolphin skins above that.
20Then he made upright boards of acacia wood for the tent. 21Each board was fifteen feet long, and 27 inches wide. 22Each board had two pegs, joined to one another, and he did this for all the boards of the tent. 23He made the boards for the tent: twenty boards for the south side. 24He made 40 silver sockets under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two pegs and two sockets under the next board for its two pegs. 25For the second side of the tent to the north he made twenty boards, 26and 40 silver sockets for them, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board. 27For the rear of the tent on the west he made six boards, 28and he made two boards for the rear corners of the tent. 29They were joined together at the bottom and they were connected on top, by one ring. He did this for the two of them, and they were the two corners. 30There were eight boards with their sixteen silver sockets, two sockets under each board.
31Then he made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the tent, 32five bars for the boards on the second side of the tent, and five bars for the boards on the back side of the tent to the west. 33He made the middle bar in the center of the boards pass through from end to end. 34He overlaid the boards with gold, and made gold rings for them as holders for the bars, and he overlaid the bars with gold.
35He made a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. He made it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 36He made four pillars of acacia for it and overlaid them with gold, along with their gold hooks, and he cast four silver sockets for them. 37For the doorway of the tent, he made a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer, 38and five pillars of acacia along with their hooks. He overlaid their tops and their bands with gold. Their five sockets were of bronze.
Chapter 37
1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 2He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and outside, and made a gold molding around it. 3He cast four rings for it on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. 4He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
6He made a Mercy Seat of pure gold 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the Mercy Seat. 8One cherub was at one end and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim at the two ends of the Mercy Seat and of one piece with it. 9The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim were turned toward the Mercy Seat.
10Then he made a table of acacia wood three feet long, one and a half feet wide, and 27 inches high. 11He overlaid it with pure gold and put a gold molding around it. 12He made a three-inch wide rim around it, and made a gold molding around the rim. 13He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners where its four feet were. 14The rings were close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold to carry the table. 16He made the utensils which were on the table, its plates, dishes, bowls, and jars out of which libations are poured. He made them of pure gold.
17He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand, its base, and stem of hammered work and its cups, calyxes, and flowers were of one piece with it. 18Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the lamp stand from one side of it, and three branches of the lamp stand from its other side. 19Three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers were on one branch and three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers were on the other branch, and so on for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 20On the lamp stand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms each with their calyxes and flowers. 21A calyx was under the two branches that extended out of the stem; a calyx was under the next pair of branches that extended out of the stem; and a calyx was under the last pair of branches that extended out of the stem, and so on for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 22Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it, all of it was of one piece of hammered work of pure gold. 23He made its seven lamps, its tongs and its trays of pure gold. 24He made it and all of its furnishings from a talent of pure gold.
25He made the altar for burning incense of acacia wood, a square, one and a half feet long, one and a half feet wide, and three feet high, with its horns of one piece with it. 26He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides all around, and its horns, and he made a gold molding around it. 27He made two gold rings for it under its molding, on its two opposite sides as holders for poles by which to carry it. 28He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 29And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure aromatic incense, the work of a perfumer.
Chapter 38
1Then he made the altar for burnt offerings of acacia wood. It was a square, seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide, and it was four and a half feet high. 2He made horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. 3He made all the utensils for the altar, the pans, the shovels, the bowls, the forks, and the fire-pans, and he made all its utensils of bronze. 4He made a lattice, a netting of bronze, for the altar. It was under its ledge, extending halfway up. 5He cast four rings on the four ends of the bronze lattice as holders for the poles. 6He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7And he put the poles through rings on the sides of the altar to carry it. He made it hollow, out of boards.
8He made the bronze basin and its bronze base from mirrors contributed by the women who served in the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.
9Then he made the court. On the south side the hangings for the court were of fine woven linen, 150 feet long. 10He made their twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, while the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver. 11The north side was 150 feet long, and its 20 pillars and 20 sockets were of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver. 12For the west side there were hangings 75 feet long with their ten pillars and ten sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver. 13The east side was 75 feet long. 14The hangings for one section were 22 and a half feet with their three pillars and three sockets, 15and also for the second section. On either side of the gate of the court were hangings of 22 and a half feet with their three pillars and three sockets. 16All the hangings around the court were of fine woven linen. 17The sockets for the pillars were of bronze and the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver. Their tops were overlaid with silver, and all the pillars of the court were banded with silver. 18The screen of the gate of the court was the work of an embroiderer of blue, purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. The length was 30 feet and it was seven and a half feet high along its width, corresponding to the hangings of the court. 19Their four pillars and their four sockets were of bronze, and their hooks were of silver. Their tops were overlaid with silver and their bands were of silver. 20All the pegs for the tent and for all around the court were of bronze.
21Here is a summary of materials for the Tent of Meeting that was compiled at Mosesf direction, the work of the descendants of Levi under the direction of Aaron the priestfs son Ithamar. 22Now Urifs son Bezalel, grandson of Hur from the tribe of Judah, made everything that the Lord had ordered Moses to build. 23With him was Ahisamachfs son Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet material, and of fine linen.
24All the gold that was used in the work, in all the work on the sanctuary, including the gold from the wave offering, totaled 29 talents, 730 shekels, according to the standard used in the sanctuary. 25The silver from those of the congregation who were recorded totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the standard used in the sanctuary; 26a beka a head (a beka is half a shekel, according to the standard used in the sanctuary) for everyone who went through the registration process from 20 years old and older. The total numbered 603,550 bekas.
27One hundred talents of silver were used to cast the sockets for the sanctuary and the sockets for the curtain, 100 sockets for 100 talents, a talent per socket. 28And with 1,775 talents he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their tops, and made bands for them.
29The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. 30With it he made the sockets for the doorway to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze lattice for it, all the furnishings for the altar, 31the sockets for all around the court, the sockets for the gate to the court, all the pegs for the sanctuary, and all the pegs for all around the court.
Chapter 39
1From the blue, purple, and scarlet material they made finely woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, and they made the holy garments for Aaron, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
2He made the ephod out of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen. 3They hammered out gold sheets and cut off threads to work into the blue, purple, and scarlet material and into the fine linen, a work of skillful design. 4They made connecting shoulder pieces for the ephod and attached them to its two edges. 5The skillfully woven band that was on it was made like it, of one piece with it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 6They prepared the onyx stones, engraved with the names of the sons of Israel like the engraving on a signet, and mounted them in settings of gold filigree. 7He put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
8He made a breast piece, skillfully worked, like the work of the ephod: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. 9They made the breast piece square when folded double: nine inches in length and nine inches in width when folded double.
10They mounted on it four rows of stones. The first row was a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald; 11the second row ruby, sapphire, and crystal; 12the third row jacinth, agate, and amethyst; 13the fourth row beryl, onyx, and jasper. They were set in gold filigree when they were mounted. 14The stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve stones corresponding to their names, with the engraving of a signet, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
15They made chains of pure gold twisted like cords for the breast piece. 16They made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and they put the two rings on the two edges of the breast piece. 17They put the two gold cords on the two gold rings at the edges of the breast piece, 18and they attached the other two ends of the two cords to the filigree settings, and then attached them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front. 19They made two gold rings and attached them to the two edges of the breast piece, on the side of it which is toward the inner side of the ephod. 20They made two gold rings and attached them in front on the lower part of the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod close to the place where itfs joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 21They tied the breast piece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord so it would rest on the skillfully woven band of the ephod and so the breast piece would not come loose from the ephod.
22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, entirely of blue. 23The opening of the robe was in the middle, like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around the opening so it would not be torn. 24On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material and woven linen. 25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe; all around between the pomegranates. 26There was a bell and a pomegranate, then a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe for when the High Priest ministered, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
27For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics, woven of fine linen, 28the turban of fine linen, decorated head coverings of fine linen, linen undergarments of fine woven linen, 29the sash of fine woven linen, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet material, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30They made the medallion for the holy crown of pure gold, and they wrote on it an inscription like the engraving on a seal: gHoly to the Lord.h 31They fastened a blue cord to it in order to fasten it on the turban above, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
32All the work on the tent of the Tent of Meeting was completed, and the Israelis had crafted it according to everything that the Lord had commanded Moses, as they should have. 33They brought to Moses the tent, the tent, all its furnishings, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 34the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of dolphin skins, the curtain, 35the Ark of the Testimony and its poles, the Mercy Seat, 36the table and all its utensils, the bread of the presence, 37the lamp stand of pure gold, its lamps (with the lamps in order), its furnishings, its oil for lighting, 38the altar of gold, anointing oil, aromatic incense, the screen for the doorway to the tent, 39the bronze altar and the bronze lattice for it, its poles, all its furnishings, the basin and its base, 40the hangings for the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pegs, all the furnishings for the service of the tent, for the Tent of Meeting, 41the woven garments for Aaron the priest for ministering in the Holy Place, and the garments for his sons for serving as priests. 42The Israelis had done all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. 43Moses blessed them when he saw all the work, and that they had done it. They had done it just as the Lord had commanded.
Chapter 40
1The Lord spoke to Moses: 2gOn the first day of the first month you are to set up the tent of the Tent of Meeting. 3You are to put the Ark of the Testimony there, and screen off the ark with the curtain. 4You are to bring in the table and properly arrange what goes on it. Then you are to bring in the lamp stand and set up its lamps.
5gYou are to put the golden altar for incense in front of the Ark of the Testimony and then set up the screen for the doorway to the tent. 6You are to put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the doorway of the tent of the Tent of Meeting. 7You are to put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it. 8You are to set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court. 9You are to take the anointing oil and anoint the tent and all that is in it. You are to consecrate it and all its furnishings and it will be holy.
10gYou are to anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils. You are to consecrate the altar and the altar will be most holy. 11You are to anoint the basin and its base and consecrate it. 12Then you are to bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 13You are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments, you are to anoint him, and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 14You are to bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. 15You are to anoint them just as you anointed their father so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to qualify them to belong to a perpetual priesthood from generation to generation.h
16Moses did everything that the Lord had commanded him, so he did. 17And so in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tent was set up. 18Moses set up the tent. He installed its sockets and set its boards in place. He inserted its bars and set up its pillars. 19He spread the tent over the tent and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded him. 20Then he took the Testimony, put it into the ark, and placed the poles on the ark. He then put the Mercy Seat on top of the ark. 21He brought the ark into the tent, set up the curtain, and screened off the Ark of the Testimony, just as the Lord had commanded him. 22He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the north side of the tent, outside the curtain, 23and properly arranged the bread on it in the Lordfs presence, just as the Lord had commanded him.
24Then he put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tent, 25and set up the lamps in the Lordfs presence, just as the Lord had commanded him. 26He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the curtain 27and burned aromatic incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
28He set up the screen for the doorway of the tent. 29He put the altar for burnt offerings at the doorway of the tent of the Tent of Meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded him. 30He put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing. 31Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet from it. 32When they entered the Tent of Meeting and approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded him. 33He set up the court all around the tent and the altar, and hung up the screen for the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work.
34The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. 35Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. 36Whenever the cloud was lifted up from the tent, the Israelis would set out on their journey, 37but if the cloud was not lifted up, they would not set out until it was lifted up. 38For the cloud of the Lord was over the tent by day, and the fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel in all their journeys.
Leviticus
Chapter 1
1The Lord spoke to Moses from the midst of the Tent of Meeting: 2gSpeak to the Israelis and tell them, When any person brings an offering to the Lord from among you, whether he brings on offering of animals from either cattle or flock, 3if his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring a male without any defect. He is to present it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. At the appointed time it is to be presented in the presence of the Lord so that he may be accepted. 4He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him as an atonement on his behalf. 5Then he is to slaughter the young bull in the Lordfs presence.h
gAaronfs sons, the priests, are to bring the blood and sprinkle it around the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7Aaronfs sons, the priests, are to build a fire on the altar and arrange the wood over the fire. 8They are to arrange the pieces of meat\including the head and the fat\on the wood over the fire that burns on the altar. 9Then he is to wash its entrails and legs with water. After this, the priest is to offer all of it on the altar\a burnt offering by fire, an aroma that will be pleasing to the Lord.h
10gIf his offering is a burnt offering from the flock, whether lamb or goat, he is to bring a male without any defect 11and slaughter it at the north side of the altar in the Lordfs presence. Then Aaronfs sons, the priests, are to sprinkle its blood around the altar. 12He is to cut up its head and fat into separate pieces. Then the priest is to arrange them in rows on the wood over the fire that burns on the altar. 13Then he is to wash its entrails and legs with water. After this, the priest is to offer all of it on the altar\a burnt offering by fire, an aroma that will be pleasing to the Lord.h
14gIf his offering is a burnt offering of birds to the Lord, he is to bring turtledoves or young doves. 15The priest is to bring it to the altar to offer it up in smoke. He is to decapitate it, drain its blood on the side of the altar, 16and then he is to eviscerate it, and throw the viscera and the feathers to the east side of the altar, where the fatty ashes are located. 17He is then to tear it open by its wings, but not dividing it completely into two parts. The priest is then to offer all of it on the wood over the fire as a burnt offering by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.h
Chapter 2
1gWhen a person brings an offering\that is, a grain offering to the Lord, his offering is to consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil mixed with frankincense over it. 2Then he is to bring it to Aaronfs sons, the priests. He is to take a handful of fine flour, the olive oil, and all of the frankincense. Then the priest is to offer a memorial offering by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 3The remnants from the grain offering is for Aaron and his sons\the holiest of the offerings made by fire to the Lord.h
4gWhen you bring an offering\that is, a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of fine flour baked into unleavened bread mixed with olive oil or of wafers made of unleavened bread and smeared with olive oil.
5gIf your grain offering has been prepared on a griddle, then it is to consist of fine flour mixed with olive oil. 6Crumble it into morsels of bread and then pour olive oil on it. Itfs a grain offering.
7gWhen your grain offering has been prepared in a stew pan, it is to consist of fine flour mixed with olive oil. 8Bring the grain offering that you prepared from these ingredients to the Lord. Present it to the priest, who will bring it to the altar. 9Then the priest will dedicate some of the grain offering as a memorial offering and offer it in smoke on the altar, an offering by fire that will be a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 10The remainder from the memorial offering is for Aaron and his sons\the holiest of the offerings made by fire to the Lord.h
11gAny grain offering that you bring to the Lord is not to be prepared with yeast, because anything with leaven and honey may not be offered in smoke as an offering by fire to the Lord. 12You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of first fruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.h
13gAlso, be sure to rub every offering from your grain offering with salt. You are not to ever remove the salt of the covenant of your God from your grain offering. Present all your offerings with salt.h
14gWhenever you bring a grain offering of first fruits to the Lord, bring fresh barley, roasted in fire, young kernels crushed into bits. Bring the grain offering with your first fruits 15and then pour olive oil and frankincense over it as a grain offering. 16The priest is to offer the memorial offering in smoke\its crushed bits, olive oil, and frankincense\as an offering by fire to the Lord.h
Chapter 3
1gIf someonefs offering is a peace offering from the cattle, the presenter is to offer it without defects, whether the animal is male or female. They are to be brought to the Lord. 2Then the presenter is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. After this, Aaronfs sons, the priests, are to sprinkle the blood on and around the altar.
3gThe presenter is then to bring a gift from the peace offering, an offering made by fire to the Lord. He is to remove the fat that covers the internal organs, all of the fat that is inside the internal organs, 4the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass that surrounds the liver and kidneys. 5Then Aaronfs sons are to burn them on the altar, over the burnt offering that has been placed on the wood, over the fire, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
6gIf his offering to the Lord is a peace offering from the flock, whether male or female, he is to bring them without defect. 7If the offering that he is bringing is a lamb, then he is to bring it to the Lord. 8He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaronfs sons are to sprinkle the blood on and around the altar.
9gThe presenter is then to bring a gift from the peace offering as an offering made by fire to the Lord. He is to remove the fat, the entire fat tail near the spine, the fat that covers the internal organs, all of the fat that is inside the internal organs, 10the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass that surrounds the liver and kidneys. 11Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as a food offering made by fire to the Lord.
12gIf his offering is a goat, then he is to bring it to the Lord, 13lay his hand over its head, then slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. After this, Aaronfs sons are to sprinkle the blood on and around the altar.
14gThe presenter is then to present the gift as an offering made by fire to the Lord, that is, the fat that covers the internal organs, all the fat that is inside the internal organs, 15the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass that surrounds the liver and kidneys. 16The priest is to burn them on the altar, a food offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat belongs to the Lord.
17gThis is to be a lasting statute for all your generations, wherever you live. You are not to eat any fat or blood.h
Chapter 4
1The Lord spoke to Moses: 2gSpeak to the Israelis and tell them, eIf a person inadvertently sins with respect to any of the Lordfs commands that should not be violated, but nevertheless he disobeys one of them, 3or if the anointed priest sins, thereby bringing guilt on the people, let him bring a young bull without defect as a sin offering to the Lord for his sin that he had committed.
4geHe is to bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, into the Lordfs presence, where he is to lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter it in the Lordfs presence. 5The anointed priest is to take blood from the bull to the Tent of Meeting. 6The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times in the Lordfs presence in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.
7geThe priest is then to put some blood on the horn of the altar that is near the Tent of Meeting as an incense of pleasing aroma in the Lordfs presence. He is to pour the rest of the bullfs blood for a burnt offering at the base of the altar that is at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8Then he is to remove all the fat from the bull for a sin offering\ that is, the fat that covers the internal organs, all of the fat that is inside the internal organs, 9the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass surrounding the liver and kidneys, 10just as they are taken from the bull for a peace offering. Then the priest is to burn them on the altar for burnt offerings.
11geNow as for the bullfs hide, its flesh, its head, its legs, its internal organs, its dung, 12along with the rest of the bull, he is to bring it outside the camp to a clean place, where fat ashes are to be poured over it and then it is to be thoroughly burned over wood with fire. It is to be burned where the fat ashes are poured out.fh
13gIf the whole congregation of Israel goes astray, and if the sin is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and if they will have gone astray from one of the Lordfs commands that should not be violated, then they will stand guilty. 14When the sin that they have committed becomes known, the entire congregation is to bring a young bull as a sin offering to the Tent of Meeting, 15where the elders of the community are to lay their hands on the head of the bull in the Lordfs presence and slaughter it. 16The anointed priest is to take blood from the bull and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. 17Then the priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times in front of the curtain in the Lordfs presence.
18gThen the priest is to put blood on the horn of the altar near the Tent of Meeting in the Lordfs presence. He is to pour the rest of the blood as a burnt offering at the base of the altar that is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 19Then he is to remove all the fat from the bull for a sin offering and burn it on the altar.
20gHe is to do to the bull what he did to the bull for sin offering. He is to do it this way so that the priest will make atonement for them and they will be forgiven. 21Then he is to bring the rest of the bull outside the camp and burn it just as he had burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the congregation.h
22gWhen a ruler inadvertently sins, disobeying any one of the commands of the Lord his God that should not be violated, he will be guilty. 23When the sin that he had committed is disclosed to him, he is to bring his offering: a male goat without defect. 24He is then to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered\in the Lordfs presence\as a sin offering. 25Then the priest is to take blood from the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horn of the altar that is used for burnt offerings. He is to pour the rest of the blood at the base of the altar that is used for burnt offerings. 26But he is to burn all the fat on the altar as is done for the fat for the sacrifice of a peace offering. This is how the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin. It will be forgiven him.h
27gIf any of the common people of the land inadvertently sins by disobeying one of the Lordfs commands that should not be violated, he will be guilty. 28When the sin that he committed is disclosed to him, he is to bring his offering for his sin that he had committed: a female goat without defect. 29He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place for burnt offering. 30Then the priest is to take blood with his finger, put it on the horn of the altar that is used for burnt offerings, and then pour the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31He is to remove all the fat, just as the fat was removed from the sacrifice for peace offering. Then the priest is to burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This is how the priest will make atonement for him. It will be forgiven him.
32gIf he brings a lamb for his offering, he is to bring a female without defect. 33He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34Then the priest is to take blood with his finger and put it on the horn of the altar for burnt offering. Then he is to pour the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 35Then the presenter is to remove all its fat, just as the fat was removed from the sacrifice of peace offering. The priest is to burn it on the altar over the offerings made by fire to the Lord. This is how the priest will make atonement for him concerning the sin that he had committed. It will be forgiven him.h
Chapter 5
1gIf someone sins because he has failed to testify after receiving notice to testify as a witness regarding what he has observed or learned, he is to be held responsible.h
2gWhen a person has touched a ceremonially unclean thing inadvertently, such as the carcass of an unclean animal, or some unclean creeping thing, he will be unclean and guilty nevertheless.
3gWhen he inadvertently touches the uncleanness of a human being, whatever his uncleanness that made him unclean may be, when he himself comes to know about it, he will be guilty. 4When a person has sworn inadvertently by what he has said, whether for evil or good, whatever it was that the person spoke, when he comes to understand what he said, he will incur guilt by one of these things.
5gWhen a person is guilty of one of these things, then he is to confess whatever sin it was 6and bring compensation to the Lord for the guilt that he committed: a female from the flock\whether a lamb or goat\for a sin offering. Then the priest is to make atonement for him.h
7gIf he canft afford a goat, then he is to bring for his sin offering two turtledoves or two young doves to the Lord: one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8He is to bring them to the priest, who will offer a sin offering first. He is to wring off its head without separating it. 9Then he is to spatter some of the blood from the sin offering on the sidewall of the altar. Now as to the remainder of the blood, he is to pour it out at the base of the altar for a sin offering.
10gNow as to the second, he is to prepare it as a burnt offering according to the approved procedure. The priest is to make atonement for him on account of his sin that he had committed. Then it will be forgiven him.
11gIf he canft afford two turtledoves or two young doves, then he is to bring as his offering a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering for what he has committed. He is to put no olive oil or frankincense on it, since itfs a sin offering. 12He is to bring it to the priest. The priest is to take a handful as a memorial and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire to the Lord. Itfs a sin offering. 13The priest will make atonement for him, on account of the sin that he had committed in any of these things and it will be forgiven him. As far as the priest is concerned, it will be a meal offering.h
14The Lord spoke to Moses: 15gWhen a person commits a truly treacherous act and sins inadvertently concerning the sacred things of the Lord, then he is to bring a trespass offering from the flock to the Lord as compensation for his guilt. It is to be a ram without defect, estimated as to its value in silver shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 16He is to compensate for whatever sin he had committed concerning the sacred things of the Lord, add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest. The priest is to make atonement for him with the ram as a sin offering and hefll be forgiven.
17gIf a person sins and does what the Lord commanded is not to be done, and if he didnft know that he had sinned, then he will be guilty nevertheless. 18He is to bring to the priest from the flock a ram without defect, estimated as to its value in silver shekels, as a guilt offering. Then the priest is to make atonement for him concerning his inadvertent act that he committed through ignorance, and it will be forgiven him. 19Itfs a sin offering for his guilt in the Lordfs presence.h
Chapter 6
1The Lord spoke to Moses: 2gA person sins against the Lord by acting treacherously toward his neighbor regarding something entrusted to his care, security for a loan, robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor, 3found something that had been lost and then lied about it, or if he makes a false oath about any of these things, thus committing a sin with respect to these things.
4gIf that person has sinned and has been found guilty, then he is to return the stolen thing that he took or obtained by oppression, or the security that had been entrusted to him, or the lost thing that he had found, 5or the thing about which he had given a false oath. He is to restore it in full, add a fifth to it, then give to whom it belongs the very day hefs found guilty.
6gNow as to his guilt offering, he is to bring to the Lord a ram without defect from the flock, estimated as to its value, to the priest. 7Then the priest is to make atonement for him in the Lordfs presence, and it will be forgiven him regarding whatever he did.h
8The Lord spoke to Moses: 9gDeliver these orders to Aaron and his sons concerning the regulations for burnt offerings. The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth of the altar throughout the entire night until morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning along with it.
10gThe priest is to clothe himself with linen robe and underclothes. Then he is to take the ashes of the burnt offering on the altar that had been consumed by the fire and set them beside the altar. 11Then he is to change his clothes, dressing himself with a different set of clothes, and take the ashes to a clean place outside the camp.
12gThe fire on the altar is to be kept burning continuously without being extinguished. The priest is to burn wood on it every morning, arrange burnt offerings over it, and then burn the fat contained in the peace offerings over it. 13The fire is to continue to burn on the altar and is never to be extinguished.h
14gThis is the law concerning grain offerings. Aaronfs sons are to offer it in the Lordfs presence, in front of the altar. 15He is to take a handful of fine flour for a grain offering, some olive oil, all of the frankincense on the grain offering, and make a sacrifice of smoke on the altar as a memorial portion, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
16gAaron and his sons are to eat what remains of the unleavened offering at this sacred place: the court of the Tent of Meeting. 17It is not to be baked with leaven. Ifve given it as their portion out of my offerings made by fire. Itfs a most holy thing, like the sin and guilt offerings. 18Every male of Aaronfs sons is to eat it as a portion continuously allotted for your generations from the offerings made by fire to the Lord. Anyone who touches them is to be holy.h
19Then the Lord told Moses, 20gThis is the offering that Aaron and his sons are to offer to the Lord the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of flour is to be offered throughout the day, half in the morning and half in the evening. 21It is to be prepared with olive oil on a griddle. Once is has been mixed thoroughly, bake it, bring it in pieces, and offer it like a grain offering of broken pieces, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 22The anointed priest who succeeds him from among his sons is to offer it. As a permanent statute, it is to be offered whole and made to smoke in the Lordfs presence. 23Every grain offering from a priest is to be burned whole. It is not to be eaten.h
24Then the Lord told Moses, 25gSpeak to Aaron and his sons. This is the regulation concerning sin offerings. Slaughter the sin offering in the same place where the whole burnt offering is slaughtered\in the Lordfs presence. Itfs a most holy thing. 26The priest who offers it as a sin offering is to eat it at a sacred place in the court of the Tent of Meeting. 27Whoever touches its meat will be holy.
gIf some of its blood spatters on a garment, wash where it was spattered in a sacred place. 28The earthen vessel in which it was boiled is to be broken, unless it was boiled in a bronze vessel, in which case it is to be polished very well and rinsed in water.
29gEvery male among the priests is to eat it. Itfs a most sacred thing. 30Any sin offering from which its blood was brought to the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the sacred place is not to be eaten. Instead, it is to be incinerated.h
Chapter 7
1gThis is the regulation concerning guilt offerings. Itfs most holy. 2The guilt offering is to be offered in the same place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. The priest is to spatter some of its blood on the altar and around it. 3As to all its fat, that is, the fat on the tail and the fat covering the internal organs, the one presenting the sacrifice is to offer it. 4But the two kidneys, the fat over them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver is to be taken away, along with the kidneys. 5Then the priest is to offer them on the altar, incinerating them with fire as a guilt offering to the Lord. 6Any male among the priests may eat it, provided that it is eaten at a sacred place as a most holy thing. 7The law for the sin offering is the same as the guilt offering. It belongs to the priest who made atonement with it.
8gThe hide from the burnt offering brought by the offeror is to belong to the priest. 9Every grain offering thatfs baked on the oven and everything thatfs prepared on a stew pan or on the frying pan belongs to the priest who offered it. 10Furthermore, every grain offering thatfs mixed with olive oil or thatfs dry will be for Aaronfs sons, each one like the other.h
11gThis is the law concerning the sacrifice for peace offerings that are to be brought to the Lord. 12If someone brings it to demonstrate thanksgiving, then he is to present along with the thanksgiving offering unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers spread with olive oil, and cakes of mixed fine flour with olive oil. 13Along with the cakes of unleavened bread, he is to bring his thanksgiving offering with his peace offerings. 14He is to present one from each grain offering, a separate offering to the Lord. It will belong to the priest who spatters the blood of the peace offering. 15As to the meat contained in his peace offerings, it is to be eaten on the day it is offered. Nothing of it is to remain until morning.h
16gIf his sacrifice accompanies a fulfilled vow or is a voluntary offering, it is to be eaten on the day the offeror brings the sacrifice. Anything left over is to be eaten the next day, 17but whatever remains uneaten from the meat of the sacrifice by the third day is to be incinerated.
18gIf any of the meat of his sacrifice of peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it wonft be accepted for the one who brought it. It is to be considered as refuse, and whoever eats it will bear the punishment of his iniquity.h
19gMeat that comes in contact with a ceremonially unclean thing is not to be eaten. Incinerate it instead. As for ceremonially clean meat, anyone who is clean may eat it. 20But the person who eats meat from the sacrifice that belongs to the Lord, while still affected by his uncleanness is to be eliminated from contact with his people. 21Any person who touches a ceremonially unclean thing\whether the uncleanness pertains to human beings, animals, or to creeping things\and then eats from the meat of peace offerings that belongs to the Lord is to be eliminated from contact with his people.h
22The Lord spoke to Moses: 23gTell the Israelis: You are not to eat the fat of an ox, a lamb, or a goat.
24gThe carcass of an animal that died of its own and an animal torn by wild beast may be used for any purpose except for eating.
25gAnyone who eats the fat of an animal that has been offered by fire to the Lord is to be eliminated from contact with his people. 26You are not to eat any form of blood in any of your dwellings, whether itfs from birds or animals. 27Any person who eats any form of blood is to be eliminated from contact with his people.h
28The Lord spoke to Moses: 29gTell the Israelis: eWhoever brings a peace offering sacrifice to the Lord is to bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30He is to bring the offering made by fire with his own hands to the Lord. He is to bring the fat with the breast, since the breast is to be waved as a raised offering to the Lord. 31The priest will burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32From the sacrifices of your peace offerings give the right thigh to the priest as a raised offering to the Lord.
33geThe descendant of Aaronfs sons who brings the blood from the peace offering and the fat will have the right thigh for his own portion, 34since Ifve taken the breast and the thigh as raised offerings from the sacrifices of peace offerings of the Israelis and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their perpetual portion from the Israelis.fh
35This is the consecrated portion for Aaron and his descendants from the offerings made by fire to the Lord, the day they were presented to be priests to the Lord. 36This is what the Lord had commanded to give them the day he anointed them from among the Israelis\a perpetual portion for their generations.
37This is the regulation concerning burnt, grain, sin, guilt, and installation offerings, along with the sacrifice for peace offerings. 38This is what the Lord had commanded Moses on Mount Sinai on the day when he commanded the Israelis to bring their offerings to the Lord in the Sinai wilderness.
Chapter 8
1The Lord spoke to Moses: 2gTake Aaron, his sons with him, the clothing, the anointing oil, the bull for sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread 3and then assemble the entire congregation at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.h
4So Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him. He assembled the congregation at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
5Moses told the congregation, gThis is what the Lord commanded to be done.h
6Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7Then he clothed Aaron with the tunic, girded him with the band for priests, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, girded him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it on him. 8He set the breastplate on him and placed the Urim and Thummim on top of the breastplate. 9Then he set the turban on his head, and on the turban at the front he set the golden plate, the sacred crown that the Lord had commanded.
10After this, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tent, consecrating everything that was in it. 11He spattered some on the altar seven times, then anointed the altar, all its vessels, the laver, and its base to consecrate them. 12He then poured the oil of anointing on Aaronfs head to anoint and consecrate him.
13Then Moses brought Aaronfs sons, clothed them with the tunic, girded them with the bands, and bound turbans on them just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
14Next, he brought the bull for sin offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the bullfs head for a sin offering. 15So Moses slaughtered it, took the blood, and poured some of it at the horns of the altar and around it with his fingers, thus purifying the altar. Then he poured the blood at the base of the altar, thereby sanctifying it as a means to make atonement with it.
16Moses burned on the altar all the fat on the internal organs, the appendage on the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat. 17As to the bull and its fat, skin and offal, he incinerated them outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
18Next he brought the ram for whole burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19Moses slaughtered it and poured its blood over the altar and around it. 20As to the ram, he cut it into parts at the joints. Moses burned the head, internal organs, and the fat.
21Moses washed the internal organs and the thigh with water and then burned the entire ram on the altar as a whole burnt offering, a pleasing aroma of an offering made by fire to the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
22Moses brought the ram, that is, the second of the rams for consecration. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23Moses then slaughtered it, took some of its blood, and put it on Aaronfs right earlobe, right thumb, and on his right great toe. 24Then Moses brought Aaronfs sons, took some of its blood, and put it on their right earlobes, on their right thumbs, and on their right great toes.
Moses poured the blood on the altar and all around it. 25Then he took the fat\from the tail, all the fat on the internal organs, the appendage of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat, and the right thigh. 26From the basket of unleavened bread, which is in the Lordfs presence, he took one piece of unleavened bread, one cake spread with olive oil, and one wafer, which he placed over the fat and the right thigh.
27He put all of these things in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and they all waved them in a raised offering to the Lord. 28After this, Moses took those things from their hands and burned them on the altar over the whole burnt offering for consecration. They served as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.
29Moses took the breast and waved it as a raised offering in the Lordfs presence as the portion that belonged to Moses from the ram of consecration, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30Moses took some anointing oil and blood that was on the altar and spattered it on Aaron, on his clothes, on his sons, and on their clothes, consecrating Aaron, his clothes, his sons, and their clothes. 31Then he told Aaron and his sons, gBoil the meat at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. There you may eat it along with the bread that is in the basket for consecration, just as Ifve commanded when I told him, eAaron and his sons may eat of it, 32but the leftover meat and bread is to be incinerated.f
33gFurthermore, you are not to go out past the entrance to the Tent of Meeting until the days of your ordination have been completed, since it will take seven days to ordain you. 34What has been done today has been commanded by the Lord to make atonement for you. 35Stay seven days and nights at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and attend to the service of the Lord, so that you wonft die, because this is what Ifve commanded.h
36So Aaron and his sons did everything that the Lord had commanded through Moses.
Chapter 9
1Eight days later, Moses called Aaron, his sons, and the elders of Israel. 2He told Aaron, gTake a young calf for a sin offering and a ram without defects for a whole burnt offering and bring them into the Lordfs presence.h
3He also told the Israelis, gBring a male goat for a sin offering, a calf, a year old lamb without defects for a whole burnt offering, 4an ox, a ram for a peace offering to sacrifice in the Lordfs presence, and a grain offering with olive oil, because on that day the Lord will appear to you.h 5So they brought what Moses had commanded to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. The entire congregation drew near and stood in the Lordfs presence.
6Then Moses said, gThis is what the Lord commanded you to do so that the glory of the Lord may be revealed to you.h 7Moses then told Aaron, gApproach the altar and bring your sin and whole burnt offerings. Make atonement for yourself and the people. Then bring the peoplefs offering and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded.h 8So Aaron drew near to the altar and slaughtered the calf for a sin offering on behalf of himself.
9Next, Aaronfs sons brought the blood to him and he dipped his fingers in the blood and placed it on the horns of the altar. As to the rest of the blood, he poured it at the base of the altar. 10He incinerated the fat, kidneys, and the appendage from the liver of the sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 11He also incinerated the meat and skin outside the camp. 12And so the burnt offering was slaughtered, and Aaronfs sons secured for him the blood, which he poured on the altar and around it.
13As for the burnt offering, they delivered it to Aaron piece by piece, but he burned the head on the altar. 14He washed the internal organs and the thighs and incinerated them on the altar, along with the whole burnt offering. 15He brought the peoplefs offering, presenting a goat for a sin offering on behalf of the people. He slaughtered it and offered it as the first sin offering. 16Then he brought the whole burnt offering and offered it according to procedure.
17Next, he brought the grain offering, filled his hand with it, and burned it on the altar next to the burnt offering for that morning. 18He slaughtered the ox and ram for the peace offering sacrifice on behalf of the people. Aaronfs sons delivered the blood to him, which he poured on the altar and around it.
19As to the fat from the ox, ram, and the tail, the fat covering the kidneys, and the appendage of the liver, 20they placed the fat on the breast and then he burned the fat on the altar. 21Aaron waved the breast and the right thigh as a raised offering in the Lordfs presence, just as Moses had commanded. 22Aaron raised his hand toward the people and blessed them. Then he came down from the altar after offering the sin, whole burnt, and peace offerings.
23Moses and Aaron entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24A fire came down from the Lordfs presence and consumed the burnt offering on the altar as well as the fat. When the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Chapter 10
1Aaronfs sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own censer, placed fire in them, covered it with incense, and brought it into the Lordfs presence as unauthorized fire that he had never prescribed for them. 2So a fire came out from the Lordfs presence, incinerated them, and they died while in the Lordfs presence.
3Moses spoke with Aaron about what the Lord had said: gAmong those who are near me, Ifll show myself holy so that Ifll be glorified before all people.h So Aaron remained silent.
4Then Moses called on Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, Aaronfs uncle, and said: gCome here and carry your brothers away from the sanctuary, outside the camp.h 5So they approached to carry them in their tunic outside the camp, just as Moses had commanded.
6Then Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: gYou are not to loosen the hair of your head and you are not to rend your clothes. That way, you wonft die and wrath wonft come on the entire congregation. Your brothers and the assembly of Israel will mourn because of the fire that the Lord kindled. 7Also, you are not to leave the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Otherwise, youfll die, since the Lordfs anointing oil remains on you.h So they followed Mosesf instructions.
8Then the Lord spoke to Aaron: 9gYou and your sons with you are not to drink wine\that is, any intoxicating drink\when you enter the Tent of Meeting. That way, you wonft die. This is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations.
10gDifferentiate between whatfs sacred and common and between whatfs unclean and clean. 11Teach the Israelis all the statutes that the Lord had commanded you by the authority of Moses.h
12Then Moses spoke to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: gTake the leftovers from the grain offering and the offerings made by fire and eat the unleavened bread beside the altar, because it is most holy to the Lord. 13Eat at a sacred place, because itfs your and your sonfs prescribed portions. Itfs from the offering made by fire to the Lord, since Ifve commanded it. 14As to the breast and thigh raised offerings, you and your sons and daughters with you may eat them at a clean place, because it belongs to you and is your sonsf prescribed portions. They were taken from the sacrifices of peace offering of the Israelis. 15They are to bring the thigh offering and the breast raised offering with the offerings made by fire from the fat to wave as a raised offering in the Lordfs presence. It will be a perpetual portion for you and your sons with you, just as the Lord had commanded.h
16Now, Moses diligently sought for the goat that had been offered as a sin offering, but it had already been incinerated, so he was angry with Aaronfs sons who remained. He asked Eleazar and Ithamar, 17gWhy didnft you eat the sin offering at the sacred place? Itfs most holy and he has given it to you so that you may bear the punishment for the iniquity of the entire congregation and make atonement for them in the Lordfs presence. 18Look! Its blood wasnft brought inside the sanctuary. You are to have eaten it in the sanctuary, just as Ifve commanded.h
19But Aaron replied to Moses, gToday theyfve offered their sin and whole burnt offerings in the Lordfs presence. Yet things such as these have happened to me. Had I eaten the sin offering today, would that be pleasing in the Lordfs opinion?h
20When Moses heard that explanation, he was pleased.
Chapter 11
1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2gTell the Israelis, eThese are the living creatures that you may eat among the animals of the earth. 3You may eat any animal that has divided hooves with cloven feet and that ruminates its cud, 4except you are not to eat the following animals that have divided hooves or ruminate their cud: the camel (because it chews the cud but doesnft have divided hooves) is to be unclean for you; 5the rock badger (because it chews its cud but its hooves arenft divided) is to be unclean for you; 6the hare (because it chews its cud, but its hooves arenft divided) is to be unclean for you; 7the pig (because it has divided hooves and is therefore cloven footed, but it doesnft ruminate its cud), is to be unclean for you. 8You are not to eat its flesh or even touch their carcasses. They are to be unclean for you.fh
9gYou may eat anything thatfs in the waters; that is, you may eat anything that has fins and scales either from the seas or from the rivers. 10But anything that doesnft have fins or scales\whether from the seas or the rivers\any of the swarming creatures and living creatures in the waters are detestable for you. 11They are to be detestable for you. You are not to eat of their meat and you are to detest their carcasses. 12Anything that doesnft have fins or scales in the waters is a detestable thing for you.h
13gThese are detestable things for you among winged creatures that you are not to eat, because they are detestable for you: the eagle, vulture, osprey, 14 red kite, falcon of any kind, 15every kind of raven, 16ostrich, nighthawk, sea gull, hawk of every kind, 17owl, cormorant, ibis, 18water-hen, pelican, carrion, 19stork, heron of every kind, hoopoe, bat, 20and any winged insect that crawls on four legs is detestable for you.
21gHowever, you may eat winged creatures that crawl on four legs that extend over its head and by which it hops on the ground. 22These creatures that you may eat include the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind. 23But any other winged insect that has four legs is detestable for you 24and are unclean. Anyone who touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening. 25And anyone who carries their carcasses is to wash his clothes, since he will remain unclean until evening.h
26gAny animal that has divided hooves and is cloven-footed but doesnft chew the cud is unclean for you. Anyone who touches them is unclean. 27Among the animals, anything that walks on their paws and on four legs is unclean for you. Anyone who touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening. 28Whoever carries their carcass is to wash their clothes, because theyfve become unclean until evening. Theyfre unclean for you.
29gThese are unclean for you among the swarming creatures that crawl over the land: the rat, mouse, lizards of every kind, 30the gecko, crocodile, lizard, sand lizard, and chameleon. 31These are unclean for you among the swarming creatures, so anyone who touches them when theyfre dead becomes unclean until evening.
32gFurthermore, anything on which they fall upon when theyfre dead becomes unclean, whether on an article of wood, clothing, skin, or a sack. And any vessel used for any work is to be washed in water, because it has become unclean until evening. 33Any earthen vessel in which any of these things fall becomes unclean, along with everything in it. You are to destroy it, along with all its contents.h
34gAny food that may be eaten, but which water has soaked in, becomes unclean. Any drink, which may be drunk in any of these vessels becomes unclean. 35And anything in which their carcass falls on becomes unclean. An oven or stove is to be broken in pieces. Theyfre unclean and therefore unclean for you.
36gA spring or a cistern that holds water is clean, but whoever touches the carcass of an unclean animal will be unclean. 37If their carcass falls on a seed, which is for sowing, what is to be sown is clean. 38But if water is put on the seed and part of their carcass falls on it, then it has become unclean for you.
39gIf any of the animals that you may eat dies, the one who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening. 40The one who eats from its carcass is to wash his clothes, because he has become unclean until evening. Even the one who carries the carcass is to wash his clothes, because he has become unclean until evening.h
41gEvery swarming thing that swarms the land is detestable for you. It is not to be eaten. 42You are not to eat anything that crawls on its belly, anything that walks on four legs, anything that has many legs, and all the swarming creatures that swarm the land, because theyfre detestable.
43gYou are not to make yourselves detestable on account of any swarming creature that swarms the land. And you are not to defile yourselves and become unclean because of them, 44because I, the Lord, am your God.
gSet yourselves apart and be holy, because I am holy. You are not to defile yourselves with any of the swarming creatures that swarm the earth.
45gI am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Be holy, because I am holy. 46This is the law concerning animals, every living creature that moves on the waters or swarms on land. 47You are to differentiate between the clean and unclean, between the living creature that can be eaten and the living creature that is not to be eaten.h
Chapter 12
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that a woman who conceives and bears a son is unclean for seven days. Just like the days of her menstruation, she is unclean. 3On the eighth day, the flesh of the babyfs foreskin is to be circumcised. 4For 33 days, she is to remain in purification due to her blood loss. She is not to touch any sacred thing or enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification have been completed.
5gIf she gives birth to a female, then she is to remain unclean for two weeks, just like her menstruation. She is to remain in purification for 66 days due to her blood loss.
6gWhen the days of her purification have been completed, whether for her son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting a one year old lamb for a whole burnt offering or a young dove for a sin offering.
7gHe is to offer it in the Lordfs presence and make atonement for her so that she becomes clean from her blood loss. This is the law concerning the bearing of a male or female child. 8If she cannot afford a goat, then two turtledoves or two young doves, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering, will serve for him to make atonement for her, so that she becomes clean.h
Chapter 13
1The Lord said this to Moses and Aaron: 2gWhen a person has a swelling or a scab in the skin on his body that turns white in appearance and appears to be more extensive than skin deep, he is to be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons among the priests. 3The priest is to examine the skin rash on the body. If the hair on the skin rash has turned white and its appearance is deeper than the skin of his body, itfs an infectious skin disease. When the priest has examined it, then he is to declare him unclean.
4gIf the light spot in the skin of his body is white but the appearance of the skin rash isnft deeper than the skin of his body and its hair has not become white, then the priest is to isolate the one who is infected for seven days. 5On the seventh day, the priest is to examine him again. If in his opinion the skin rash remained the same and it had not spread, then he is to isolate him for another seven days.
6gOn the next seventh day, the priest is to examine him again. If the skin rash didnft become dull and it didnft spread in the skin, then the priest is to pronounce him clean: itfs a scab. He is to wash his clothes and be clean. 7But if the scab has spread in the skin after he presented himself to the priest for cleansing, then he is to show himself the second time to the priest. 8When the priest examines him and determines that the scab has, in fact, spread in his skin, then the priest is to pronounce him unclean, since itfs an infectious skin disease.h
9gWhen a person has a skin rash thatfs infectious, then he is to be brought to the priest. 10The priest is to examine it. If it is, indeed, a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and yet sustains live flesh on the swelling, 11 itfs a festering skin disease in his body. The priest is to declare him unclean. The man need not be confined, since hefs already unclean. 12If the infectious skin disease spreads in the skin so that it covers his entire body from head to foot, as the priest examines it, 13and when the priest examines and indeed the infectious skin disease has covered his entire body, then he is to declare him clean, even though he still has the skin infection. He has turned entirely white, so hefs clean.
14gBut if in the day infected flesh appears again in him, he is unclean. 15The priest is to examine the infected flesh and declare him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; itfs an infectious skin disease. 16If the raw flesh recurs and turns white, then he is to go to the priest. 17When the priest examines him and finds that the skin rash has indeed turned white, then the priest is to declare the one with the skin rash clean, and he will be clean.h
18gWhen someone is infected with a boil, but after itfs healed, 19in place of the boil there remains a white swelling or a bright, white-reddish spot, he is to present himself to the priest. 20When the priest undertakes his examination and finds that it appears more extensive than skin deep, and that its hair has turned white, then the priest is to declare him unclean, since an infectious skin disease has flourished in the boil.
21gIf the priest examines and therefs no white hair in it, and itfs not more extensive than skin deep, but itfs dull, then the priest is to isolate him for seven days. 22But if the infection has spread in the skin, then the priest is to declare him unclean. Itfs a skin rash. 23If the scab remains in place and doesnft spread, then itfs the scab from the boil. The priest is to declare him clean.h
24gWhen a person has a burn scar in the skin that turns bright, white-reddish, or white, 25if the priest examines it and indeed the hair has turned white with a white spot appearing more extensive than skin deep, itfs an infectious skin disease with a burn scar that has spread. The priest is to declare him unclean. Itfs an infectious skin disease.
26gBut if the priest examines it and discovers that therefs no bright area or white hair, or if he discovers that itfs not more extensive than skin deep, and itfs dull, then the priest is to isolate him for seven days. 27When the priest examines it on the seventh day and finds that it has indeed spread on the skin, then the priest is to declare him unclean. Itfs an infectious skin disease.
28gBut if the bright spot remains in place, doesnft spread in the skin, and itfs dull, itfs the swelling of the burned area. The priest is to declare him clean, since itfs the scar from a burn.h
29gNow when a man or a woman has a skin rash on the head or the beard, 30and the priest examines the skin rash and indeed it appears more extensive than skin deep, and itfs accompanied by fine, yellowish hair, the priest is to declare him unclean. The scales on the head or the beard are an infectious skin disease.
31gBut when the priest examines the scales of the skin rash and it doesnft appear more extensive than skin deep, and therefs no black hair in it, then the priest is to isolate him for seven days. 32When the priest examines the skin rash on the seventh day and finds that indeed the scab did not spread, therefs no yellowish hair on it, and the scales donft appear more extensive than skin deep, 33then he is to be shaven, but the scab is not to be shaved off. The priest is to isolate him a second time for seven days.
34gThe priest is to examine the scab on the seventh day. If, indeed, the scab hasnft spread on the skin, and it doesnft appear more extensive than skin deep, then the priest is to declare him clean. He is to wash his garments and be clean.
35gBut if the scales spread on the skin after his cleansing, 36and the priest examines it and finds the scale to have spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellowish hair, since he is clean. 37If in his opinion, the scab remained the same and a black hair grew in it, then the scab has healed. Hefs clean. The priest is to declare him clean.
38gIf a man or a woman has a light or whitish spot in the skin of their body, 39when the priest examines it and finds that there is a light or dull white patch of the skin on the body, itfs a harmless skin eruption that has spread on the skin. The person is clean.h
40gWhen a manfs head becomes bare, hefs bald, but hefs clean. 41When his head becomes bare on the side corner of his face, he has a bald forehead, but hefs clean. 42But when in the baldness of his head or his forehead there develops a skin rash thatfs white or reddish, itfs an infectious skin disease that has spread to his bald head or forehead.
43gWhen the priest examines it and finds that the swelling of the skin rash is white or reddish on his bald head or forehead, similar in appearance to an infectious disease in the skin of the body, 44hefs a man with an infectious skin disease. Hefs unclean. The priest is to declare him unclean on account of the skin rash in his head. 45The person with the infectious skin disease is to tear his garments and loosen his hair. He is to cover his mustache and shout out, eUnclean! Unclean!f 46The whole time that the skin rash infects him, he will be unclean. He is to live by himself in a home outside the encampment.h
47gWhen clothing becomes infected with a contagion\whether the clothing is wool or linen\ 48in woven or knitted material, in leather or with any article containing leather, 49if the contagion is greenish or reddish in the clothing, leather, woven material, knitted material, or with any article containing leather, itfs a fungal infection and is to be shown to the priest.
50gThe priest is to examine the contagion and isolate the clothing for seven days. 51The priest is to examine the contagion on the seventh day. If the infection has spread on the clothing, in the woven material, the knitted material, or in the leather, no matter the purpose for which the leather material had been manufactured, the contagion is a chronic fungal infection. Itfs unclean.
52gIncinerate the clothing, the woven material, the knitted material (whether wool or linen), or any of the leather articles on which the contagion is found, because itfs a chronic fungal infection. It is to be incinerated.
53gBut if the priest examines it and the infection did not spread on the clothing, either in the woven or knitted material, or on anything made of leather, 54then the priest is to command that they wash whatever has the contagion and then isolate it for seven days a second time. 55Then the priest is to examine it after the contagion has been washed. If the contagion hasnft changed in appearance, even though the contagion hasnft spread, itfs unclean. Incinerate it. Itfs a fungal infection, especially if the infection is on its exposed side.
56gIf the priest examines the item and determines that the contagion has become dull after it has been washed, tear it away from the garment, leather, woven material, or knitted material. 57But if it recurs on the clothing, whether woven or knitted material, or on any article made of leather, itfs a break out, so incinerate it with fire, wherever the contagion is found. 58Then the clothing, whether it is woven or knitted material, or any article made of leather that youfve washed, if the contagion has been removed from them, and itfs washed the second time, then itfs clean.
59gThis is the law concerning fungal contagions on clothing of wool or linen, whether woven or knitted material, or in any of the articles made of leather, for determining whether it is clean or unclean.h
Chapter 14
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gThis is the law concerning those who have infectious skin diseases, after they have been cleansed.
3gThe priest is to go outside the camp and examine the infectious skin disease to confirm that the person has been healed. 4If he has been healed, then the priest is to command that two live and clean birds, some cedar wood, some crimson thread, and hyssop be brought for the one cleansed. 5Then the priest is to command that one bird be slaughtered on an earthen vessel over flowing water. 6He is then to take the live bird, the cedar wood, the crimson thread, and the hyssop, dip them together with the bird in the blood of the bird that had been slaughtered over the flowing water. 7He is to spatter the blood seven times on the person with the infectious skin disease and then pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird into the open fields.
8gThe person who is clean is to wash his clothes, shave all his hair, bathe in water, and then he is to be declared clean. After this, he can be brought back to the camp, but he is to remain outside his tent for seven days. 9On the seventh day, he is to shave the hair on his head, chin, back, and eyebrows. After he has shaved all his hair, washed his clothes, bathed himself with water, then he will be clean.h
10gOn the eighth day, he is to take two lambs without defect, a one year old ewe lamb without defect, one third of a measure of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a meal offering, and one half of a liter of oil. 11The priest who will pronounce him clean is to present the person to be cleansed and these offerings in the Lordfs presence at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 12The priest is to take one of the lambs and present it as a guilt-offering, along with one third of a liter of olive oil, which he is to wave as a raised offering in the Lordfs presence. 13Then he is to slaughter the lamb in the place where he had slaughtered the sin and burnt offerings\that is, at a place in the sanctuary. Just as the sin offering is for the priest, so also is the guilt offering. Itfs a most holy thing.
14gThen the priest is to take some of the blood from the guilt offering and place it on the right earlobe of the person to be cleansed, on his right thumb, and on his right great toe. 15Then the priest is to take some of the half liter of olive oil and pour it into his own left hand. 16The priest is to dip his right finger in the olive oil that is in his left palm and spatter some of the olive oil with his finger seven times in the Lordfs presence.
17gAs to the remainder of the olive oil in his palm, he is to place some on the right earlobe of the person to be cleansed, on his right thumb, on his right great toe, and on the blood of the guilt offering. 18Then he is to place the rest of the oil in his palm on the head of the person to be cleansed, thus making atonement for him in the Lordfs presence. 19This is how the priest is to present the sin offering to make atonement for the person being cleansed of his impurity. After this, he is to slaughter the whole burnt offering. 20The priest is to offer both the whole burnt and the grain offerings on the altar. After the priest makes atonement for him, he will be clean.h
21gIf the offeror is poor and cannot afford the regular offering, then he is to take one lamb for a guilt offering that will be presented in the form of a wave offering to atone for him, one tenth of a measure of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, one half of a measure of olive oil, 22and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford. One is for a sin offering and the other is for a whole burnt offering.
23gOn the eighth day, he is to bring them for cleansing to the priest in the Lordfs presence at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 24The priest is to take the lamb for a guilt offering and the olive oil and wave them as a raised offering in the Lordfs presence. 25Then he is to take the lamb for guilt offering, and place some blood from the guilt offering on the right earlobe of the person to be cleansed, on his right thumb, and on his right great toe. 26Then the priest is to pour olive oil into his left palm 27and use his right finger to spatter oil from his left palm seven times in the Lordfs presence. 28The priest is to place oil from his palm to the right earlobe of the person being cleansed, on his right thumb, on his right great toe, and where the blood for the guilt offering is poured.
29gAs to the remainder of the oil in his palm, the priest is to use it to anoint the head of the person to be cleansed, in order to make atonement for him in the Lordfs presence. 30He then is to offer one of the turtledoves or the young pigeons, whichever he can afford. 31Based on what he can afford, one is for a sin offering and the other for a whole burnt offering. Along with the grain offering, the priest is to make atonement for the person to be cleansed in the Lordfs presence. 32This is the regulation concerning one who has an infectious skin disease but who cannot afford his cleansing.h
33The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 34gWhen you enter the land of Canaan that Ifm about to give you as your own possession, and if I put a contagion in a house in the land that you possess, 35then the owner of the house is to approach the priest and tell him, eThere appears to be a contagion in the house.f
36gThe priest is to command that the house be cleared before he comes to examine the contagion so that not everything in the house becomes unclean. After this, the priest is to enter the house and examine it. 37He is to determine if the contagion is indeed on the walls of the house, with greenish or reddish streaks and to determine if it appears to be deeper than the surface of the wall. 38The priest is to leave through the entrance to the house and seal the house for seven days. 39He is to return after seven days to examine it. If the contagion has spread to the walls of the house, 40then the priest is to command that they take out the contaminated stones and discard them in an unclean place outside the city.
41gNow as for the house, they are to scrape off inside and outside the house and then discard the torn out plaster in an unclean place outside the city. 42They are then to take other stones and bring them to replace those stones. Lastly, they are to replaster the house.h
43gIf the contagion returns and spreads throughout the house after the stones have been removed, after the house has been scraped out, and after it had been re-coated, 44and the priest comes, undertakes an examination, and determines that the contagion has spread in the house, itfs a chronic fungal infection in the house. Itfs unclean. 45He is to pull down the house, its stones, its lumber, and all the plaster on the house, and discard them in an unclean place outside the city. 46Moreover, whoever enters the house during the time it was isolated is to be considered unclean until the evening. 47Whoever slept in the house is to wash his clothes, along with whoever has eaten in the house.
48gBut if the priest comes in to conduct an examination and determines that the contagion has not spread throughout the house after the house has been repaired, then the priest may declare the house clean, because the contagion has been cleansed. 49In order to cleanse the house, he is to take two birds, some cedar wood, two crimson threads, and some hyssop. 50Then he is to slaughter one bird on an earthen vessel over flowing water. 51He is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the two crimson threads, and the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird over flowing water. Then he is to spatter the house seven times.
52gHe is to clean the house with the blood of the bird over flowing water, including cleansing the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the crimson thread. 53Then he is to send the bird away, outside the city, facing the fields, to make atonement for the house. Then it is to be considered clean. 54This is the law for every contagion of infectious skin disease and scabs, 55for fungal infections on clothing or in a house, 56for swelling of the skin, scabs, and bright spots, 57to distinguish when itfs unclean and clean. This is the law for infectious skin diseases.h
Chapter 15
1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. 2gTell the Israelis that when a man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean. 3And this is the cause of his uncleanness\his discharge. Whether his body is releasing the discharge or his body has stopped the discharge, hefs unclean. 4Every bed on which he lies down with the discharge is to be considered unclean, and every object on which he sits becomes unclean.
5gAny person who touches his bed is to wash his garments and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening.
6gWhoever sits on any object on which the one with the discharge had sat is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening.
7gWhoever touches the body of someone with a discharge is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening.
8gWhoever has a discharge and spits on someone who is clean, then he is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening.
9gAny saddle that anyone with a discharge rides on will become unclean. 10Whoever touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening. Whoever carries them is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening.
11gAnyone whom the one with the discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. 12The earthen vessel that the person with the discharge touches is to be broken in pieces, and every wooden vessel is to be rinsed with water.h
13gWhen the one with the discharge is cleansed from his discharge, then he is to set aside for himself seven days for his cleansing. He is to wash his clothes and bathe with flowing water. Then he will be clean. 14On the eighth day, he is to take for himself two turtledoves or two young doves and bring them to the Lord at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and give it to the priest. 15Then the priest is to offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a whole burnt offering. Thatfs how the priest will make atonement for him in the Lordfs presence regarding his discharge.h
16gIf a man has a seminal emission, he is to bathe his entire body with water and remain unclean until evening. 17Every garment, including leather, on which the semen is found, is to be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.
18gWhen a man has sexual relations with a woman and the man releases semen, both are to bathe with water, and they will remain unclean until evening.h
 19gWhen a woman has a discharge and the blood is her monthly menstrual discharge from her body, then for seven days she is to remain in her menstrual uncleanness. Whoever touches her will remain unclean until evening.
20gEverything that she sleeps on during her uncleanness will be unclean. Moreover, everything that she sits on will become unclean. 21Anyone who touches her bed is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. 22Anyone who touches any of the objects on which she has sat is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. 23Any bed or other object on which she sat that he touches will make him unclean until evening.
24gWhen a man has sexual relations with her and her menstrual uncleanness touches him, he will be unclean for seven days. Every bed where he sleeps will remain unclean.
25gWhen a woman has a continuous discharge of blood many days beyond the time of her menstrual uncleanness, or if she has a discharge that lasts beyond the days of her menstrual uncleanness, her uncleanness is to be treated like the days of her menstruation: shefs unclean.
26gEvery bed where she sleeps on the whole time she has the discharge will be her own unclean bed so that every object on which she sits becomes unclean like her menstrual uncleanness. 27Whoever touches them will become unclean. He is to wash his clothes and bathe with water and he will remain unclean until evening.
28gIf she becomes clean with her discharge, then she is to count for herself seven days after which she becomes clean. 29On the eighth day, she is to take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 30Then the priest is to offer one for a sin offering and the other for a whole burnt offering. This is how the priest will make atonement in the Lordfs presence for her regarding her unclean discharge.
31gSo separate the Israelis from their uncleanness so that they wonft die in their uncleanness if they defile my tent that is in their midst. 32These are the regulations for one whose discharge of semen causes him to become unclean because of it, 33and for her whose menstruation causes her to become ill, for anyone who has a discharge, whether male or female, and for the man who has sexual relations with one who is unclean.h
Chapter 16
1The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaronfs two sons when they had approached the Lord and died. 2The Lord told Moses. gRemind your brother Aaron that at no time is he to enter the sacred place from the room that contains the curtain into the presence of the Mercy Seat on top of the ark. Otherwise, hefll die, because I will appear in a cloud at the Mercy Seat. 3Aaron is to enter the sacred place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a whole burnt offering. 4He is to wear a sacred linen tunic and linen breeches that will cover his genitals. He is to clothe himself with a sash and wrap his head with a linen turban. Because they are sacred garments, he is to wash himself with water before putting them on.h
5gHe is to take two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a whole burnt offering from the assembly of the Israelis. 6Then Aaron is to bring the bull as a sin offering for himself and make atonement for himself and his household.
7gThen he is to take the two male goats and present them in the Lordfs presence at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 8Aaron is to cast lots over the two male goats\one lot for the Lord and the other one for the scapegoat.
9gAaron then is to bring the male goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and offer it as a sin offering. 10The male goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat is to be brought alive into the Lordfs presence to make atonement for himself. Then he is to send it into the wilderness.h
11gAaron is then to bring the bull for a sin offering for him, thus making atonement for himself and his household. He is to slaughter the ox for himself. 12Then he is to take a censer, fill it with coals from the fire on the altar in the Lordfs presence. With his hands full of spiced and refined incense, he is to bring it beyond the curtain.
13gThen he is to place the incense over the fire in the Lordfs presence, ensuring that the smoke from the incense covers the atonement place, according to regulation, so he wonft die. 14He is to take blood from the ox and spatter it with his forefinger toward the surface of the atonement place. Then he is to spatter the blood on the surface of the atonement place with his forefinger seven times.
15gHe is to slaughter the male goat as a sin offering for the people and bring its blood beyond the curtain and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull: He is to spatter it on the atonement place over the surface of the atonement place. 16Then he is to make atonement on the sacred place on account of the uncleanness of the Israelis, their transgressions, and all their sins. This is how he is to act in the Tent of Meeting, which will remain with them in the middle of their uncleanness.
17gNo person is to be there when he enters the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the sacred place until he comes out and has made atonement on account of himself, his household, and the entire assembly of Israel. 18When he goes to the altar in the Lordfs presence to make atonement for himself, then he is to take some of the blood from the bull and the male goat, place it around the horns of the altar, 19spattering it with the blood on his forefinger seven times, cleansing and sanctifying it from Israelfs sins.h
20gWhen he has completed making atonement at the sacred place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, then he is to present the live male goat. 21Aaron is to lay his two hands upon the head of the male goat and confess over it the sins of Israel, all their transgressions, and all their sins, thus placing them on the head of the male goat that hefll then send out to the wilderness by the hand of a man capable of carrying out this task. 22The male goat will bear on itself all their sins to a solitary land, as Aaron sends the goat out to the wilderness.
23gThen Aaron is to enter the Tent of Meeting, taking off his white linen clothes that he had put on when he entered the sacred place and leaving them there. 24He is to wash his body with water at the sacred place and put on his clothes. Then he is to go out, offer a whole burnt offering for himself and a whole burnt offering for the people, thereby making atonement on account of himself and on account of the people.
25gAs to the fat from the burnt offering, he is to incinerate it on the altar. 26The one who sent away the male goat as a scapegoat is to wash his clothes and bathe his body with water. After doing so, he may enter the camp.
27gThe bull for the sin offering and the male goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to the sacred place, are to be taken outside the camp. Their skin, meat, and offal are to be incinerated. 28The one who burns them is to wash his clothes and bathe his body with water. After doing so, he may enter the camp.h
29gThis is to be a perpetual statute for you. On the tenth day of the seventh month, you (including both the native born and the resident alien) are to humble yourselves by not doing any work, 30because on that day, atonement will be made for you to cleanse you from all your sins. You are to be clean in the Lordfs presence. 31Itfs the Sabbath of all Sabbaths for you, so humble yourselves. This is to be a perpetual statute.
32gThe priest who has been anointed and consecrated to be priest after his father is to make the atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen clothing 33and make atonement for the sacred sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar where atonement is carried out. He is also to make atonement for the priests and the people of the entire assembly. 34This will be a perpetual statute for you as you make atonement once a year for the Israelis on account of all their sins.h
So Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him.
Chapter 17
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gSpeak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelis and tell them that this is what the Lord has commanded. 3When a person from the house of Israel slaughters an ox, a lamb, or a goat, whether in the camp or outside the camp, 4but fails to bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting as an offering in the presence of the tent of the Lord, that person will incur blood guiltiness. Because he has shed blood, that person is to be eliminated from contact with his people.h
5gThis statute is required so that the Israelis may bring their sacrifices that they are sacrificing in the open field to the Lord, to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, where they are to slaughter their peace offering to the Lord. 6The priest is to spatter the blood on the Lordfs altar at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and incinerate the fat, making a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 7They are no longer to slaughter their sacrifices to the goat demons, with whom they have committed prostitution. This will be a perpetual statute for you throughout your generations.h
8gTell them that if a person from the house of Israel or a resident alien who lives among you brings a whole burnt offering or a sacrifice 9to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, but fails to bring it to offer it to the Lord, that person is to be eliminated from contact with his people.h
10gIf anyone from the house of Israel or a resident alien who lives among them eats any form of blood, Ifll oppose that person who ate the blood and eliminate him from his people, 11because the life of the flesh is in the blood itself, and I myself have given it to you all so that atonement may be made for your souls on the altar, since the blood itself makes atonement through the life that is in it. 12This is why Ifve told the Israelis that no person among you is to eat blood. Even the resident alien who lives among you is not to eat blood.
13gIf a person from the house of Israel or a resident alien who lives among you has hunted live game or a bird that may be eaten, he is to extract its blood and cover it with soil, 14because the life of any flesh is the blood itself. Therefore Ifm saying to the Israelis that the blood of any flesh is not to be eaten, because the life of any flesh is in its blood. Anyone who eats of it is to be eliminated from contact with his people.
15gAny person who eats a carcass or an animal that was torn by beasts, whether that person is native born or a resident alien, is to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will remain unclean until evening, and then hefll become clean. 16But if he doesnft wash or bathe his body, then he is to bear the punishment of his iniquity.h
Chapter 18
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2Tell the Israelis that I am the Lord your God. 3You are not to do what you used to do in the land Egypt where you lived. You are not to do what Canaan does, where Ifm about to bring you, so that you live according to their statutes. 4Obey my ordinances and keep my statutes by living by them. I am the Lord your God.
5gKeep my statutes and my ordinances, which a person is to obey in order to live in them. I am the Lord.
6gA person is not to approach a near blood relative for sexual relations. I am the Lord.
7gNeither your fatherfs nakedness nor your motherfs nakedness is to be exposed. Shefs your mother, you are not to have sexual relations with her.
8gYou are not to have sexual relations with your fatherfs wife. Itfs your own fatherfs nakedness.
9gYou are not to have sexual relations with your sister, whether shefs your fatherfs daughter or your motherfs daughter, whether shefs born in your home or outside your home. You are not to have sexual relations with them.
10gYou are not to have sexual relations with your sonfs daughter or your daughterfs daughter. You are not to have sexual relations with them, because their nakedness is your own nakedness.
11gYou are not to have sexual relations with the daughter of your fatherfs wife. Born of your father, shefs your sister, so you are not to have sexual relations with her.
12gYou are not to have sexual relations with your fatherfs sister. Shefs your fatherfs near blood relative.
13gYou are not to have sexual relations with your motherfs sister. Shefs your motherfs near blood relative.
14gYou are not to expose the nakedness of your fatherfs brother by having sexual relations with his wife. Shefs your aunt.
15gYou are not to expose the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. Shefs the wife of your son. You are not to have sexual relations with her.
16gYou are not to have sexual relations with your brotherfs wife. Shefs the nakedness of your brother.
17gYou are not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter.
gYou are not to have sexual relations with her sonfs daughter or her daughterfs daughter. Theyfre near blood relatives. Itfs wickedness.
18gYou are not to marry a woman and then have sexual relations with her sister as a rival when your wife is still alive.
19gYou are not to approach a menstruating woman to have sexual relations with her.
20gYou are not to have sexual relations with your neighborfs wife and thereby become ceremonially unclean with her.h
21gYou are not to present any of your children to Molech as a sacrifice. That way, you wonft defile the name of your God.h
gI am the Lord. 22You are not to have sexual relations with a male as you would with a woman. Itfs detestable.h
23gYou are not to present yourself to an animal in order to have sexual relations with it and by doing so to defile yourself. Even a woman is not to present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it. Itfs detestable.
24gYou are not to defile yourselves by doing any of these things, since all of these nations that Ifm casting out before you have defiled themselves this way. 25The land has been defiled, so I brought the punishment of its iniquity to it. As a result, the land is vomiting out its inhabitants.
26gTherefore, keep my statutes and ordinances. You are not to do any of these detestable things\this applies to the native born and the resident alien who lives among you\ 27because the inhabitants of the land did all of these detestable things and by doing so defiled the land before you. 28So you are not to let the land vomit you up because of your uncleanness as it is vomiting the nations that were here before you. 29Anyone who does any of these detestable things\whoever the person may be\is to be eliminated from contact with his people. 30Therefore keep my injunctions so that you wonft practice these detestable things that have been done before you, and so that you wonft be defiled in them. I am the Lord.h
Chapter 19
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell the entire assembly of Israel that they are to be holy, since I, the Lord your God, am holy.
3gEach of you is to fear his mother and father.
gObserve my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
4gYou are not to turn to their idols or cast gods out of melted metal for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.
5gWhen you offer peace offerings to the Lord, offer it for your acceptance. 6Your sacrifice is to be eaten on that day and the next day. Any that remains to the third day is to be incinerated. 7Since itfs eaten on the third day, itfs unclean. It wonft be accepted. 8Anyone who eats it will bear the punishment of his sin, since he will have defiled himself regarding the Lordfs holy things. That person is to be eliminated from contact with his people.h
9gWhen you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to completely finish harvesting the corners of the field, that is, you are not to pick what remains after you have reaped your harvest. 10You are not to gather your vineyard or pick up the fallen grapes of your vineyard. Leave something for the poor and the resident alien who lives among you. I am the Lord your God.h
11gYou are not to steal or lie or deal falsely with your neighbor.
12gYou are not to use my name to deceive, thereby defiling the name of your God. I am the Lord.
13gYou are not to oppress your neighbor or rob him.
gThe wages of a hired laborer are not to remain in your possession until morning.
14gYou are not to curse a deaf person or put a stumbling block before the blind.
gYou are to fear God. I am the Lord.h
15gYou are not to be unjust in deciding a case. You are not to show partiality to the poor or honor the great. Instead, decide the case of your neighbor with righteousness.h
16gYou are not to go around slandering your people.
gYou are not to stand idle when your neighborfs life is at stake. I am the Lord.
17gYou are not to hate your relative in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor if you must, but you are not to incur guilt on account of him.
18gYou are not to seek vengeance or hold a grudge against the descendants of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.h
19gObserve my statutes.
gYou are not to let your cattle breed with a different species.
gYou are not to sow your fields with two different kinds of seeds.
gYou are not to wear clothing made from two different kinds of material.
20gWhen a person has sexual relations with a woman servant who is engaged to another man, but she had not been completely redeemed nor had her freedom been granted to her, there is to be an inquiry, but they wonft be put to death, since she had not been freed.
21gThe perpetrator is to bring his guilt offering to the Lord at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, along with a ram as guilt offering. 22Then the priest is to make atonement for him with the ram as guilt offering in the Lordfs presence on account of his sin which he had committed but which has been forgiven him.h
23gWhen you have entered the land and planted all sorts of trees for food, regard its fruit as uncircumcised for the first three years for you. It is not to be eaten. 24During the fourth year, all its fruit is to be offered as a holy token of praise to the Lord. 25But on the fifth year, you may eat its fruits to increase its produce for you.h
26gYou are not to eat anything containing blood, engage in occult practices, or practice fortune telling.
27gYou are not to cut your hair in ritualistic patterns on your heads or deface the edges of your beard.
28gYou are not to make incisions in your flesh on account of the dead nor submit to cuts or tattoos. I am the Lord.
29gYou are not to defile your daughter by engaging her in prostitution so the land wonft become filled with wickedness.
30gObserve my Sabbath and stand in awe of my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
31gYou are to consult neither mediums nor familiar spirits. You are never to seek them\youfll just be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.
32gRise in the presence of the aged and honor the elderly face-to-face.
gFear your God. I am the Lord.
33gIf a resident alien lives with you in your land, you are not to mistreat him. 34You are to treat the resident alien the same way you treat the native born among you\love him like yourself, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
35gYou are not to act unjustly in deciding a case or when measuring weight and quantity. 36You are to maintain just balances and reliable standards for weights, dry volumes, and liquid volumes. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37Observe all my statutes and all my ordinances in order to practice them. I am the Lord.h
Chapter 20
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that when an Israeli or a resident alien who lives in Israel offers his child to Molech, he is certainly to be put to death. The people who live in the land are to stone him with stones.
3gAs for me, Ifll oppose that man. Ifll eliminate him from contact with his people for sacrificing his children to Molech, thereby defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name. 4If the people avoid dealing with that man when he offers his child to Molech\that is, if they fail to execute him\ 5then Ifll oppose that man and his family and eliminate him from contact with his people, along with all the prostitutes who accompany him and who have committed prostitution with Molech.h
6gIfll oppose and eliminate from contact with his people whoever consults mediums or familiar spirits, thereby committing spiritual prostitution with them. 7Therefore separate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. 8Keep my statutes and observe them. I am the Lord, who has set you apart.h
9gAnyone who curses his father or mother is certainly to be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother, so his guilt will remain his responsibility.h
10gIf anyone commits adultery with another manfs wife, including when someone commits adultery with his neighborfs wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress are to die.
11gIf a man has sexual relations with his fatherfs wife, he has exposed his fatherfs nakedness, so both of them are to be put to death. Their guilt will remain their responsibility.
12gIf a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, the two are to be put to death. Theyfve committed a repulsive act. Their guilt will remain their responsibility.
13gIf a man has sexual relations with another male, as he would with a woman, both have committed a repulsive act. They are certainly to be put to death.
14gIf a man takes a wife along with her mother, thatfs wickedness. They are to be burned with fire, him and them, so that therefll be no wickedness in your midst.
15gIf a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, and you are also to kill the animal.
16gIf a woman approaches any animal to have sexual relations with her, the woman and the animal are to be put to death. Their guilt will remain their responsibility.
17gIf a man takes his sister, his fatherfs daughter or his motherfs daughter so that he exposes her nakedness and she exposes his nakedness, itfs a shameful thing. They are to be eliminated from contact with their people in front of their peoplefs children. He has exposed his sisterfs nakedness. Hefll continue to bear responsibility for his iniquity.
18gIf a man has sexual relations with a menstruating woman, he has exposed her nakedness, laying bare her fountain. He has exposed the source of her blood. Both are to be eliminated from contact with their people.
19gYou are not to have sexual relations with your motherfs sister or your fatherfs sister, because that is laying bare the nakedness of his close relative. Theyfll continue to bear responsibility for their iniquity.
20gIf a man has sexual relations with his unclefs wife, he will have exposed his unclefs nakedness. They are to bear responsibility for punishment of their sin. Theyfll die childless.
21gIf a man takes his brotherfs wife, itfs immoral. He has exposed his brotherfs nakedness. Theyfll be childless.h
22gBe sure to keep all my statutes and observe all my ordinances so that the land where Ifm about to bring you to live wonft vomit you out. 23You are not to live by the customs of the nations, whom Ifve cast away right in front of you. Because they did all of these things, I detested them.
24gBut Ifve promised you that youfll inherit the land that Ifm about to give you as your permanent possession\a land flowing with milk and honey.
gI am your God. Ifve separated you from the people. 25You are to differentiate between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean. You are not to make yourselves detestable on account of any animal, or bird, or any creeping creature of the ground that Ifve separated for you as unclean.
26gYou are to be holy toward me, because I the Lord am holy. Ifve separated you from among the people to be mine.
27gMoreover, a man or a woman who has a ritual spirit or a familiar spirit is certainly to die. They are to be stoned to death with boulders. They will continue to bear responsibility for their guilt.h
Chapter 21
1The Lord told Moses, gSpeak to the priests, Aaronfs sons, and tell them that no priest is to defile himself on account of the dead among his people, 2except his close relatives\his mother or father, his son or daughter, or his brother or 3his virgin sister who is near him who doesnft have a husband, he may defile himself for her.
4gBecause he is a husband among his people, he is not to defile himself, thereby polluting himself.
5gThey are not to cut their hair in ritualistic patterns on their heads or deface the edges of their beards, or make incisions in their flesh. 6They are to be holy to their God. They are not to defile the name of their God, because theyfre the ones who bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire\the food of their God\so they are to be holy.
7gThey are not to marry a prostitute, a woman who has been dishonored, or who was divorced from her husband, because the priest is holy to his God. 8Consecrate him, because hefs the one who offers the food of your God. He is to be holy for you, because I the Lord\the one who sanctifies you\am holy.
9gNow if the daughter of any priest defiles herself by being a prostitute, she defiles her father. She is to be incinerated.
10gThe high priest among his relatives, whose head has been anointed with oil and who has been consecrated to put on the priestly clothing, is not to let his hair hang loose or to tear his clothes. 11He is not to come near any dead body, whether the deceased is his father or his mother, so as not to defile himself. 12He is not to go out of the sanctuary or defile the sanctuary of his God, because his Godfs consecrating oil of anointing rests on him. I am the Lord.
13gFurthermore, he is to marry a true virgin. 14He is not to marry a widow, one who has been divorced, has been defiled, or who has been a prostitute. Instead, he is to take a virgin from among his people as his wife.
15gHe is not to defile his children among his people, because I am the Lord, who sets him apart.h
16The Lord told Moses, 17gTell Aaron that whoever of your descendants throughout their generations has a bodily defect is not to approach to offer the food of his God. 18Indeed, any person who has a defect is not to approach the Tent of Meeting: the blind, the lame, one who is mutilated in the face, or who has a very long limb, 19a person who has a fractured foot or hand, 20has scoliosis, is a dwarf, or who has an eye defect, an itching disease, scabs, or a crushed testicle.
21gNone of the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to approach to bring offerings of the Lord made by fire, since he has a defect. He is not to approach to offer the food of his God.
22gHowever, he may eat the food of his God, including the most holy and the holy offerings. 23but he is not to enter through the curtain nor approach the altar, since he has a defect. That way, he wonft defile my sanctuary, since I am the Lord who sets you apart.h
24Moses told all of this to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the Israelis.
Chapter 22
1Later on, the Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell Aaron and his sons that they are to separate themselves for the sacred things of the Israelis and that they are not to defile my holy name. I am the Lord.
3gTell them that whoever among your descendants throughout your generations approaches the sacred things that the Israelis had consecrated to the Lord while still remaining unclean is to be eliminated from my presence. I am the Lord.
4gIf one of Aaronfs descendants has an infectious skin disease or a discharge, he is not to eat anything sacred until he has been cleansed. Anyone who touches an unclean thing on account of the dead, or who has a seminal discharge, 5or who becomes unclean by touching a creeping creature or another human being whatever the uncleanness may be\6such a person who comes in contact with anything like this will become unclean until evening. As a result, he is not to eat the sacred things unless he has bathed himself with water. 7When the sun has gone down and he has been cleansed, he may eat of the sacred things, since thatfs his food.
8gHe is not to eat a carcass and an animal that was torn by animals, thereby defiling himself with it. I am the Lord.
9gThey are to keep my charge. By doing so, they wonft bear the punishment of sin because of it and therefore die if theyfve been defiled by it. I am the Lord who sets them apart.h
10gNo resident alien is to eat anything sacred. Neither the visitor of the priest nor a hired laborer is to eat anything sacred. 11If a priest acquires a slave as property with his own money, he may eat with him. Those who were born in his house may eat his food.
12gIf a priestfs daughter marries a resident alien, she is not to eat the sacred raised offerings. 13If the priestfs daughter is a widow, or is divorced and childless, so that she has to return to her fatherfs house as in her younger days, she may eat her fatherfs food, but no resident alien may eat it.
14gIf a person eats anything sacred inadvertently; he is to add a fifth part to it and then give the sacred thing to the priest.
15gThey are not to defile the sacred things of the Israelis that they have offered to the Lord, 16thereby causing them to bear the punishment of their iniquity for wrong doing, when they eat their sacred things, because I am the Lord who sets them apart.h
17The Lord spoke to Moses, 18gTell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelis that when a person from the house of Israel or from the resident aliens living in Israel brings his offering to the Lord as a whole burnt offering (whether votive or free will offerings), 19so that youfll be sure to be accepted, he is to offer a male without defect from the bulls, the lamb, and the goats.
20gHowever, whatever has a defect is not to be offered, because it wonft be acceptable for you.
21gIf a person brings a peace offering sacrifice to the Lord to fulfill a vow or a free will offering from the herd or the flock, it is to be sound in order to be accepted, without any defect in it.
22gYou are not to bring an offering that is blind, fractured, mutilated, or infected with ulcers, scurvy, or scales to the Lord. You are not to present as an offering made by fire any of them on the altar for the Lord.
23gYou may offer a bull or lamb that has one limb longer than the other or that is stunted as a free will offering, but itfs not acceptable as a votive offering. 24You are not to bring an animal that has been emasculated, crushed, torn, or cut apart to the Lord. You are not to practice this in your land. 25A resident alien is not to offer as food to your God any of these items, because they are afflicted with ritual corruption due to their defects. Theyfre not acceptable for you.h
26The Lord told Moses, 27gWhenever a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it is to remain for seven days under the care of its mother. But on the eighth day onwards, it may be accepted as an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28However, you are not to slaughter a bull or a ewe along with its offspring on the same day. 29When you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, bring it so that itfs acceptable for you. 30It is to be eaten that same day. You are not to leave any of it until morning. I am the Lord.
31gKeep my commands and observe them. I am the Lord.
32gYou are not to defile my sacred name, because Ifve been set apart in the midst of the Israelis. Furthermore, I am the Lord who sets you apart, 33who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.h
Chapter 23
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell the Israelis, eThese are my festival times appointed by the Lord that you are to declare as sacred assemblies. 3Six days you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work. Itfs a Sabbath to the Lord wherever you live. 4These are the Lordfs appointed festivals, sacred assemblies that you are to declare at their appointed time.
5geThe Lordfs Passover is to begin on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight.
6geOn the fifteenth day of that month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to the Lord. For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread. 7On the first day that you hold the sacred assembly you are to do no servile work. 8Instead, you are to bring an offering made by fire to the Lord daily for seven days. On the seventh day you are also to hold a sacred assembly during which you are to do no servile work.fh
9The Lord spoke to Moses, 10gTell the Israelis that when you enter the land that Ifm about to give you and gather its produce, you are to bring a sheaf from the first portion of your harvest to the priest, 11who will offer the sheaf in the Lordfs presence for your acceptance. The priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.
12gOn the day you wave the sheaf, you are to offer a one year old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering in the Lordfs presence. 13Also present a meal offering of two tenths of a measure of fine flour mixed with olive oil as an offering made by fire to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.
gNow as to a drink offering, you are to present a fourth of a hin of wine. 14You are not to eat bread, parched grain, or fresh grain until that day when youfve brought the offering of your God. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations, wherever you live.h
15gStarting the day after the Sabbath, count for yourselves seven weeks from the day you brought the sheaf of wave offering. They are to be complete. 16Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath, then bring a new meal offering to the Lord.
17gBring two loaves of bread from home as wave offerings made from two tenths of fine flour, baked with leaven, as first fruits to the Lord.
18gAlong with the loaves of bread, bring seven lambs, a year old without defect, one young bull as an offering, and two rams as offering to the Lord, along with your gift and drink offerings, and present them as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
19gPrepare one male goat for a sin offering and two one year old rams for peace offerings. 20Then the priest is to wave them\the two lambs with the bread of first fruits\as raised offering in the Lordfs presence. Theyfll be sacred to the Lord on account of the priest.
21gOn the same day proclaim a sacred assembly for yourselves. You are not to do any servile work\and this is to be an eternal ordinance wherever you live throughout your generations. 22Furthermore, when you harvest the produce of your land, you are not to harvest all the way to the corners of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and resident alien. I am the Lord your God.h
23The Lord spoke to Moses, 24gTell the Israelis that on the first day of the seventh month you are to have a Sabbath of rest for you, a memorial announced by a loud blast of trumpets. It is to be a sacred assembly. 25You are not to do any servile work. Instead bring an offering made by fire to the Lord.h
26The Lord spoke to Moses, 27gHowever, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Itfs a sacred assembly for you. Humble yourselves and bring an offering made by fire to the Lord.
28gYou are not to do any work that same day. Itfs the Day of Atonement, because your atonement is made in the presence of the Lord your God. 29Anyone who doesnft humble himself that same day is to be eliminated from contact with his people. 30Ifll eliminate anyone who does work that day from among his people. 31You are not to do any work. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations wherever you live. 32Itfs a Sabbath of rest for you, on which you are to humble yourselves starting the evening of the ninth day of the month. You are to observe your Sabbath from evening to evening.h
33The Lord spoke to Moses, 34gTell the Israelis that starting the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the week-long Festival of Tents to the Lord. 35On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly when you are not to do any servile work. 36For seven days, bring offerings made by fire to the Lord.
gThe eighth day is also to be a sacred assembly for you. Bring offerings made by fire to the Lord. Itfs a sacred assembly. You are not to do any servile work.
37gThese are the Lordfs appointed festivals that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Bring offerings made by fire to the Lord\a whole burnt offering, a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings. Do this every day on its assigned date 38in addition to the Lordfs Sabbath, regarding your gifts, and your offerings in fulfillment of vows, and your freely given offerings that you will bring to the Lord.
39gOn the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when youfve harvested the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of the Lord for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is to be a Sabbath rest.
40gOn the first day, take branches from impressive fruit trees, branches from palm trees, boughs from thick trees, and poplars from the brooks. Then you are to rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God for seven days. 41Observe it as a pilgrimage festival in the presence of the Lord for seven days in the year. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. Observe the festival during the seventh month. 42You are to live in tents for seven days. Every native born of Israel is to live in tents 43in order for your future generations to know that the Israelis lived in tents when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.h
44This is what Moses spoke about to the Israelis regarding the Lordfs appointed festivals.
Chapter 24
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that they are to bring to you pure oil made from beaten olives in order to keep the lamp burning continuously. 3Outside the Canopy of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to arrange it continuously in the Lordfs presence from evening until morning as an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. 4He is to arrange the lamps so that they burn continuously on a ceremonially pure lamp stand in the Lordfs presence.
5gTake fine flour and bake twelve cakes using two tenths of a measure for each cake. 6Arrange them in two rows, six on each row on a ceremonially pure table in the Lordfs presence. 7Put pure frankincense on each row for a memorial offering. It will serve as an offering made by fire to the Lord. 8Every Sabbath day they are to be arranged in the Lordfs presence, as a gift from the Israelis, an eternal covenant. 9This gift will belong to Aaron and his sons, and they are to eat it in a sacred place, because itfs the most holy thing for him of all the offerings made by fire to the Lord. This is to be an eternal ordinance.h
10Now a son of an Israeli woman and an Egyptian man went out among the Israelis. The Israeli womanfs son got into a fight with an Israeli man in the camp. 11Then the Israeli womanfs son blasphemed the Name and cursed, so they brought him to Moses. His motherfs name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, from the clan of Dan. 12They placed him in custody until a decision would be made to them according to the word of the Lord.
13The Lord then spoke to Moses, 14gTake the one who cursed outside the camp. Everyone who had heard him is to lay their hands on his head. Then the entire congregation is to stone him to death. 15Moreover, tell the Israelis that anyone who curses his God will bear the consequences of his own sin, because the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord is certainly to be put to death. The entire congregation is to stone him to death. 16As it is for the resident alien so it is to be with the native born: when he blasphemes the Name, he is to be put to death.
17gIf a man beats a human being to death, he is certainly to be executed, 18but whoever beats an animal to death is to replace it, life for life.
19gIf a man disfigures his fellow, whatever he did is to be done to him also. 20Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, just as he had caused a disfigurement against another man, so it is to be done against him.
21gWhoever beats an animal to death is to replace it, but whoever who beats a human being to death is to be put to death.
22gYou are to have for yourselves consistent procedures in deciding a case. As it is for the resident alien, so it is for the native born. I am the Lord your God.h
23So Moses spoke to the Israelis and they brought the one who cursed outside the camp and stoned him to death with boulders. The Israelis did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Chapter 25
1The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. 2gTell the Israelis that when you enter the land that Ifm about to give you, you are to let the land observe a Sabbath to the Lord. 3For six years you may plant your fields, and for six years you may prune your vineyard and gather its produce.
4gBut the seventh year is to be a Sabbath of rest for the land\a Sabbath for the Lord. You are not to plant your field or prune your vineyard. 5You are not to gather what grows from the spilled kernels of your crops. You are not to pick the grapes of your untrimmed vines. Let it be a year of Sabbath for the land. 6You may take the Sabbath produce of the land for your food\you, your male and maid servants, your hired laborers, and the resident alien with you. 7The cattle and the wild animals in your land\everything it produces\are for your food.
8gCount for yourselves seven years of Sabbaths, seven times seven years. This set of seven weeks of years total forty nine years for you. 9Sound a horn on the tenth day of the seventh month of this fiftieth year. Likewise on the Day of Atonement sound the horn throughout your land.
10gSet aside and consecrate the fiftieth year to declare liberty throughout the land for all of its inhabitants. It is to be a jubilee for you. Every person is to return to his own land that he has inherited.
gLikewise, every person is to return to his clan. 11The fiftieth year is to be a year of jubilee for you. You are not to sow or harvest the spilled kernels that grow of itself or pick grapes from the untrimmed vines 12because itfs jubilee. Itfs sacred for you. But you may eat its produce from the field.
13gDuring this year of jubilee, each person is to return to his own land that he has inherited. 14So if you had sold property to a neighbor or had acquired land from your neighbor, you are not to cheat one another. 15According to the number of years after the jubilee, you may buy from your neighbor. And according to the number of years with crops, he may sell to you. 16If the number of years are more, increase the selling price. If the years be few, decrease its selling price, because hefs selling to you according to the volume of produce. 17No one is to cheat his neighbor. Instead, you are to fear your God, because I am the Lord your God.
18gObserve my statutes and keep my ordinances. Do them so that you may live securely in the land. 19Then the land will yield its fruit and youfll eat to your satisfaction and live securely.
20gNow if you ask, eWhat will we eat during the seventh year? After all, we may not plant or even gather our produce!f 21Ifll command my blessing on you during the sixth year so that it will yield produce for three years! 22That way, you are to sow in the eighth year, eating the produce from the old harvest. Until the ninth year when its produce comes in, youfll eat from the old harvest.h
23gThe land is not to be sold with any finality, because the land belongs to me. Youfre sojourners and travelers with me. 24So throughout all of your land inheritance, grant the right of redemption for the land.
25gIf your brother is poor so that he had to a sell portion of his inheritance, then his nearest kinsman redeemer is to come and redeem what his brother has sold. 26If a person doesnft have a kinsman redeemer but has become rich and found sufficient means for his redemption, 27then let him account for the years for which it was sold, return the excess to the person to whom it was sold, and then return to his property. 28If hefs not able to redeem it back for himself, then what he sold is to remain in the hand of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee, it is to be returned so he may return to his property.
29gIf a person sells a residential house in a walled city, then he is to redeem it within the year in which it was sold. He may have right to its redemption for a full year. 30But if itfs not redeemed by the end of a full year, then the house next to which is a wall is to belong to the one who bought it, in perpetuity throughout his generations. It is not to be returned in the jubilee.
31gHowever, the houses in the villages that donft have walls around them are to be categorized along with the fields of the land. It may be redeemed, so it is to be returned in the jubilee.
32gNevertheless, the cities that belong to the descendants of Levi\that is, the houses in the cities that belong to them\are to belong to the descendants of Levi perpetually as part of their right of redemption. 33If someone from the descendants of Levi redeems the houses in the cities that they own, they are to be returned in the jubilee, because the houses of the cities of the descendants of Levi are to remain their property among the Israelis. 34Also, the open land of their cities is not to be sold, because it is to remain their perpetual inheritance.h
35gIf your relative becomes poor so that he is indebted to you, then you are to support him. You are to let him live with you just like the resident alien and the traveler. 36You are not to take interest or profit from him. Instead, you are to fear your God and let your relative live with you.
37gYou are not to loan him money with interest or sell him your food at a profit. 38I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
39gIf your brother with you becomes poor, so that he sells himself to you, you are not to make him serve like a bond slave. 40Instead, he is to serve with you like a hired servant or traveler who lives with you until the year of jubilee. 41Then he and his children with him may leave to return to his family and his ancestorfs inheritance. 42Since theyfre my servants whom Ifve brought out from the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves. 43You are not to rule over them with harshness. You are to fear your God.h
44gAs for your male and maid slaves who will be with you, you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations. 45You may also buy from resident aliens who live among you and their families who are with you, whom they fathered in your land. They may become your property.
46gYou may give them as inherited property to your children after you, to own as properties in perpetuity. You may make bond slaves of them, but no one is to rule over his fellow Israeli with harshness.
47gIf a resident alien or traveler becomes rich, but your relative who lives next to him is so poor that he sells himself to that resident alien or traveler among you or to a member of the resident alienfs family, 48he has the right to be redeemed after he sells himself. One of his brothers may redeem him. 49His uncle or his unclefs son may redeem him or any blood relative from his clan may redeem him. If he becomes rich, then he may redeem himself.
50gHe is to bring an accounting to the one who bought him, starting from the year he had sold himself until the year of jubilee. The price of his sale is to correspond to the number of years comparable to the time a hired servant stays with him.
51gIf there are still many years left, he is to refund the cost of his redemption. 52But if only a few years are left until the year of jubilee, he is to bring an accounting of the years that he is to refund for his redemption. 53Like a hired servant, he is to remain with him year after year, but he is not to rule over him with what you see as severity.
54gIf he isnft redeemed by these, then he is to be set free in the year of jubilee\he and his children with him 55because the Israelis are my servants. Theyfre my servants, since I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.h
Chapter 26
1gYou are not to make worthless idols, images, or pillars for yourselves, nor set up for yourselves carved images to bow down to them in the land, because I am the Lord your God.
2gYou are to keep my Sabbath and fear my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
3gIf you live by my statutes, obey my commands, and observe them, 4then Ifll send your rain in its season so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will yield their fruit. 5Threshing will extend to the time of vintage and the vintage will extend to the time of sowing so that youfll eat your bread to your satisfaction and live securely in your land.
6gIfll give peace in the land so that youfll lie down without fear. Ifll remove wild beasts from the land, not even war will come to your land. 7Instead youfll pursue your enemies and theyfll die by the sword before you. 8Five of you will chase a hundred, a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
9gIfll look after you, ensuring that youfll be fruitful. Ifll increase your number and keep my covenant with you. 10When you have consumed what was stored of the old, then youfll take out the old and replace it with whatfs new.
11gIfll set up my tent in your midst and I wonft loathe you. 12Ifll walk among you. I will be your God, and youfll be my people. 13I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you will no longer be their slaves, since Ifve broken their oppressive yoke upon you to make you walk upright.h
14gBut if you wonft listen to me and obey all these commands, 15and if you refuse my statutes, loathe my ordinances, fail to do all my commands, thereby breaching my covenant, 16then I will certainly do this to you: Ifll appoint sudden terror to infect you like tuberculosis and fever. Your eyes will fail and your life will waste away. Youfll plant in vain, because your enemies will consume what you plant.
17gIfll set my face against you so that youfll be defeated before your enemies. Those who hate you will have dominion over you and youfll keep fleeing even when no one is pursuing you.
18gIf despite all of this you still donft listen to me, then Ifll punish you seven times more on account of your sins. 19Ifll break your mighty pride. Ifll make the heavens to be like iron and the ground like bronze. 20Your strength will be spent in vain, because your land wonft yield its produce and the trees of the land wonft yield their fruit.
21gIf you live life contrary to me and remain unwilling to listen to me, then Ifll add to your wounds seven times more on account of your sins. 22Ifll send the wild beasts against you from the open country to deprive you of your children, destroy your cattle, and decrease your number so that your roads become desolate.
23If despite these things you still wonft return to me, but live life contrary to me, 24then Ifll certainly oppose you. Ifll take vengeance against you seven fold on account of your sins. 25Ifll bring the sword against you to execute the vengeance of my covenant. When you gather in your cities, Ifll send a pestilence. As a result, youfll be delivered into the control of your enemies.
26gWhen I destroy the source of your bread, ten women will bake bread in one oven. Then theyfll return back your bread by weight. Youfll eat but wonft be satisfied.
27gIf after all of this time you donft listen to me, but instead live life contrary to me, 28Ifll oppose you with vicious rage. Indeed, I myself will punish you seven fold on account of your sins. 29At that time youfll eat the flesh of your sons and youfll eat the flesh of your daughters.
30gIfll destroy your high places and cut down your sun-pillars. Then Ifll cast your dead bodies on top of the bodies of your idols.
gIfll loathe you. 31Ifll lay your cities to waste and destroy your sanctuaries so I donft have to smell the scent of your soothing odors.
32gIfll make the land so desolate that your enemies who live in it will be astonished.h
33gIfll scatter you among the nations and draw the sword after you so that your land becomes desolate and your towns become ruins.
34gThen the land will finally be pleased with its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and take its Sabbaths. 35As long as it lies desolate, it will have rest that it will not have had during your Sabbaths when you were living in it.
36gAs for the remnants among you, Ifll bring despair in their hearts in the land of their enemies so that even the sound of a blown leaf will chase them and they flee as though pursued by the sword and fall when no one is pursuing. 37Theyfll stumble over each other as though fleeing before the sword, even though no one is pursuing.
gYou wonft have power to resist your enemies. 38Youfll perish among the nations and the land of your enemies will consume you. 39The remnants among you will waste away on account of their iniquity in the land of your enemies. Indeed, theyfll also waste away on account of the iniquities of their ancestors with them.h
 40gNevertheless, when they confess their iniquity, the iniquity of their ancestors, and their unfaithfulness by which they acted unfaithfully against me by living life contrary to me, 41causing me to oppose them and take them to the land of their enemies so that the uncircumcised foreskin of their hearts can be humbled and so that they accept the punishment of their iniquity, 42then Ifll remember my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and my covenant with Abraham. Ifll also remember the land.
43gThey will leave the land so it can rest while it lies desolate without them. Thatfs when theyfll receive the punishment of their iniquity because indeed they will have rejected my ordinances and despised my statutes.
44gYet despite all of these things, when theyfre in the land of their enemies, I wonft reject or despise them so as to completely destroy them and by doing so violate my covenant with them, because I am the Lord their God. 45Instead, on account of them, Ifll remember my covenant with their ancestors when I brought them out from the land of Egypt right before the eyes of the nations, so that I could be their God. I am the Lord.h
46These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws that the Lord made between himself and the Israelis on Mount Sinai, as recorded by the hand of Moses.
Chapter 27
1The Lord spoke to Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that when a person makes a special vow based on the appropriate value of people who belong to the Lord, 3if your valuation of the vow is for a male from 20 to 60 sixty years old, the valuation is to be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
4gIf she is a female from 20 to 60 years old, then your valuation is to be 30 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
5gIf a person is from five to 20 years, then your valuation for a male is to be 20 shekels and for a female ten shekels.
6gIf a person is from one month to five years old, then your valuation for a male is to be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation is to be three shekels of silver.
7gIf a person is 60 or more years old, then your valuation for a male is to be fifteen shekels and for a female ten shekels.
8gBut if he be too poor to be valuated, then cause him to stand before the priest and let the priest set a value on him according to the ability of the one making the vow.
9gIf itfs an animal from which they make an offering to the Lord, everything that he gives to the Lord from it will be holy. 10He is not to substitute it or exchange it\the good with the bad or the bad with the good.
gIf he ever makes an exchange of an animal for an animal, then it and whatfs being exchanged is holy.
11gIf any animal is unclean, which cannot be brought to the Lord as an offering, make the animal stand in the presence of the priest, 12then the priest will evaluate it as to whether it is good or bad. According to your\that is, the priestfs\valuation, so it is to be. 13If a kinsman redeemer decides to redeem it, then he is to add a fifth to your valuation.h
14gIf a person consecrates his house to be holy to the Lord, then the priest is to set a value for it as to its worth, whether good or bad. As the priest sets value on it, so it will stand.
15gAnd if he that consecrated it wishes to redeem his house, he is to add one fifth to your valuation, after which it is to belong to him.
16gIf a person consecrates a portion of the field from his inheritance to the Lord, then your valuation is to be based on its capacity for yielding a harvest. Each homer of barley is to be valued at 50 shekels of silver.
17gIf he consecrates his field in the year of jubilee, it is to be based on your valuation.
18gIf he consecrates his field after the jubilee, then the priest is to account to him the silver according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, with a deduction corresponding to your valuation.
19gIf the one who consecrated the field intends to redeem it, then he is to add one fifth of your valuation to it in silver, then it is to be established as his.
20gBut if he wonft redeem the field, but instead sells it to another person, then it is not to be redeemed anymore. 21When the field is released in the jubilee, it will be holy to the Lord. As a field thatfs devoted, it is to belong to the priest as his inheritance.
22gIf he consecrates a field that he had bought and that isnft part of his inheritance, 23then the priest is to account to him the evaluated worth until the year of jubilee. Then he is to give the amount of valuation on that day as a holy gift to the Lord.
24gDuring the year of jubilee, the field is to be returned by the one who originally sold it, that is, to the owner of the land. 25Every valuation is to be according to the shekel of the sanctuary, evaluated at 20 gerahs to the shekel.
26gNo person is to consecrate the firstborn, because the firstborn of the animals already belongs to the Lord. Whether ox or goat, it belongs to the Lord. 27If itfs an unclean animal, then he is to ransom it according to your valuation, adding a fifth to it. If itfs not redeemed then it is to be sold according to your valuation.
28gHowever, any devoted thing, that a person consecrates to the Lord from what he owns, whether man, animals, or inherited fields, is not to be sold or redeemed. Any devoted thing is most sacred. It belongs to the Lord. 29But anyone who is completely devoted from among human beings is not to be ransomed. He is certainly to be put to death.
30gAny tithes of the land from grain grown on the land or from fruit grown on the trees belong to the Lord. Itfs sacred to the Lord. 31But if a person wishes to redeem his tithe, he is to add a fifth to it.
32gAll the tithes from cattle and flocks that pass under the measuring rod are sacred to the Lord. 33He is not to examine it to see if itfs good or bad or even exchange it. If he does exchange it, what has been exchanged as well as its substitute is sacred. It is not to be redeemed.h
34These are the commands that the Lord commanded Moses to deliver to the Israelis on Mount Sinai.
Numbers
Chapter 1
1In the Sinai desert, the Lord spoke to Moses inside the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt.
He said, 2gTake a census of the entire Israeli community, numbering them by their tribes and by ancestral houses. List the names of every male one-by-one, 3from 20 years and upward. You and Aaron are to register everyone in Israel who is able to go to war, company by company. 4One man from each tribe is to accompany you, each man being the leader of his ancestral house.
5gHere is a list of names of the men who are to assist you:
gFrom Reuben: Shedeurfs son Elizur. 6From Simeon: Zurishaddaifs son Shelumiel. 7From Judah: Amminadabfs son Nahshon. 8From Issachar: Zuarfs son Nethanel. 9From Zebulun: Helonfs son Eliab.
10gFrom Josephfs descendants through Ephraim: Ammihudfs son Elishama. From Manasseh: Pedahzurfs son Gamaliel. 11From Benjamin: Gideonifs son Abidan. 12From Dan: Ammishaddaifs son Ahiezer. 13From Asher: Ochranfs son Pagiel. 14From Gad: Deuelfs son Eliasaph. 15From Naphtali: Enanfs son Ahira.h
16These men were appointed from within their communities, since they were leaders of their ancestral houses and heads of the tribes of Israel.
17Moses and Aaron gathered these men who had been mentioned by name. 18They assembled the entire community together during the second month. Then they recorded their ancestries according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as well as the names of the men 20 years old and above individually, 19just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He numbered them in the Sinai desert.
20The genealogies of the descendants of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 21Those registered with the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.
22The genealogies of Simeonfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 23Those registered with the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.
24The genealogies of Gadfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 25Those registered with the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.
26The genealogies of Judahfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 27Those registered with the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.
28The genealogies of Issacharfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 29Those registered with the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.
30The genealogies of Zebulunfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 31Those registered with the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.
32The genealogies of Josephfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 33Those registered with the tribe of Joseph numbered 40,500.
34The genealogies of Manassehfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 35Those registered with the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.
36The genealogies of Benjaminfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 37Those registered with the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.
38The genealogies of Danfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 39Those registered with the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.
40The genealogies of Asherfs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 41Those registered with the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.
42The genealogies of Naphtalifs descendants were recorded individually according to their tribes and ancestral houses, as were the names of all the men 20 years and above who could serve in the army. 43Those registered with the family of Naphtali numbered 53,400.
44These individuals were the ones whom Moses and Aaron registered from the twelve leaders of Israel, each person from his ancestral house. 45Everyone was numbered from the descendants of Israel, from their ancestral houses, from all the men who were 20 years and above and who could serve in the army. 46The total of all those who were numbered was 603,550.
47The descendants of Levi were not counted according to their ancestral houses 48because the Lord had ordered Moses: 49gBe sure not to number or count the tribe of Levi with the rest of the Israelis. 50Instead, appoint the descendants of Levi over the Tent of Meeting, all the vessels, and everything in it. They are to carry the tent and all the vessels in it. They are to attend to it and camp around it. 51Whenever the tent is ready for travel, the descendants of Levi are to take it down.
gWhen itfs time to encamp, the descendants of Levi are to set it up. Any unauthorized person who approaches it is to be executed. 52Then the Israelis are to encamp around the tent, arranged according to their company and the standard of their army. 53But the descendants of Levi are to encamp on all sides of the Tent of Meeting so that divine wrath wonft fall on the congregation of Israel. The descendants of Levi are to take care of the Tent of Meeting.h
54The Israelis observed everything that the Lord had commanded Moses, doing exactly what they were told.
Chapter 2
1Later, the Lord told Moses and Aaron, 2gEvery single Israeli is to encamp beneath his standard with the emblem of his ancestral house. The Israelis are to encamp from a distance, but surrounding the Tent of Meeting.h
3gThe encampment of Judah is to settle east toward the sunrise under their standard. The leader of Judah is to be Amminadabfs son Nahshon. 4Those in his division number 74,600.
5gThe tribe of Issachar is to encamp beside Judah. The leader of Issachar is to be Zuarfs son Nethanel. 6Those in his division number 54,400.
7gNext is to be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of Zebulun is to be Helonfs son Eliab. 8Those in his division number 57,400. 9All those numbered by division in the camp of Judah total 186,400. They are to be the first to travel.h
10gToward the south is to be the division of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of Reuben is to be Shedeurfs son Elizur. 11Those in his division number 46,500.
12gThe tribe of Simeon is to camp beside Reuben. The leader of Simeon is to be Zurishaddaifs son Shelumiel. 13Those in his division number 59,300.
14gNext is to be the tribe of Gad. The leader of Gad is to be Deuelfs son Eliasaph. 15Those in his division number 45,650. 16All those numbered by division in the camp of Reuben total 151,450. They are to be the second to travel.h
17gThen the Tent of Meeting is to travel with the camp of the descendants of Levi in the middle of the camps. They are to travel just as they have camped, each as designated under his standard.h
18gToward the west is to be the division of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of Ephraim is to be Ammihudfs son Elishama. 19Those in his division number 40,500.
20gThe tribe of Manasseh is to encamp beside them. The leader of Manasseh is to be Pedahzurfs son Gamaliel. 21Those in his division number 32,200.
22gNext is to be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of Benjamin is to be Gideonifs son Abidan. 23Those in his division number 35,400. 24All those numbered by division in the camp Ephraim total 108,100. They are to be the third to travel.h
25gToward the north is to be the division of the camp of Dan under their standard. The leader of Dan is to be Ammishaddaifs son Ahiezer. 26Those in his division number 62,700.
27gThe tribe of Asher is to encamp beside them. The leader of Asher is to be Ochranfs son Pagiel. 28Those in his division number 41,500.
29gNext is to be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of Naphtali is to be Enanfs son Ahira. 30Those in his division number 53,400. 31All those numbered by division in the camp of Dan total 157,600. They are to be the last to travel under their standards.h
32Here is a summary of the census of the Israelis according to the tribes of their ancestral houses: All the divisions in the camps numbered 603,550, 33but the descendants of Levi were not numbered along with the other Israelis, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 34So the Israelis did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses; that is, they encamped under their standard as each person traveled with his own tribe and ancestral house.
Chapter 3
1This is a record of the genealogies of Aaron and Moses current as of the day on which the Lord addressed Moses on Mount Sinai. 2The sons of Aaron were Nadab the first-born, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar 3who were anointed priests and whom he consecrated as priests. 4Nadab and Abihu died in the Lordfs presence when they offered unauthorized fire before him in the Sinai wilderness. Since they didnft have their own children, Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priest under the authority of Aaron their father.
5The Lord told Moses, 6gBring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest so they may serve him. 7They are to take care of his needs and the needs of the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by performing duties at the tent. 8They are to take charge of the utensils at the Tent of Meeting and meet the needs of the Israelis by performing duties on behalf of the tent. 9Assign the descendants of Levi to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelis. 10Appoint Aaron and his sons so that they are to take responsibility for their priesthood. Any unauthorized person who approaches it is to be put to death.h
11Later, the Lord told Moses, 12gIfm taking the descendants of Levi for myself from among the Israelis in place of every first-born who opens the womb. The descendants of Levi belong to me 13because all the first-born belong to me. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated all the first-born in Israel for myself\from human beings to livestock. They belong to me, since I am the Lord.h
14The Lord also told Moses in the Sinai wilderness, 15gNumber the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral houses and tribes, numbering every male from a month old and above.h
16So Moses numbered them according to the instruction of the Lord, as he had been commanded. 17These are Levifs descendants by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18These are names of Gershonfs descendants according to their families: Libni and Shimei. 19These are the names of Kohathfs descendants according to their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20Merarifs descendants according to their families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral house.
21The families of Libni and Shimei were descendants of Gershon. As families of the descendants of Gershon, 22all the males a month old and above numbered 7,500. 23The families of the descendants of Gershon encamped behind the tent toward the west. 24The leader of the tribe and family of Gershon was Laelfs son Eliasaph. 25The duties of the descendants of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting pertained to the tent, the tent covering, the curtain to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, 26the hangings at the courtyard, the curtain to the entrance of the courtyard that surrounded the tent, the altar, and all of the tent cords in use.
27The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were descendants of Kohath. As families of the descendants of Kohath, 28all the males a month old and above numbered 8,600. They were tasked to the care of the sanctuary. 29The descendants of Kohath encamped beside the tent toward the south. 30The leader of the tribe and family of Kohath was Uzzielfs son Elizaphan. 31Their duties pertained to the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, and all the curtains in use. 32The chief of all the leaders of the descendants of Levi was Aaron the priestfs son Eleazar. He was assigned to oversee those who were in charge of the services of the sanctuary.
33The families of Mahli and Mushi were descendants of Merari. As families of Merari, 34all the males a month old and above numbered 6,200. 35The leader of the tribe and family of Merari was Abihailfs son Zuriel. The descendants of Merari encamped beside the tent toward the north. 36The duties of the caretakers from the descendants of Merari included the boards of the tent, its bars, crossbars, sockets, all its utensils for their services, 37the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, pegs, and tent cords.
38In front of the tent and east of the Tent of Meeting, Moses, Aaron, and Aaronfs sons encamped facing the east. They were tasked to perform the duties of the sanctuary and care for the needs of the Israelis. Any unauthorized person who approached was to be executed. 39As the Lord had instructed, everyone counted by Moses and Aaron from the descendants of Levi, according to their tribe, all males from a month old and above numbered 22,000.
40Later the Lord instructed Moses: gNumber all the first-born males of Israel from a month old and above and list their names. 41Separate the descendants of Levi for me\since I am the Lord\in place of all the first-born sons of Israel. Also separate the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of Israel.h
42So Moses numbered all the firstborn from the sons of Israel just as the Lord commanded him. 43All the first-born males according to the list of their names from a month old and above numbered 22,273.
44Then the Lord told Moses, 45gSeparate the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel and the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of their livestock. The descendants of Levi belong to me, since I am the Lord. 46You are to pay a ransom of the 273 first-born sons of Israel who exceed the census number of the descendants of Levi, 47so collect five shekels for each individual, denominated in shekels of the sanctuary, that is, the shekel that weighs 20 gerahs. 48Then give the money meant for ransom of their excess to Aaron and his sons.h
49So Moses took the ransom money to account for the difference in the total number of those redeemed by the descendants of Levi. 50From the firstborn of the Israelis, Moses took money amounting to 1,365 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and his sons according to the Lordfs instructions, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Chapter 4
1The Lord told Moses and Aaron, 2gTake a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the descendants of Levi according to their tribes and ancestral houses 3from 30 years and older through the age of 50 years, from everyone who can enter the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting.
4gHerefs what the descendants of Kohath are to do regarding the Tent of Meeting and whatfs inside the Most Holy Place: 5When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons are to come and take down the veil of the curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it. 6They are to set a leather-dyed skin covering over it, cover it with a pure blue cloth, and then insert its poles.
7gThey are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the bread of the Presence and on top of it the dishes, pans, bowls, pitchers for drink offerings, and the bread of presence are to be on it continuously. 8They are to spread over them a scarlet cloth and a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles.
9gThey are to take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand for the light with its lamp, lamp-snuffers, censer, and all the utensils for its oil with which they minister. 10Then they are to put them with all the other utensils on the leather-dyed skin covering and set them on the beams for transport.
11gOn the golden altar, they are to spread a blue cloth and cover it with a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles. 12Then they are to take all the utensils for service with which they minister at the sanctuary; set them on the blue cloth; cover them with the leather-dyed skin covering and then set them on the beams for transport. 13They are to also remove the ashes on the altar and spread over it a purple cloth. 14Then they are to put all the instruments with which they minister there\trays, forks, shovels, bowls, and all the utensils of the altar. They are to spread over it a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles.
15gWhen Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the utensils of the sanctuary, and the camp is about to travel, then the descendants of Kohath are to come and carry them, but they are not to touch the most sacred objects, so they wonft die. These are the duties of the descendants of Kohath at the Tent of Meeting.h
16gNow the duty of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest is to maintain the oil for the light, the spiced incense, the daily offerings, the oil for anointing, and to carry out all the duties of the tent and the sanctuary, and to maintain its utensils.h
17Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, 18gYou are not to eliminate the tribe of the families of the descendants of Kohath from the descendants of Levi. 19But do this for them so that they may live and not die when they approach the Most Holy Place: Aaron and his sons are to go in and set specific responsibilities for each of them to carry out. 20But they are not to go in to see the sanctuary as it is being covered, so they wonft die.h
21Then the Lord told Moses, 22Take a census of the descendants of Gershon according to their ancestral house and tribes. 23Count their number from between 30 to 50 years old, including everyone who can enter the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting.
24gThese are the responsibilities that the descendants of Gershon are to have: 25They are to carry the curtain of the tent, the covering of the Tent of Meeting, the dyed leather covering that goes over it, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tent, the altar, the ropes, all the service utensils, and everything made for them. This is to be their service area.
27gThe descendants of Gershon are to carry out the instructions of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign them their responsibilities to carry out. 28This is the work of the tribes of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting\their duties under the supervision of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
29gFor the descendants of Merari, number them according to their tribes and ancestral houses 30from 30 to 50 years old as you count them, including everyone who can enter service and perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 31This is to be their area of responsibility to carry out with respect to their service at the Tent of Meeting: the board of the tent, its bars, its crossbars, its sockets, 32the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, their pegs, their ropes, and all the utensils for all their services.
gAssign the utensils by name to each person whose responsibility it will be to carry them. 33This is the work of the tribes of the descendants of Merari with reference to their service at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron the priestfs son Ithamar.h
34Moses and Aaron and the congregational leaders numbered the descendants of Kohath according to their tribes and ancestral houses 35from 30 to 50 fifty years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 36The total according to their tribe numbered 2,750 37from the tribe of the descendants of Kohath, everyone who would be serving at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the Lord had said, under the supervision of Moses.
38The tribes and the ancestral houses of the descendants of Gershon were numbered 39from 30 to 50 years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 40The total according to their tribes and ancestral house numbered 2,630 41from the tribes of the descendants of Gershon, everyone who would be serving at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the Lord had said.
42The tribes and ancestral house of Merari were numbered 43from 30 to 50 years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting.44The total according to their tribes numbered 3,200 45from the tribes of the descendants of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the Lord had said, under the supervision of Moses.
46The total of those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi by Moses and Aaron; that is, from the leaders of Israel counted according to their tribes and ancestral houses 47from 30 to 50 years old, who entered the service for work at the Tent of Meeting 48was 8,580. 49They were numbered under the supervision of Moses according to what the Lord had said. Each person was assigned a responsibility to carry out, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Chapter 5
1The Lord told Moses, 2gCommand the Israelis to send outside the encampment every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is ritually defiled by contact with a corpse. 3Whether male or female, send them outside the camp so that they wonft defile their camp, because I live among them.h 4So the Israelis sent them outside the camp. The Israelis did just what the Lord had told Moses.
5The Lord told Moses, 6gInstruct the Israelis that whenever a man or woman does something contained in the list of the sins of man, thereby acting treacherously against the Lord, then that person stands guilty. 7He is to confess the sin that he had committed, pay its full compensation, add one fifth to it, and give the compensation to whomever he offended. 8But if the person has no related redeemer to whom compensation may be made, the payment is to be brought to the Lord and given to the priest, in addition to a ram for atonement with which he is to be atoned. 9Every offering from all the most sacred things of the Israelis that they bring to the priest is to belong to him. 10Furthermore, everyonefs sacred things belong to him, and as well as regarding whatever a person gives to the priest.
11Then the Lord told Moses, 12gInstruct the Israelis what to do if a manfs wife turns astray so that she unfaithfully acts against him, 13a man has sexual relations with her and she conceals it from her husband, keeping it secret although she has defiled herself with there being no witnesses against her, but she was caught anyway. 14If an attitude of jealousy overcomes him so that he becomes jealous at his wife when she is defiled, or if an attitude of jealousy overcomes him and he becomes jealous of his wife even though she isnft defiled, 15then that man is to bring his wife to the priest along with an offering for her consisting of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour.
gHe is not to pour oil or set frankincense over it, because itfs to be a jealousy offering, a memorial offering that will serve as a reminder of iniquity. 16Then the priest is to bring it and make her stand in the Lordfs presence. 17The priest is to put some holy water into an earthen vessel, take some dust from the floor of the tent, and put it into the water.
18gThe priest is to have the woman stand in the Lordfs presence, uncover her head, and put the grain offering as a memorial, a reminder of jealousy, into her hands. The priest is also to have in his hand the contaminated water that carries a curse.
19gThe priest is to administer this oath to the woman: eIf indeed another man didnft have sexual relations with you and you didnft become unfaithful to your husband, then may you be free from these waters that bring a curse. 20But if you have become unfaithful to your husband and have become defiled because a man who isnft your husband has had sexual relations with youcf 21then the priest is to have the woman commit to an oath by saying to the woman, eMay the Lord make you a curse and a curse among your people. When the Lord makes your thigh waste away and your abdomen swell 22and this water that brings a curse enters your abdomen, making it swell and your thigh waste away.f
gThen the woman is to say eAmen.f
23gThen the priest is to write all of these words in a document and wipe it off with the contaminated water. 24The woman is to drink the bitter water that brings a curse and the water that brings a curse is to be considered contaminated. 25The priest is to take the offering of jealousy from the womanfs hand, wave the offering in the Lordfs presence, and have her approach the altar.
26gThe priest is to take a handful of grain from the memorial and offer a sacrifice on the altar, after which he is to have the woman drink the water. 27When he has had her drink the water, if she was defiled and had acted unfaithfully toward her husband, then the contaminated water that brings a curse will enter her and infect her, causing her abdomen to swell and her thigh to waste away. Then she is to be a cursed woman among her people.
28gBut if the woman isnft defiled, then she is to be freed and will be able to bear children. 29This is the law in cases of jealousy when a woman defiles herself while under her husbandfs authority: 30When a man becomes under the control of an attitude of jealousy regarding his wife, he is to present her to the Lord, and the priest is to apply this entire statute to her. 31The husband will be free from guilt, but the wife is to bear the punishment of her iniquity.h
Chapter 6
1Then the Lord told Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that a man or woman who commits to the vow of the Nazirite, is to be separated to the Lord, 3then is to remain separate from wine and strong drink. He is not to drink vinegar or strong drink made from wine. He is not to drink grape juice or eat grapes, whether fresh or dried.
4gDuring the entire time of his dedication, he is not to eat any product from the grapevine, from the seed to the skin.
5gDuring the entire time of his dedication, he is not to allow a razor to pass over his head until the days of his holy consecration to the Lord have been fulfilled. He is to let the locks on his head grow long.
6gDuring the entire time of his dedication, he is not to come near a dead body. 7He is not to defile himself on account of his father, mother, brother, and sister when they die, because the crown of his consecration to God is on his head.
8gDuring the entire time of his dedication, he is set apart to God. 9When someone suddenly dies beside him, so that his consecrated head is defiled, then he is to shave his head on the day of his purification. Seven days later he is to shave it again. 10On the eighth day, he is to bring two turtledoves or two pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
11gThen the priest is to offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to make atonement for him because of the guilt he incurred on account of his contact with the dead body. Then he is to consecrate his head on that day. 12He is to dedicate to the Lord the days of his consecration by bringing a year old male lamb as his offering. The previous time will have failed because his consecration became defiled.
13gThis is the law of the Nazirite: When the days of his consecration are completed, he is to come to the entrance at the Tent of Meeting. 14He is to bring an offering to the Lord, a year old male lamb, and a year old ewe female lamb, both without blemish, for a sin offering and a ram without blemish for a peace offering, 15a basket of unleavened bread made from choice flour, cakes mixed with oil, a wafer of unleavened bread smeared with oil, along with grain and drink offerings.
16gThe priest is to come into the Lordfs presence and present his sin and burnt offerings. 17He is to offer the ram, a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord, along with the basket of unleavened bread. Then the priest is to present his grain and drink offerings.
18gThe Nazirite is then to shave his head of consecration at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. He is to take the lock of his head of consecration and set it over the fire where the peace offering for sacrifice is. 19Then the priest is to take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one cake of unleavened bread from the basket, and one wafer of unleavened bread. He is to place them in the hands of the Nazirite, after he himself has shaved his symbol of consecration. 20The priest is to wave the offerings, that is, the breast and the thigh offering in the Lordfs presence. Then the Nazirite may drink wine afterward.
21gThis is to be the law of the Nazirite when he commits his offering to the Lord on account of his consecration, over and beyond what he owns alone plus whatever he can provide, based on the vow from his own mouth that he vows to fulfill on account of the law of his consecration.h
22Later, the Lord told Moses, 23gTeach Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelis:
24May the Lord bless you
and guard you.
25May the Lordfs face enlighten you
and bestow favor on you.
26May the Lord turn to face you,
lavishing peace on you!
27They are to pour out my name to the Israelis while I continue to bless them.h
Chapter 7
1The same day that Moses finished setting up, anointing, and consecrating the tent and its utensils, he also anointed and consecrated the altar and its utensils.
2Then the presiding leaders of Israel, as heads of the ancestral houses, brought an offering. They were the leaders of the tribes who supervised the census. 3They brought their offering into the Lordfs presence, consisting of six covered carts and twelve oxen\one cart each from two leaders and an ox from each one.
After they presented them in front of the tent, 4the Lord told Moses, 5gTake these gifts from them and use them in service at the Tent of Meeting. Present them to the descendants of Levi, distributing them to each person according to his work.h
6So Moses took the carts and the oxen and presented them to the descendants of Levi. 7Two carts and four oxen were given to the descendants of Gershon for their work. 8Four carts and eight oxen were given to the descendants of Merari for their work. 9But he gave none of them to the descendants of Kohath, because their responsibility was to carry the holy things on their shoulders.
10The leaders brought the offerings for the dedication of the altar the same day that it was anointed. After the leaders brought their offering to the altar, 11the Lord told Moses, gThey are to present their offerings, one leader per day, for the dedication of the altar.h
12On the first day Amminadabfs son Nahshon, from the tribe of Judah, presented 13as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 15one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 16and one male goat for a sin offering. 17Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Amminadabfs son Nahshon.
18On the second day, Zuarfs son Nethanel, leader of the descendants of Issachar, presented 19as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 21one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 22and one male goat for a sin offering. 23Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Zuarfs son Nathaniel.
24On the third day, Helonfs son Eliab, leader of the descendants of Zebulun presented 25as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 27one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 28and one male goat for a sin offering. 29Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Helonfs son Eliab.
30On the fourth day, Shedeurfs son Elizur, leader of the descendants of Reuben presented 31as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 33one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 34and one male goat for a sin offering. 35Their sacrifice for a peace offering, two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Shedeurfs son Elizur.
36On the fifth day, Zurishaddaifs son Shelumiel, leader of the descendants of Simeon, presented 37as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for grain offering; 38one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 39one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 40and one male goat for a sin offering. 41Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Zurishaddaifs son Shelumiel.
42On the sixth day, Deuelfs son Eliasaph, leader of the descendants of Gad, presented 43as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44one gold pan weighing ten shekels full of incense; 45one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 46and one male goat for a sin offering. 47Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Deuelfs son Eliasaph.
48On the seventh day, Ammihudfs son Elishama, leader of the descendants of Ephraim, presented 49as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 51one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 52and one male goat for a sin offering. 53Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Ammihudfs son Elishama.
54On the eighth day, Pedahzurfs son Gamaliel, leader of the descendants of Manasseh, presented 55as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for grain offering; 56one gold pan weighing ten shekels full of incense; 57one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 58and one male goat for a sin offering. 59Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Pedahzurfs son Gamaliel.
60On the ninth day, Gideonifs son Abidan, leader of the descendants of Benjamin, presented 61as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for grain offering; 62one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 63one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 64and one male goat for a sin offering. 65Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Pedahzurfs son Gamaliel.
66On the tenth day, Ammishaddaifs son Ahiezer, leader of the descendants of Dan, presented 67as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68one gold pan weighing ten shekels full of incense; 69one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 70and one male goat for a sin offering. 71Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Ammishaddaifs son Ahiezer.
72On the eleventh day, Ochranfs son Pagiel, leader of the descendants of Asher, presented 73as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 75one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 76and one male goat for a sin offering. 77Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Ochranfs son Pagiel.
78On the twelfth day, Enanfs son Ahira, leader of the descendants of Naphtali, presented 79as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for grain offering; 80one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 81one young bull, one ram, and a one year old male lamb for a burnt offering; 82and one male goat for a sin offering. 83Their sacrifice for a peace offering consisted of two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one year old lambs. These were the offerings presented by Enanfs son Ahira.
84This was what was presented at the dedication of the altar from the leaders of Israel on the same day that it was anointed: twelve silver bowls, twelve silver basins, twelve gold ladles. 85Each bowl weighed 130 silver shekels and each basin weighed 70 shekels. All the silver vessels weighed a total of 2,400 shekels, calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 86Also, twelve gold ladles filled with incense were presented, each ladle weighing ten shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary). All of the gold of the ladles weighed 120 shekels. 87All the livestock for burnt offerings totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve sheep in their first year with corresponding meal offerings, and twelve male goats for sin offerings. 88All the livestock for peace offerings totaled 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 one year old lambs\all this was for the altarfs dedication after it was anointed.
89When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard a voice speaking to him above the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Testimony. He spoke to him from between the two cherubim.
Chapter 8
1The Lord told Moses, 2gTell Aaron, eWhen you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will illuminate the area in front of the lamp stand.fh
3So Aaron did so, setting up the lamps to illuminate the area in front of the lamp stand, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
4This was how the lamp stand was crafted from hammered gold: From its base to its flowers, it was made of hammered gold. Moses crafted the lamp stand just as the Lord had showed him.
5Then the Lord told Moses, 6gTake the descendants of Levi from the Israelis and purify them. 7This is what you are to do for them in order to purify them: Sprinkle purifying water over them, have them shave their skin, and then have them wash their garments, and they will be purified. 8They are to take a young bull along with its meal offering made of flour mixed with oil.
gThen you are to take a second young bull as a sin offering. 9Assemble the descendants of Levi in front of the appointed place of meeting, and assemble the whole congregation of Israel, too. 10Bring the descendants of Levi into the Lordfs presence and have the Israelis lay their hands on the descendants of Levi.
11gThen Aaron is to present the descendants of Levi as a wave offering before the Lord from the Israelis, because they are to work in the service of the Lord. 12The descendants of Levi are then to lay their hands on the head of the bulls, offering one for a sin offering and the other one for a burnt offering to the Lord to atone for the descendants of Levi.
13gYou are to make the descendants of Levi stand in the presence of Aaron and his sons. Then you are to wave them as wave offerings to the Lord. 14This is how you are to separate the descendants of Levi from among the Israelis. The descendants of Levi belong to me.
15gAfter this, the descendants of Levi are to come to serve at the appointed place of meeting, after you have purified them and presented them as wave offerings, 16since theyfve been set apart for me from among the Israelis.
gIfve taken them for myself instead of the first to open the womb\every firstborn of the Israelis, 17since every firstborn of Israel belongs to me, from human beings to livestock.
gOn the same day that I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them to myself, 18taking the descendants of Levi instead of every firstborn of the Israelis. 19Ifve set the descendants of Levi apart from the Israelis so that Aaron and his sons would work in service at the appointed place of meeting, making atonement on behalf of the Israelis so that there wonft be a plague among the Israelis whenever they approach the sanctuary.h
20So Moses and Aaron and the Israelis did this on behalf of the descendants of Levi. The Israelis did everything that the Lord commanded concerning the descendants of Levi. 21The descendants of Levi therefore purified themselves, washed their clothes, and then Aaron presented them as wave offerings to the Lord. Aaron provided atonement for them to purify them.
22After this, the descendants of Levi entered into their work of service at the appointed place, in the presence of Aaron and his sons. They did everything that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the descendants of Levi.
23Later, the Lord told Moses, 24gNow regarding a descendant of Levi who is 25 years and above, he is to enter work in the service at the appointed place of meeting, 25but starting at 50 years of age, he is to retire from service and is no longer to work. 26He may minister to his brothers at the Tent of Meeting by keeping watch, but he is not to engage in service. This is how you are to act with respect to the obligations of the descendants of Levi.h
Chapter 9
1The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai during the first month of the second year that they had left Egypt, 2gThe Israelis are to observe the Passover at its appointed time 3on the fourteenth day of this month. You are to observe it at this appointed time between the evenings. You are to observe it according to all its decrees and laws.h
4So Moses instructed the Israelis to observe the Passover. 5They observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai. The Israelis did everything that the Lord had commanded through Moses.
6But there were men who couldnft observe the Passover that day because they had come in contact with a corpse. That very day, they approached Moses and Aaron 7and asked, gWhy canft we bring an offering to the Lord at the appointed time among the Israelis, even though we are unclean because we came in contact with a corpse?h
8gWait while I hear what the Lord has to say about you,h Moses replied.
9Then the Lord told Moses, 10gInstruct the Israelis that when any of you or your descendants becomes unclean due to contact with a corpse, or if he is on a long journey, he nevertheless is to observe the Lordfs Passover. 11On the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight, they are to eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12They are not to leave any of it to remain until morning nor are they to break any of its bones. They are to observe it according to all the statutes of the Passover.
13gNow as to the person who is clean and isnft traveling, but fails to observe the Passover, that person is to be eliminated from his people, because he didnft bring an offering to the Lord at its appointed time. That person is to bear his sin.
14gIf a resident alien lives with you and wants to observe the Lordfs Passover, let him observe it according to the statutes and laws of the Passover. You are to maintain the same statute for the resident alien as you do for the native of the land.h
15On the same morning that the tent was set up, a cloud covered the tent, that is, the Tent of Testimony, and in the evening fire appeared over the tent until morning. 16It was so continuously\there was a cloud covering by day, and a fire cloud appeared at night.
17Whenever the cloud above the tent ascended, the Israelis would travel and encamp in the place where the cloud settled. 18According to whatever the Lord said, the Israelis would travel. According to whatever the Lord said, they would camp as long as the cloud remained over the Tent of Meeting.
19When the cloud over the tent remained for a longer time, the Israelis did what the Lord had instructed and didnft travel.
20There were times when the cloud remained over the tent for a number of days. They camped in accordance with the Lordfs instructions and they traveled in accordance with Lordfs instructions.
21There were times when the cloud remained from evening until morning, but when the cloud ascended in the morning, they would journey. Whether by day or by night, they would travel whenever the cloud ascended. 22Whether for two days, a month, or for longer periods, whenever the cloud would remain above the tent, the Israelis would remain in camp, not traveling.
But whenever it ascended, then they would travel. 23According to what the Lord said, they would remain in camp, and according to what the Lord said, they would travel. They kept the commands that the Lord had given through Moses.
Chapter 10
1The Lord also told Moses, 2gMake two trumpets, crafting them from beaten silver, for use in calling the congregation together and for notifying the camps to set out for travel. 3Sound them when the whole assembly is to gather together at the entrance of the appointed place of meeting.
4gWhen one trumpet is blown, the elders and the heads of the thousands of the Israelis are to gather to you. 5When you sound an alarm, the ones encamped on the east side are to begin to travel.
6gWhen you sound the alarm the second time, those encamped on the south are to begin to travel. Alarms are to be sounded for their travels.
7gBut when you blow the trumpet to assemble the whole congregation, donft use the same sound as you do for sounding an alarm.
8gThe descendants of Aaron the priest are to blow the trumpets. Have them do this for you permanently throughout your generations to come.h
9gWhen you wage war in your land against an enemy who is hostile to you, you are to sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before the face of the Lord your God and you will be delivered from your enemies. 10At the beginning of the month, during your time of rejoicing at the appointed place, sound the trumpet over your burnt offering, then sacrifice your peace offering, since they are to be your memorial before the Lord your God. I am the Lord your God.h
11On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud was lifted up from the Tent of Meeting, 12so the Israelis set out from the Sinai Wilderness until the cloud settled in the Paran Wilderness, 13doing what the Lord had said through Moses.
14The standard of the camp of Judah was the first to travel, accompanied by its army with Amminadabfs son Nahshon in charge. 15Zuarfs son Nethanel was in charge of the camp of Issachar. 16Helonfs son Eliab was in charge of the camp of Zebulun. 17The tent was taken down, and the descendants of Gershon and Merari carried the tent.
18Then the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, accompanied by its army with Shedeurfs son Elizur in charge. 19Zurishaddaifs son Shelumiel was in charge of the tribe of Simeon. 20Deuelfs son Eliasaph was in charge of the tribe of Gad. 21Then the descendants of Kohath, carrying the sanctuary, set out, since the tent was to be set up before they arrive.
22After this, the standard of the camp of Ephraim set out, accompanied by its army with Ammihudfs son Elishama in charge. 23Pedazzurfs son Gamaliel was in charge of the tribe of Manasseh. 24Gideonifs son Abidan was in charge of the army of the tribe of Benjamin.
25Then the standard of the camp of Dan set out, functioning as the rear guard for all the encampments, accompanied by its army with Ammishaddaifs son Ahiezer. 26Ochranfs son Pagiel was in charge of the tribe of Asher. 27Enanfs son Ahira was in charge of the tribe of Naphtali.
28This was the travel order for the Israelis, whenever their companies traveled.
29Then Moses told Reuelfs son Hobab, Mosesf relative by marriage from Midian, gWe are traveling to the place about which the Lord said eI will give it to you.f So come with us and wefll be good to you, because the Lord has spoken good things about Israel.h
30But he said, gI wonft go with you because Ifm returning to my land and to my own family.h
31Then Moses responded, gPlease donft leave us now, since you know where we can camp in the wilderness. You could be our guide. 32And when you come with us, the good things that the Lord will grant us, wefll give you as well.h
33So they traveled from the mountain of the Lord, a three-day trip, with the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord traveling in front of them\a three day trip to explore a place for them to rest. 34Moreover, the cloud of the Lord protected them during the day when they left their camp.
35Whenever the ark was ready to travel, Moses would say:
gArise, Lord,
to scatter your enemies,
so that whoever hates you
will flee from your presence.h
36Whenever the ark was being readied to rest, he would say:
gReturn, Lord,
to the countless thousands of Israel.h
Chapter 11
1Eventually, the people began complaining about their distress, and the Lord heard them. When the Lord heard, his anger flared up and the Lordfs fire incinerated some of them within the outskirts of the camp. 2When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire stopped. 3He then named that place Taberah, because the Lordfs fire had incinerated some of them.
4Meanwhile, certain riff-raff among the people had an insatiable appetite for food. As a result, they wept and turned back, and the Israelis cried out, gIf only somebody would feed us some meat! 5How we remember the fish that we used to eat in Egypt for free! And the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic! 6But now we canft stand it anymore, because therefs nothing in front of us except this manna.h
7Now manna was reminiscent of coriander seed, with an appearance similar to amber. 8People would go out to gather it, then they would grind it in mills or pound it in mortars, and then they would boil it in pots or make cakes out of it that tasted like butter cakes. 9When the dew fell in the camp, the manna came with it.
10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their entire families. Everyone gathered at the entrance of their tents so that the Lord was very angry. Moses thought the situation was bad, 11so he asked the Lord, gWhy did you bring all this trouble to your servant? Why havenft I found favor in your eyes? After all, youfre putting the burden of this entire people on me!
12gDid I conceive this people or give birth to them, so that you would tell me to carry them near my heart like a wet nurse carries a suckling baby to the land that you promised to their forefathers? 13Where am I going to get meat to give this people? After all, theyfre crying in front of me, eGive us meat to eat!f 14I cannot carry this whole nation! The burden is too heavy for me! 15If this is how you treat me, please kill me right now, if Ifve found favor in your eyes, because I donft want to keep staring at all of this misery!h
16Then the Lord told Moses, gGather together for me 70 men who are elders of Israel, men whom you know to be elders of the people and officers over them. Then bring them to the Tent of Meeting and let them stand there with you. 17Then Ifll come down and speak with you. Ifll take some of the spirit that rests on you and apportion it among them, so that they may help you bear the burden of the people. That way, you wonft bear it by yourself.h
18gBut give this command to the people: eYou are to consecrate yourselves, because tomorrow youfre going to eat meat, since youfve complained where the Lord can hear it, gWho can give us meat to eat? After all, life was better with us in Egypt.hf Therefore, the Lord is going to give you meat and youfll eat\ 19not only for a day, or for two days, or for five days, or for ten days, or for 20 days, 20but for a whole month\until it comes out your nostrils and makes you vomit. This is because youfve despised the Lord, who is among you, and you cried out in his presence, complaining, eWhy did we ever leave Egypt?fh
21Moses responded, gIfm with 600,000 people on foot and youfre saying I am to give them enough meat to eat for a whole month? 22What if we were to slaughter our entire inventory of flocks and herds for them? Would that be enough? What if we could gather all the fish in the sea in nets for them? Would that be enough, either?h
23But the Lord responded to Moses, gIs the Lord short on power? Youfre now going to witness whether what I say will come to pass or not.h
24So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He gathered 70 men from the elders of the people and stationed them around the tent. 25The Lord came down in a cloud, spoke to Moses, and made an apportionment from the spirit who rested on him to the 70 elders. When the spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but that was it.
26Now two men had remained in camp. One was named Eldad and the other was named Medad. When the spirit rested on them, since they were among those who were listed but had not gone out to the tent, they stayed behind and prophesied in the camp.
27A young man ran and reported to Moses, gEldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!h
28In response, Nunfs son Joshua, Mosesf attendant and one of his choice men, exclaimed, gMy master Moses! Stop them!h
29gAre you jealous on account of me?h Moses asked in reply. gI wish all of the Lordfs people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!h 30Then Moses\that is, he and the elders of Israel\returned to the camp.
31Just then, a wind burst forth from the Lord, who brought quails from the sea and spread them all around the camp, about a dayfs journey in each direction, completely encircling the camp about three feet deep on top of the ground! 32The people stayed up all that day, all that night, and all through the next day, gathering quails. The one who gathered least gathered enough to fill ten 80-gallon drums, as they spread out all around the camp. 33But even as they were chewing the meat and before they had swallowed it, the Lord became very angry with the people and struck them with a disastrous plague. 34Thatfs why the place was named Kibroth-hattaavah, because they buried the people there who had an insatiable appetite for meat. 35Later, the people left Kibroth-hattaavah for Hazeroth and camped there.
Chapter 12
1Miriam and Aaron rebelled against Moses on account of the Cushite woman that he had married. 2They asked, gHas the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasnft he also spoken through us?h
But the Lord heard it.
3Now the man Moses was very humble\more than any person on earth.
4All of a sudden, the Lord told Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: gThe three of you are to come out to the Tent of Meeting.h So the three of them went out. 5Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. So both of them went forward.
6Then he told the two of them: gPay attention to what I have to say! When there is a prophet among you, wonft I, the Lord, reveal myself to him in a vision? Wonft I speak with him in a dream?
7gBut thatfs not how it is with my servant Moses, since he has been entrusted with my entire household! 8I speak to him audibly and in visions, not in mysteries. If he can gaze at the image of the Lord, why arenft you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?h 9Because the Lord was very angry with them, he left, 10but when the cloud ascended from the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow! Aaron turned toward Miriam, and she had leprosy!
11Aaron begged Moses, gI pray my lord, please donft hold this sin against us, since wefve acted foolishly and sinned in doing so. 12Please donft let her be like one of the living dead, who is born with a congenital skin disease.h
13So Moses prayed to the Lord: gO Lord, please heal her.h
14But the Lord told Moses, gIf her father had merely spit in her face, wouldnft she be humiliated? She is to be placed in isolation for seven days. After that, she may be brought in.h 15So Miriam was isolated outside the camp for seven days and the people didnft travel until Miriam was brought in. 16After that, the people traveled from Hazeroth and encamped in the Wilderness of Paran.
Chapter 13
1Later, the Lord told Moses, 2gSend men to explore the land of Canaan that Ifm about to give to the Israelis. Send one man to represent each of his ancestorfs tribes, every one of them a distinguished leader among them.h
3So thatfs just what Moses did, sending them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the Lordfs instructions. All of the men were Israeli leaders. 4These were their names: From Reubenfs tribe, Zaccurfs son Shammua; 5From Simeonfs tribe, Horifs son Shaphat; 6From Judahfs tribe, Jephunnehfs son Caleb; 7from Issacharfs tribe, Josephfs son Igal; 8From Ephraimfs tribe, Nunfs son Hoshea; 9From Benjaminfs tribe, Raphufs son Palti; 10from Zebulunfs tribe, Sodifs son Gaddiel; 11from Josephfs tribe of Manasseh, Susifs son Gaddi; 12From Danfs tribe, Gemallifs son Ammiel; 13from Asherfs tribe, Michaelfs son Sethur; 14from Naphtalifs tribe, Vophsifs son Nahbi; 15and from Gadfs tribe, Machifs son Geuel. 16These are the names of the men sent by Moses to explore the land.
Moses renamed Nunfs son Hoshea to Joshua. 17Then he sent them out to explore the land of Canaan. He instructed them, gGo up from here through the Negev, then ascend to the hill country. 18See what the land is like. Observe whether the people who live there are strong or weak, or whether theyfre few or numerous. 19Look to see whether the land where they live is good or bad, and whether the cities in which they live are merely tents or if theyfre fortified. 20Examine the farmland, whether itfs fertile or barren, and see if there are fruit-bearing trees in it or not. Be very courageous, and bring back some samples of the fruit of the land.h
As it was, that time of year was the season for the first fruits of the grape harvest. 21So they went to explore the land from the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob, and as far as the outskirts of Hamath. 22They went through the Negev and reached Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak lived. (Hebron had been constructed seven years before Zoan in Egypt had been built).
23Soon they arrived in the valley of Eshcol, where they cut a single branch of grapes and carried it on a pole between two men, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24The entire place was called the Eshcol Valley on account of the cluster of grapes that the men of Israel had taken from there.
25At the end of 40 days, they all returned from exploring the land, 26came in to Moses and Aaron, and delivered their report to the entire congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back their report to the entire congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
27gWe arrived at the place where youfve sent us,h they reported, gand it certainly does flow with milk and honey. Furthermore, this is its fruit, 28except that the people who have settled in the land are strong, and their cities are greatly fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak. 29Amalek lives throughout the Negev, while the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live by the sea and on the bank of the Jordan.h
30Caleb silenced the people on Mosesf behalf and responded, gLetfs go up and take control, because we can definitely conquer it.h
31gWe canft attack those people,h the men who were with him said, gbecause theyfre too strong compared to us.h
32So they put out this false report to the Israelis about the land that they had explored: gThe land that wefve explored is one that devours its inhabitants. All the people whom we observed were giants. 33We also saw the Nephilim, the descendants of Anak. Compared to the Nephilim, as we see things, wefre like grasshoppers, and thatfs their opinion of us!h
Chapter 14
1At this, the entire assembly complained, started to shout, and cried through the rest of that night. 2All the Israelis complained against Moses and Aaron. Then the entire assembly responded, gWe wish that we had died in Egypt or in this wilderness. 3Whatfs the point in the Lord bringing us to this land? To die by the sword so our wives and children would become war victims? Wouldnft it be better for us to return to Egypt?h
4Then they told each other, gLetfs assign a leader and go back to Egypt.h
5Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in front of the entire assembly of the congregation of Israel. 6Nunfs son Joshua and Jephunnehfs son Caleb, who had accompanied the others who also had explored the land, tore their clothes 7and attempted to reason with the entire congregation of Israel. They told them, gThe land that we went through and explored is very, very good. 8If the Lord is pleased with us, hefll bring us into this land and give it to us. It flows with milk and honey. 9However, donft rebel against the Lord or be afraid of the people who live in the land, because wefll gobble them right up. Their defenses will collapse, because the Lord is with us. You are not to be afraid of them.h
10But the entire congregation was talking about stoning them to death.
Suddenly, the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all of the Israelis.
11gHow long will this people keep on spurning me and refusing to trust me, despite all the miracles that Ifve done among them?h the Lord asked Moses. 12gThatfs why Ifm going to attack them with pestilence and disinherit them. Instead, Ifll make you a great nation\even mightier than they are!h
13But Moses responded to the Lord, gWhen Egypt hears that youfve brought this people out from among them with a mighty demonstration of power, 14theyfll also proclaim to the inhabitants of this land that theyfve heard youfre among this people, Lord, whom theyfve seen face to face, since your cloud stands guard over them. Youfve guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night.
15gBut if you slaughter this people all at the same time, then the nations who heard about your fame will say, 16eThe Lord slaughtered this people in the wilderness because he wasnft able to bring them to the land that he promised them.f
17gNow, let the power of the Lord be magnified, just as you promised when you said, 18eThe Lord is slow to anger and abundant in faithful love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he wonft acquit the guilty. He recalls the iniquity of fathers to the third and fourth generation.f
19gForgive, please, the iniquity of this people, according to your great, faithful love, in the same way that youfve carried this people from Egypt to this place.h
20The Lord responded, gIfve forgiven them based on what youfve said. 21But just as I live, and just as the whole earth will be filled with the Lordfs glory, 22none of those men who saw my glory and watched my miracles that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness\even though theyfve tested me these ten times and never listened to my voice\ 23will ever see the land that I promised to their ancestors. Those who spurned me wonft see it.
24gNow as to my servant Caleb, because a different spirit is within him and he has remained true to me, Ifm going to bring him into the land that he explored, and his descendants are to inherit it. 25Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite live in the valley. Tomorrow, turn and then travel to the wilderness in the direction of the Reed Sea.h
26Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, 27gHow long will this wicked assembly keep complaining about me? Ifve heard the complaints of the Israelis that theyfve been murmuring against me. 28So tell them that as long as I live\consider this to be an oracle from the Lord\as certainly as youfve spoken right into my ears, thatfs how Ifm going to treat you. 29Your corpses will fall in this wilderness\every single one of you who has been counted among you, according to your number from 20 years and above, who complained against me.
30gYou will certainly never enter the land about which I made an oath with my uplifted hand to settle you in it, except for Jephunnehfs son Caleb and Nunfs son Joshua. 31However, Ifll bring your little ones\the ones whom you claimed would become war victims\into the land so that theyfll know by experience the land that youfve rejected.
32gNow as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness 33and your children will wander throughout the wilderness for 40 years. Theyfll bear the consequences of your idolatries until your bodies are entirely consumed in the wilderness. 34Just as you explored the land for 40 days, youfll bear the consequences of your iniquities for 40 years\one year for each day\as you experience my hostility. 35I, the Lord, have spoken.
gI will indeed do this to this evil congregation, who gathered together against me. Theyfll be eliminated in this wilderness and will surely die.h
36After this, the men whom Moses sent out to explore the land, who returned and made the whole congregation complain against him by bringing an evil report concerning the land, 37and who produced an evil report about the land, died of pestilence in the Lordfs presence. 38However, Nunfs son Joshua and Jephunnehfs son Caleb, who had explored the land, remained alive.
39After Moses had told all of this to the Israelis, the people deeply mourned. 40So they got up early the next morning and traveled to the top of the mountain, telling themselves, gLook, wefre here and wefre going to go up to the place that the Lord had spoken about, even though wefve sinned.h
41But Moses asked them, gWhy do you continue to sin against what the Lord said? Donft you know that you can never succeed? 42Donft go up, since you know that the Lord is no longer with you. Youfll be attacked right in front of your own enemies. 43The Amalekites and Canaanites are there waiting for you. Youfll die violently, since youfve turned your back and have stopped following the Lord. The Lord wonft be with you.h
44But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain, even though the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and Moses didnft leave the camp. 45The Amalekites came down, accompanied by some Canaanites who lived in the mountains. They attacked and defeated them even while the Israelis were retreating to Hormah.
Chapter 15
1Later, the Lord instructed Moses, 2gTell the Israelis that 3when you enter the land where youfll be living that Ifm about to give you, you are to make an offering by fire to the Lord, either a burnt offering, a sacrificial offering to fulfill a vow, or a voluntary offering at the appointed time, to make a pleasing aroma to the Lord either from your cattle or from your flocks.
4gThe offeror is to bring the oblation to the Lord, containing one tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one fourth of a hin of olive oil.
5gAlso prepare one fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering or for the sacrifice of each lamb.
6gFor a ram, prepare a grain offering consisting of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one third of a hin of olive oil.
7gNow as for your drink offering, offer one third of a hin of wine as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
8gWhen you prepare a bull as a burnt offering, or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or for peace offerings to the Lord, 9then the bullock is to be presented accompanied by a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil.
10gAs for drink offerings, offer half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire is a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 11Do this for each bullock, ram, male lamb, or goat. 12Depending on the number of offerings that you prepare, do for each one according to their number.
13gEvery native born person is to do these things, bringing an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.h
14gNow, if a resident alien lives with you, or whoever else is with you throughout your generations, let him make an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Just as you do, so is he to do. 15There is to be a single standard for your community, one statute for you and the resident alien who lives with you, a long lasting statute throughout your generations. Just as you do, so is the resident alien to do in the presence of the Lord. 16There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the resident alien who lives with you.h
17Then the Lord instructed Moses: 18gTell the Israelis that when they enter the land that Ifm about to bring you to, 19when you have eaten some of the bread that the land produces, you are to offer a raised offering to the Lord. 20You are to offer a cake made from the first of your bread dough as a raised offering to the Lord. Offer it as a raised offering right off your threshing floor. 21From then on, throughout your generations give the first of your bread dough to the Lord.h
22gHerefs what you are to do when you all go astray and fail to observe all these commands that the Lord had spoken to Moses, 23including anything that the Lord commanded you by the authority of Moses, starting from the day the Lord commanded Moses and continuing through your generations. 24When anything is done without the knowledge of the congregation, the entire community is to offer one young bull for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, along with its meal and drink offerings offered according to procedure, and one male goat for a sin offering. 25Then the priest is to make atonement for the entire community of the Israelis, and they will be forgiven for inadvertent sins. They are to bring their offering, an offering made by fire to the Lord, as well as their sin offering, into the Lordfs presence on account of their error. 26Then the entire community of Israel will be forgiven, along with the resident alien who lives among them, since all the people will have sinned inadvertently.h
27gNow when one person sins inadvertently, then he is to bring a one-year old female goat for a sin offering. 28Then, in the Lordfs presence, the priest is to make atonement for the person who sinned inadvertently, that is, to make atonement on his behalf so he may be forgiven. 29You are to have a single law for the one who does things inadvertently, whether for the native-born Israeli or for the resident alien who lives among you.h
30gBut if some person acts with a high hand, whether a native-born or a resident alien, he blasphemes God, and that person is to be eliminated from among his people. 31Because he has despised the law of the Lord and has broken his commands, that person is certainly to be eliminated. His iniquity will remain on him.h
32As it was when the Israelis were in the wilderness, they found a man who was gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33The ones who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and all the people. 34Then they confined him until it could be declared what should be done to him.
35Then the Lord told Moses, gThe man is certainly to die. The entire community is to stone him to death outside the camp.h 36So the whole community brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones so that he died, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
37Later, the Lord instructed Moses, 38gTell the Israelis that they are to make tassels at the edges of their garments throughout their generations and that they are to put a violet cord on the tassels at the edges of their garments. 39That way, when you see the tassel, youfll remember all the commands of the Lord and youfll observe them. Then you wonft seek your own interests and desires that lead you to be unfaithful. 40Therefore, remember to observe all my commands and to be holy in the presence of your God. 41I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.h
Chapter 16
1Now Izharfs son Korah, the grandson of Kohath, a descendant of Levi, along with Eliabfs sons Dathan and Abiram, and Pelethfs son On, a descendant of Reuben, took charge 2of a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 community leaders, Israelis who were famous men and representatives from the assembly.
3They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and told them, gYou have appropriated too much for yourselves from the entire congregation, since all of them are holy, and the Lord is among them, too. Why do you exalt yourselves over the Lordfs assembly?h
4When Moses heard this, he fell on his face. 5Then he addressed Korah and his entire company, gIn the morning, may the Lord reveal who belongs to him and who is holy. May he cause that person to approach him. May he cause to approach him the one whom he has chosen. 6Korah, you and your entire company are to bring censers 7and put fire and incense in them in the Lordfs presence tomorrow. It will be that the man whom the Lord chooses will be holy. Youfre taking too much for yourselves, you descendants of Levi.h
8Moses also told Korah, gListen now, you descendants of Levi! 9Is it such an insignificant thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the Israelis to draw you to himself, appointing you to do the work of the tent of the Lord and to stand before the community to minister to them? 10He brought you near, along with all of your relatives, the descendants of Levi. Are you also seeking the priesthood? 11Therefore you and your group have conspired against the Lord and Aaron. What is it that causes you to complain against him?h
12So Moses sent for Eliabfs sons Dathan and Abiram, but they responded, gWefre not coming. 13Is it such an insignificant thing that you brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? Now youfre trying to make yourself be a prince and rule over us, arenft you? 14You still havenft brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you really think that you can make these men look the other way? We wonft go up.h
15Moses was very angry, so he told the Lord, gPlease donft accept their offering. I havenft taken even one donkey from them nor have I hurt even one of them.h
16Then Moses told Korah, gYou and your entire company are to present yourselves in the Lordfs presence tomorrow\you, they, and Aaron. 17Each man is to take a censer, put incense on it, and bring it into the Lordfs presence, each man with his censer, for a total of 250 censers. You and Aaron are each to bring his own censer.h
18So each man took his censer, put fire coals inside of it, placed incense in it, and then stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, accompanied by Moses and Aaron. 19When Korah had assembled the entire community in opposition to Moses and Aaron at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire community.
20Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, 21gSeparate yourselves from among this community, and Ifll destroy them in a moment.h
22Then they fell on their faces and said, gGod, the God of the spirits of all flesh, will you be angry at the entire congregation on account of one manfs sin?h
23Then the Lord instructed Moses, 24gTell the community to move away from where Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are living.h
25So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26Then he told the community, gMove away from the camps of these wicked men and donft touch anything that belongs to them. That way you wonft be destroyed along with all their sins.h 27So they all moved away from the entire area where Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were living.
Now Korah, Dathan, and Abiram stood at the entrance of their tents with their wives, sons, and little children. 28Then Moses said, gThis is how youfll know that the Lord has sent me to do all these awesome works\theyfre not coming merely from me. 29If these people die a death similar to all other human beings, or if they are punished with a punishment common to other men, then the Lord didnft send me. 30But if the Lord creates something new, so that the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and everything that belongs to them and they all descend directly to Sheol while still alive, then youfll know that these men have spurned the Lord.h
31Just as he finished saying all these things, the ground under them split open. 32The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, all their households, everyone who was affiliated with Korah, and all of their property. 33So they and all that belonged to them descended alive to Sheol. Then the earth closed over them. Thatfs how they were annihilated from the assembly.
34Then all of the Israelis who were around them ran away when they heard them crying, gcso the ground wonft swallow us up, too.h
35After this, fire came from the Lord and incinerated the 250 men who offered the incense.
36Then the Lord instructed Moses, 37gTell Aaronfs son Eleazar the priest to take out the censers out of the flames and scatter the coals far away, since they are holy. 38As for the censers of those rebels who died, fasten them into beaten plates to line the altar. Since they brought them into the Lordfs presence, theyfre holy. They are to become a reminder to the Israelis.h
39So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that had been burned and beat them into metal plates for the altar, 40to serve as a memorial to the Israelis, a reminder that no unauthorized person, who isnft a descendant of Aaron, is to attempt to burn incense in the Lordfs presence, so that he may not become like Korah and his group, just as the Lord had spoken by the authority of Moses.
41Nevertheless, the very next day, the whole congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, gYoufve killed the Lordfs people!h
42When the community gathered together against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tent of Meeting. All of a sudden, a cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43Then Moses and Aaron entered the Tent of Meeting.
44The Lord told Moses, 45gLeave this community, so I can annihilate them in a moment.h
But they fell upon their faces. 46Then Moses told Aaron. gTake the censer, put fire on it from the altar, and burn some incense. Then walk quickly to the congregation and atone for them, because wrath has already come out from the Lord\the plague has begun.h
47So Aaron took the censer, just as Moses had spoken, and ran out to the center of the assembly, where a plague had begun among the people. He set the incense on fire and atoned for the people. 48He stood between the dead and the living and restrained the plague. 49Those who died due to the plague numbered 14,700, not counting those who died due to the matter with Korah.
50Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting after the slaughter had been restrained.
Chapter 17
1The Lord instructed Moses, 2gTell the Israelis to take a rod\one from each ancestral house, that is, one from every leader, for a total of twelve rods. Write each tribal name on his rod. 3You are also to write Aaronfs name on the tribe of Levi, since there is to be one rod for every leader of their ancestral tribes.
4gThen lay them there in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Ark of the Covenant where Ifll meet with you. 5The rod that belongs to the man whom Ifll choose will burst into bloom. Thatfs how Ifll put a stop to the complaints of the Israelis, who are complaining against you.h
6So Moses spoke to the Israelis, and each of the tribe leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader, according to their ancestral tribes, for a total of twelve rods. Aaronfs rod was one of them. 7Then Moses laid out the rods in the Lordfs presence, inside the Tent of Testimony. 8The next morning, Moses went to the Tent of Testimony and the rod of Aaron of the tribe of Levi had burst into bloom! It sprouted buds, bloomed blossoms, and produced fully ripe almonds! 9Then Moses took out all the rods from the Lordfs presence to show all the Israelis. Everybody looked, and then each man took his rod.
10Then the Lord instructed Moses, gReturn Aaronfs rod before the testimony to be kept for a reminder against the rebels so that you may put an end to their complaints against me and so that they wonft die.h
11So Moses did exactly what the Lord had commanded him to do. 12Then the Israelis told Moses, gWefre sure to die! Wefre all going to perish\all of us! 13Anyone who comes near or approaches the Lordfs tent is to die. Are all of us going to die?h
Chapter 18
1Later, the Lord told Aaron, gYou, your sons, and your fatherfs tribe with you are to bear the iniquity of the sanctuary. Also, you and your sons with you are to bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
2gMoreover, bring your brothers from your fatherfs tribe of Levi with you, so they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you stand in the presence of the Tent of Testimony. 3They are to take care of your concerns and all the responsibilities involved with the tent.
gBut theyfre not to approach the holy vessels or the altar. That way, neither you nor they will die. 4They are to join you to maintain services related to the Tent of Meeting, for all the responsibilities involved with the tent. But no unauthorized person is to approach you.
5gTake care of the sanctuary and the services of the altar so that there wonft be any more wrath on the Israelis. 6Notice that Ifve taken your brothers, the descendants of Levi, from among the Israelis, giving them to you as a gift from the Lord to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting. 7Now you and your sons with you are to maintain your priestly duties and all matters that concern the altar and what is housed within the veil. You are to perform these services. Ifm giving you the priesthood as a gift of service, but any unauthorized person who approaches is to be put to death.h
8Then the Lord told Aaron, gLook! I am indeed placing you in charge of my raised offerings and the holy things concerning the Israelis. Because of your anointing, Ifm giving you and your sons a prescribed portion forever.
9gThis is what is to belong to you from consecrated offerings spared from the fire: all of their offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings that they render to me. Theyfre to be considered most sacred to you and your sons. 10You may eat them as consecrated gifts. Every male may eat them. Theyfre sacred for you.
11gThe raised offering and wave offerings presented by the Israelis are yours, too. Ifve given them to you, to your sons, and to your daughters as a prescribed apportionment forever. Everyone who is clean in your household may eat it. 12All the best oil, wine, grain, and first fruits that they give to the Lord are to belong to you. Everyone who is clean in your household may eat it.
13gThe first ripe fruits of everything that the land produces and that they bring to the Lord are yours, too. Everyone who is clean in your household may eat it.
14gEvery devoted thing in Israel is yours, too. 15Everything that opens the womb, any living thing that they bring to the Lord\whether from human beings or animals\are for you. Just be sure that you redeem the firstborn of people and the firstborn of unclean animals.
16gThose that can be redeemed, you are to redeem at the age of one month, based on your estimate\for five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, that is, for 20 gerahs. 17But you are not to redeem the firstborn of a cow, sheep, or a female goat. They are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
18gTheir meat is to belong to you, just as the breast wave offering and the right thigh is yours. 19Ifm giving you, your sons, and your daughters as a prescribed portion forever all the raised offerings of the consecrated things that the Israelis offer to the Lord. Itfs a salt covenant forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.h
20gThen the Lord instructed Aaron, gYou are not to have any inheritance in the land, nor are you to have any portion among the people. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelis. 21As to the descendants of Levi, certainly Ifve given all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for their services that they perform at the Tent of Meeting. 22Therefore the Israelis need no longer come to the Tent of Meeting, so they wonft suffer the consequences of their sin and die. 23The descendants of Levi are to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting and they are to bear their iniquity. This is to be a statute forever, throughout your generations, that they are not to receive an inheritance among the Israelis, 24because Ifve given to the descendants of Levi the tithes that the Israelis bring to the Lord as raised offering. Therefore I told them that, unlike the Israelis, they wonft receive an inheritance.h
25Then the Lord instructed Moses, 26Tell the descendants of Levi that when they receive tithes from the Israelis the tithes that Ifve given you from them as an inheritance, you are to offer a tenth of it as a raised offering for the Lord. 27Your raised offerings are to be accounted for you as though it were grain from threshing floors and full produce from wine vats.
28gYou are to offer a raised offering to the Lord from all your tithes that you receive from the Israelis. Give Aaron the priest the raised offering of the Lord 29out of all the most consecrated offerings that you receive, that is, all the raised offerings of the Lord, with all its best and the most holy parts of it. 30Tell them that when they bring the best from it, as far as the descendants of Levi are concerned it is to be considered like produce from the threshing floors and wine vats. 31You and your household may eat it anywhere, because itfs a reward to you in return for your services at the Tent of Meeting. 32You wonft sin by offering the best of it, and you are not to profane the sacred things of the Israelis, so that you wonft die.h
Chapter 19
1The Lord told Moses and Aaron, 2gThis is the ordinance of the law that the Lord commanded that the Israelis be told: They are to bring you a spotless red heifer, without physical defect, that has never been fitted with a yoke. 3They are to deliver it to Eleazar the priest, and it is to be brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.
4gThen Eleazar the priest is to take blood from it with his finger and sprinkle the blood in front of the Tent of Meeting. 5The entire heifer is to be incinerated in his presence, including its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its dung. 6Then the priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet material and throw it into the middle of the burning heifer. 7The priest is to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, after which he may enter the camp, but he is to remain unclean until evening.
8gWhoever takes part in the burning is to wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and is to remain unclean until the evening.
9gThen someone who is unclean is to gather the ashes of the heifer and lay them outside the camp in a clean place. This is to be done for the community of Israel to use for water of purification from sin.
10gWhoever gathers the ashes of the heifer is to wash his clothes and is to remain unclean until the evening.
gThis ordinance is to remain for the benefit of both the Israelis and the resident aliens who live among them.h
11gWhoever comes in contact with the body of a dead person is to remain unclean for seven days. 12He is to purify himself on the third day and he will be clean on the seventh day. But if he canft purify himself on the third day then he canft be clean on the seventh day.
13gAnyone who comes in contact with a dead person, that is, with the corpse of a human being who has died, but who does not purify himself, defiles the Lordfs tent. That person is to be eliminated from Israel, because the water of impurity wasnft sprinkled on him. He remains unclean and his uncleanness will remain with him.
14This is the procedure to follow when a man dies in his tent. Everyone who enters the tent and everyone in it is to remain unclean for seven days. 15Every open vessel that has no covering fastened around it is to be considered unclean.
16gWhoever is out in an open field and touches the body of someone who was killed by a sword, or a dead body, or someonefs bones, or a grave, he is to be considered unclean for seven days.
17Now as for the unclean, they are to take ashes from the burning sin offering, and pour running water on it inside a vessel. 18A clean person is to take some hyssop, dip it in water, and then sprinkle it on the tent, on every vessel, and on whoever was there; that is, on whoever touched the bones, the killed person, or the dead body, including whoever dug the grave.
19gAnd the clean person is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and seventh day and then he is to purify himself on the seventh day, wash his clothes, and bathe with water. He is to be considered clean at evening.
20gThe person who is unclean but who doesnft purify himself is to be eliminated from contact with the assembly, since he has defiled the Lordfs sanctuary and the water of impurity wasnft sprinkled on him. He is to be considered unclean 21as a continuing reminder to them.
gWhoever sprinkles the water of impurity is to wash his clothes, and whoever comes in contact with the water of impurity is to remain unclean until evening. 22Furthermore, anything that the unclean person touches is to be considered unclean and the person who touches him is to be considered unclean until the evening.
Chapter 20
1The entire community of the Israelis entered the Zin wilderness during the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.
2But there was no water for the community, so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3As the people argued with Moses, they told him, gWe wish that we had died when our relatives died in the Lordfs presence! 4Why did you bring the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness? So we and our cattle could die here? 5Why did you take us out of Egypt and bring us to this terrible place? Therefs no place to plant seeds, fig trees, vines, or pomegranates! And therefs no water to drink!h
6Then Moses and Aaron went into the presence of the community at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7The Lord told Moses, 8gTake the rod, gather the community together, and then you and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock right before their eyes. It will release water. As you bring water to them from the rock, the community and the cattle will be able to drink. 9So Moses took the rod in the Lordfs presence, just as he had commanded.
10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock. gPay attention, you rebels!h Moses told them. gAre we to bring you water from this rock?h
11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Lots of water gushed out, and both the community and their cattle were able to drink.
12But the Lord rebuked Moses and Aaron, telling Moses: gBecause you both didnft believe me, because you didnft consecrate me as holy in the presence of the Israelis, you wonft be the ones to bring this congregation into the land that Ifm about to give them. 13Because the Israelis argued with the Lord and he was set apart among them, this place was called the Meribah Springs.
14Later, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom with this message: gThis is what your relative Israel says: eYou know all the hardships wefve encountered. 15Our ancestors went down to Egypt, where we lived for many years. But the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors viciously. 16Then we cried to the Lord and he heard our voice, sending us a messenger who brought us out of Egypt.
geNow look! Wefve arrived in Kadesh, a city at the extreme end of your territory. 17Permit us now to pass through your land. We wonft pass through your fields or vineyards, and we wonft drink waters from your wells. Wefll keep to the Kingfs Highway without turning either right or left until we have passed through your territory.h
18But Edom replied, gYou are not to pass through my land. If you do, Ifll come out and start a war with you.h
19Then the Israelis replied, gPermit us to travel on the highway. If we and our cattle drink your water, wefll pay the price you ask. Only please let us walk through, and nothing more.h
20But still he replied. gNo. Youfre not to pass through.h Then Edom went out to meet Moses with a vast army and a lot of military might. 21Thatfs how Edom refused Israel passage through their territory. So Israel turned away from there.
22They traveled from Kadesh, and then the entire community of the Israelis arrived at Mount Hor. 23Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, near the territory of Edom, 24gAaron is to be gathered to his people, since he is not to enter the land that Ifm about to give the Israelis. After all, you both rebelled against my command at the Meribah Springs. 25So take Aaron and his son Eleazar and ascend Mount Hor. 26Remove Aaronfs vestments and place them on his son Eleazar, because Aaron is to be gathered to his people and die there.h
27So Moses did just what the Lord had commanded. They ascended Mount Hor right in front of the entire community. 28As Moses was stripping Aaronfs garments from him and clothing Aaronfs son Eleazar with them, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Afterwards, Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29When the entire community saw that Aaron had died, they mourned in memory of Aaron for thirty days.
Chapter 21
1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the Atharim caravan route, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.
2Then Israel made this vow in the Lordfs presence: gIf you give these people into our control, we intend to devote their cities to total destruction.h
3When the Lord heard what Israel had decided to do, he delivered the Canaanites to them, and Israel exterminated them and their cities. They named the place Hormah.
4After this, they traveled from Mount Hor along the caravan route by way of the Sea of Reeds and went around the land of Edom. But when the people got impatient because it was a long route, 5the people complained against the Lord and Moses.
gWhy did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?h they asked. gTherefs no food and water, and wefre tired of this worthless bread.h
6In response, the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people to bite them. As a result, many people of Israel died.
7Then the people approached Moses and admitted, gWefve sinned by speaking against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord, that hefll remove the serpents from us.h So Moses prayed in behalf of the people.
 8Then the Lord instructed Moses, gMake a poisonous serpent out of brass and fasten it to a pole. Anyone who has been bitten and who looks at it will live.h 9So Moses made a bronze serpent and fastened it to a pole. If a person who had been bitten by a poisonous serpent looked to the serpent, he lived.
10After this, the Israelis traveled and encamped at Oboth. 11Then they traveled from Oboth and encamped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness which is in the vicinity of Moabfs eastern border. 12From there, they traveled and encamped in the valley of Zered. 13Then from there they traveled to the other side of Arnon and camped in the wilderness that borders the territory of the Amorites. (Arnon borders Moab between Moab and the Amorites, 14which is why the book of the Wars of the Lord reads, gWaheb and Suphah and the wadis of the Arnon, 15and the slope of the valleys, that extends to the dwelling places of Ar and the borders of Moab.h
16From there they traveled to the Well of Beer, where the Lord had instructed Moses, gGather the people together and Ifll give you water. 17Thatfs also where Israel sang this song:
Rise up, well!
Sing to it!
18Itfs the well that the leaders dug,
the one carved out by the nobles of the people
with their scepters and staffs.
Then they moved on in the wilderness from there to Mattanah, 19then from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20and from Bamoth to the valley of Moab where their fields are, and from there to the top of Mount Pisgah, that looks down toward the open desert.
21Later, Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who conveyed this request: 22gPermit us to pass through your land. We wonft trespass in your fields or vineyards. We wonft drink water from any well, and wefll only travel along the Kingfs Highway until wefve passed through your territory.h
23Instead of letting Israel pass through his territory, Sihon mustered his entire army and marched out to meet them in the wilderness. He arrived at Jahaz and attacked Israel. 24But Israel defeated him in battle and took possession of all his lands from Arnon to Jabbok, including the Ammonites, even though the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25So Israel captured all of those cities, occupied all the Amorite cities in Heshbon, and all its towns. 26Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who fought against the previous king of Moab and captured all his land from his capital city to Arnon. 27Therefore the ones who speak in proverbs say:
Come to Heshbon
and let it be built!
Let the city of Sihon be established!
28A fire has gone out from Heshbon,
and a flame from the city of Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab
and the lords of the high places who lived in Arnon.
29Woe to you, Moab!
You are destroyed, you people of Chemosh!
He has given up his sons as fugitives
and his daughters have gone into captivity
to Sihon, king of the Amorites.
30Wefve fired at them.
Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon.
Wefve destroyed them as far as Nophah
even as far as Medeba.
31So Israel lived in Amorite territory.
32Then Moses sent out explorers to scout Jazer. They captured its towns and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33Then they turned toward Bashan. However, Og, the king of Bashan mustered his army and went out to attack them at Edrei.
34The Lord told Moses, gYou are not to fear him, because Ifm going to deliver him, his entire army, and his land into your control. Do to him just what youfve done to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who used to live in Heshbon.h
35So they attacked him, his sons, and his entire army, until there wasnft even a single survivor left. Then they took possession of his land.
Chapter 22
1The Israelis continued their travels, eventually encamping on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River opposite Jericho. 2Zipporfs son Balak saw everything that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3As a result, Moab greatly feared the people, because they were so numerous.
Because a sense of impending doom was afflicting the Moabites as they faced the Israelis, 4the Moabites told the elders of Midian, gThis horde of people is about to lick up everything around us, like an ox licks up the green ground.h
At that time, Zipporfs son Balak was the king of Moab. 5He sent messengers to Beorfs son Balaam in Pethor, near the Euphrates River, the land where the descendants of his people originated, to summon his aid. He said, gLook! A group of people have escaped from Egypt. They cover the surface of the whole earth, and are sitting here right in front of me. 6So come right now and curse this people for me, because there are too many of them for me to handle. Perhaps Ifll be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land, since I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.h
7So the elders of Moab and Midian left to visit Balaam, bringing an honorarium with them, and communicated Balakfs concerns to him.
8In answer, Balaam told them, gStay here for the night and Ifll bring back a message to you, depending on what the Lord says to me.h
So the officers of Moab stayed with Balaam overnight.
 9God visited Balaam and asked him, gWho are these men with you?h
10Then Balaam told God, gZipporfs son Balak, king of Moab, sent them to me and said, 11eLook! A group of people have escaped from Egypt. They cover the surface of the whole earth! So come right now and curse them for me. Perhaps Ifll be able to fight against them and drive them out.fh
12But God told Balaam, gDonft go with them. Donft curse the people, because theyfre blessed.h
13So Balaam got up the next morning and told Balakfs officials, gGo back to your homeland, because the Lord has refused me permission to go with you.h
14So Balakfs officials got up, returned to Balak and reported, gBalaam refused to come with us.h
15In response, Balak sent more officers\higher ranking ones, at that!\ 16who approached Balaam with this message: gThis is what Zipporfs son Balak says: eDonft let anything get in the way of your coming to me. 17Ifm determined to reward you generously, and Ifll do everything you tell me to do. So come right away and curse this people for me.h
18Balaam responded to Balakfs entourage by saying, gEven if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I wonft double-cross the command of the Lord my God in even the slightest way. 19Meanwhile, stay here overnight so I may learn what the Lord might say to me.h
20God came to visit Balaam that same night and told him, gIf the men come to call on you, get up and go with them, but be sure to do only what I tell you to do.h 21The next morning, Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started to leave, accompanied by the Moabite officials.
22At this, the anger of the Lord flared up against Balaam, because he was leaving. So the angel of the Lord stood in the way to oppose him.
As Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by two of his servants, 23all of a sudden the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with an unsheathed sword in his hand! The donkey turned off the road and went into an open field.
Balaam started beating the donkey in order to turn her back to the road, 24but the angel of the Lord stood on a narrow path that crossed the vineyards. It had walls on both sides of the path. 25When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she squeezed herself so close to the wall that Balaamfs foot was pressed to the wall. So he beat her again!
26Then the angel of the Lord went along a little further and stood in a much narrower space, where it was impossible to turn either right or left. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she crouched down under Balaam. As a result, Balaam got so angry that he started to whip the donkey with his staff.
28Thatfs when the Lord enabled the donkey to speak. She asked Balaam, gWhat did I do to you that you would beat me in the space of only three footsteps?h
29gBecause youfre playing a dirty trick on me,h Balaam answered the donkey. gIf only I had a sword in my hand! Ifd kill you right now!h
30But in response, the donkey asked Balaam, gIfm your donkey that youfve ridden on in the past without incident, am I not, and Ifm the same donkey youfre riding on right now, am I not? Am I in the habit of treating you like this?h
gNo,h he admitted.
31Then the Lord enabled Balaam to see, so he observed the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with an unsheathed sword in his hand. So he bowed down and prostrated himself on his face.
32Then the angel of the Lord asked him, gWhy did you beat your donkey in the space of only three footsteps? Ifve come to oppose you, because I say that what youfre doing is perverted. 33The donkey saw me and turned in front of me in the space of those three footsteps. 34If she hadnft turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and left her alive!h
At this, Balaam replied to the angel of the Lord, gIfve sinned! I didnft know that you were standing to meet me on the road. So now, since it displeases you, let me go back.h
35But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, gGo with the men, but deliver only the message that Ifm going to give you.h So Balaam went with Balakfs officials.
36When Balak heard that Balaam had arrived, he went out to meet him in the city of Moab on the border of Arnon at the extreme end of his territory. 37Balak asked Balaam, gDidnft I repeatedly send for you to summon you? Why didnft you come to me? I can pay you well, canft I?h
38Balaam answered Balak, gWell, Ifm here now. Ifve come to you, but I canft just say anything, can I? Ifll speak only what God puts in my mouth to say.h
39So accompanied by Balaam and Balakfs officials, Balak traveled to Kiriath-huzoth, 40where he sacrificed oxen and sheep. 41The next day, Balak brought Balaam up to Bamoth-baal, where he could see part of the community of Israel.
Chapter 23
1Balaam told Balak, gBuild for me here seven altars and prepare here for me seven bulls and seven rams.
2So Balak did just as Balaam instructed. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3Then Balaam instructed Balak, gStand by your offering and leave me alone by myself. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me. Ifll tell you whatever he reveals to me.h
And so he went to a high place, 4where the Lord met with Balaam, who told him, gIfve prepared seven altars and offered bulls and rams on an altar.h
5Then the Lord gave Balaam this message. gReturn to Balak and speak to him.h
6So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.
7Then Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:
gKing Balak of Moab brought me from Aram,
from the eastern mountains,
and told me,
eCome and curse Jacob for me.
Come and curse Israel.f
8But how can I curse those whom God hasnft cursed?
How can I denounce
those whom the Lord has not denounced?
9I saw them from the top of the rocks.
I watched them from the hills
Truly this is a people that lives by itself
and doesnft matter among the nations.
10Who can count the dust of Jacob?
Who can number the dust of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
and may I end up like him.h
11gWhat are you doing to me?h Balak asked Balaam. gI brought you to curse my enemies, not pronounce a blessing!h
12But in response, Balaam asked, gShouldnft I be careful to communicate only what the Lord puts in my mouth?h
13gCome with me to another place where you can see them,h Balak replied. gYoufll only see a portion of them, because you wonft be able to see them completely. Come and curse them from there for me.h
14So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, and from there to the top of Mount Pisgah, where he built seven altars and then offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15Then he told Balak, gStand by your offering while I go alone to meet the Lord.h
16Then the Lord met with Balaam and gave a message to him. gNow go back to Balak and speak to him.h 17So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials.
gWhat did the Lord say?h Balak asked him.
18In response, Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:
gStand up, Balak, and pay attention!
Listen to me, you son of Zippor!
19God is not a human male\
he doesnft lie,
nor is he a human being\
he never vacillates.
Once he speaks up,
Hefs going to act, isnft he?
Once he makes a promise,
Hefll fulfill it, wonft he?
20Look! Ifve received a blessing,
and so I will bless.
I wonft withdraw it.
21He has not responded to iniquity in Jacob
or gazed at mischief in Israel.
The Lord his God is with them,
And the triumphant cry of a king is among them.
22From Egypt God brought them\
his strength was like a wild ox!
23No Satanic plan against Jacob
nor divination against Israel
can ever prevail.
When the time is right,
it is to be asked about Jacob and Israel,
eWhat has God accomplished?f
24Look! The people are like lions.
Like the lion, he rises up!
He does not lie down again
until he has consumed his prey
and drunk the blood of the slain.h
25Then Balak told Balaam, gDonft curse them or bless them!h
26Didnft I tell you,h Balaam responded to Balak, gthat Ifll say whatever the Lord tells me to say?h
27So Balak exhorted Balaam, gLetfs go right now! Ifll take you to another place. Maybe God will agree to have you curse them for me from there.h 28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which overlooks the open wilderness.
29Balaam told Balak, gBuild seven altars for me right here. Then prepare seven bulls and seven rams.h 30Balak did just what Balaam had instructed \he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Chapter 24
1When Balaam noticed that the Lord was pleased that Balaam was blessing Israel, he didnft behave as he had time after time before, that is, to practice divination. Instead, he turned with his face to the wilderness, 2looked up, and saw Israel encamped in their respective tribal order.
Just then, the spirit of God came upon him. 3Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:
gA declaration by Beorfs son Balaam,
a declaration by the strong, blind man.
4A declaration from one who hears what God has to say,
who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed,
who keeps stumbling,
with open eyes.
5Jacob, your tents are so fine,
as well as your dwelling places, Israel!
6Theyfre spread out like valleys,
like gardens along river banks,
like aloe planted by the Lord,
or like cedars beside water.
7He will pour water from his buckets;
and his descendants will stream forth like abundant water.
His king will be more exalted than Agag
when he exalts his own kingdom.
8God is bringing them out of Egypt,
with the strength of an ox.
Hefll devour enemy nations,
break their bones,
and impale them with arrows.
9He crouches, laying low like a lion.
Who would awaken him?
Those who bless you are blessed,
and those who curse you are cursed.
10Balak flew into a rage and he started hitting his fists together. gI called you to curse my enemies,h he yelled at Balaam. gBut look here! Youfve blessed them three times! 11Now get out of here! I had promised you that I would definitely honor you, but now the Lord has kept me from doing that!h
12But Balaam asked Balak, gI told your messengers, 13eEven if Balak gives me his palace full of silver and gold, I wonft double-cross the command of the Lord and do anything\whether good or evil\on my own initiative, because Ifm going to say whatever the Lord says.f 14Meanwhile, since I have to return to my people, come and listen while I tell you what this people will be doing to your people in the last days.h
15Then Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:
gThe declaration by Beorfs son Balaam,
a declaration by the strong, blind man.
16A declaration from one who hears what God has to say,
who knows what the Most High knows,
who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed,
who keeps stumbling with open eyes.
17I can see him,
but not right now.
I observe him,
but from a distance.
A star streams forth from Jacob;
a scepter arises from Israel.
He will crush Moabfs forehead,
along with all of Sethfs descendants.
18Edom will be a conquered nation
and Seir will be Israelfs defeated foe,
while Israel performs valiantly.
19He will rule over Jacob,
annihilating those who survive in the city.
20Next, Balaam looked directly at Amalek and then uttered this prophetic statement:
Even though Amalek is an international leader,
his future is permanent destruction.
21Balaam also uttered this prophetic statement about the Kenites:
Your dwelling places are stable,
because your nest is carved in solid rock.
22Nevertheless, Kain will be incinerated.
How long will it take until Asshur takes you hostage?
23Finally, he uttered this prophetic statement:
gAh, who can live,
unless God makes it happen?
24Ships under control of Kittim will devastate Asshur and Eber,
until they are permanently destroyed.
25Then Balaam got up, returned to his country, and Balak went on his way.
Chapter 25
1While Israel remained encamped in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2who also invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods. So the people ate what they had sacrificed and then worshipped their gods.
3The people joined the Baal-peor cult. As a result, the anger of the Lord flared up against Israel, 4so the Lord told Moses, gTake all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight for the Lord, so the Lordfs burning anger may be withdrawn from Israel.h
5Then Moses ordered the judges of Israel, gEach one of you is to execute the men in his own tribe who joined the Baal-peor cult.h
6That very moment, one of the Israelis arrived, bringing to his brothers one of the Midianite women, right in front of Moses and the entire community of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting! 7When Eleazarfs son Phinehas, grandson of Aaron the priest saw this, he jumped up from the middle of the community, grabbed a javelin in his hand, 8followed the Israeli man inside his tent, and impaled the two of them\the Israeli man and the woman\right through both of them and into her abdomen. Then the plague infecting the Israelis was brought to a halt. Nevertheless, 9 24,000 people died because of the plague.
10The Lord told Moses. 11gEleazarfs son Phinehas, grandson of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from Israel. Because his zealousness reflected my own zeal for them, I didnft consume Israel in my jealousy. 12Therefore, Ifm certainly going to be giving him my covenant of peace, 13for him and for his descendants after him, too, a covenant of perpetual priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelis.h
14Now the name of the Israeli man who was slain, along with the Midianite woman, was Salufs son Zimri, a leader from the tribe of Simeon. 15The woman who was slain, that is, the Midianite woman, was named Cozbi. She was the daughter of Zur, a leader of one of the ancestral houses of Midian.
16Later, the Lord ordered Moses, 17gAttack the Midianites and execute them, 18because theyfve acted deceitfully, bringing trouble to you in this incident at Peor with Cozbi, daughter of a Midian prince, who was killed during the plague that came about because of the incident at Peor.h
Chapter 26
1After the plague was over, the Lord told Moses and Aaron the priestfs son Eleazar, 2gTake a census of the entire community of Israel from the age of 20 years and above, according to each ancestral tribe, counting everyone who is able to go out to war in Israel.h
3Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to them in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River in Jericho. 4They counted every male Israeli who had come out of Egypt and who was 20 years old and above, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
5From Reuben, Israelfs firstborn, the descendants of Reuben included from Hanoch, the family of the descendants of Hanoch; from Pallu, the family of the descendants of Pallu; 6from Hezron, the family of the descendants of Hezron; and from Carmi, the family of the descendants of Carmi. 7These families of the descendants of Reuben numbered 43,730.
8Now Pallufs son was Eliab. 9The descendants of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were removed from the community because they joined the rebellion against Moses and Aaron, as did Korahfs company when they rebelled against the Lord. 10The ground had opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with Korah. Also, that group died when the fire devoured 250 men as a warning sign, 11But Korahfs direct descendants didnft die.
12The descendants of Simeon, listed according to their families, included: From Nemuel, the family of the descendants of Nemuel; from Jamin, the family of the descendants of Jamin; from Jachin, the family of the descendants of Jachin; 13from Zerah, the family of the descendants of Zerah; and from Shaul, the family of the descendants of Shaul. 14These families of the descendants of Simeon numbered 22,200.
15The descendants of Gad, listed according to their families, included: From Zephon, the family of the descendants of Zephon; from Haggi, the family of the descendants of Haggi; from Shuni, the family of the descendants of Shuni; 16fom Ozni, the family of the descendants of Ozni; from Eri, the family of the descendants of Eri; 17fom Arod, the family of the descendants of Arod; and from Areli, the family of the descendants of Areli. 18These families of the descendants of Gad numbered 40,500.
19The descendants of Judah originally included Er and Onan, though Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20The descendants of Judah, listed according to their families, included: From Shelah, the family of the descendants of Shelah; from Perez, the family of the descendants of Perez; from Zerah, the family of the descendants of Zerah. 21The descendants of Perez included: From Hezron, the family of the descendants of Hezron; and from Hamul, the family of the descendants of Hamul. 22These families of Judah numbered 76,500.
23The tribe of Issachar, listed according to their families, included: From Tola, the family of the descendants of Tola; from Puvah, the family of the descendants of Puvah; 24from Jashub, the family of the descendants of Jashub; and from Shimron, the family of the descendants of Shimron. 25These families of Issachar numbered 64,300.
26The tribe of Zebulun, listed according to their families, included: From Sered, the family of the descendants of Sered; from Elon, the family of the descendants of Elon; and from Jahleel, the family of the descendants of Jahleel. 27These families of the descendants of Zebulun numbered 60,500.
28The tribe of Joseph, listed according to their families, included Manasseh and Ephraim. 29The descendants of Manasseh included: From Machir, the family of the descendants of Machir. (Machir was the father of Gilead.) From Gilead, the family of the Gileadites 30included: From Iezer, the family of the descendants of Iezer; from Helek, the family of the descendants of Helek; 31from Asriel, the family of the descendants of Asriel; from Shechem, the family of the descendants of Shechem; 32fom Shemida, the family of the descendants of Shemida; and from Hepher, the family of the descendants of Hepher. 33Hepherfs son Zelophehad had no sons, but the names of Zelophehadfs daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34These families of Manasseh numbered 52,700.
35The descendants of Ephraim, listed according to their families, included: From Shuthelah, the family of the descendants of Shuthelah; from Becher, the family of the descendants of Becher; from Tahan, the family of the descendants of Tahan. 36The descendants of Shuthelah included from Eran, the family of the descendants of Eran. 37These families of Ephraim numbered 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph, listed according to their families.
38The tribe of Benjamin, listed according to their families, included: From Bela, the family of the descendants of Bela; from Ashbel, the family of the descendants of Ashbel; from Ahiram, the family of the descendants of Ahiram; 39from Shephupham, the family of the descendants of Shephupham; from Hupham, the family of the descendants of Hupham. 40The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman: From Ard, the family of the descendants of Ard; from Naaman, the family of the descendants of Naaman. 41These descendants of Benjaminfs families numbered 45,600.
42The tribe of Dan, listed according to their families, included the families of the descendants of Shuham. 43All the families of the Shuhamites numbered 64,400.
44The tribe of Asher, listed according to their families, included: From Imnah, the family of the descendants of Imnah; from Ishvi, the family of the descendants of Ishvi; from Beriah, the family of the descendants of Beriah; 45The descendants of Beriah included: From Heber, the family of the descendants of Heber; from Malchiel, the family of the descendants of Malchiel. 46(The name of Asherfs daughter was Serah.) 47These descendants of Asher numbered 53,400.
48The tribe of Naphtali, listed according to their families, included: From Jahzeel, the family of the descendants of Jahzeel; from Guni, the family of the descendants of Guni; 49fom Jezer, the family of the descendants of Jezer; from Shillem, the family of the descendants of Shillem. 50These families of Naphtali numbered 45,400.
51The total of those numbered among the Israelis was 601,730.
52Then the Lord told Moses. 53gThe land is to be divided for an inheritance according to the total number of these names. 54The more there are in number, you are to increase their inheritance, and the less there are in number, you are to decrease their inheritance. You are to provide an inheritance to each based on the size of their family, 55but the land is to be divided by lot, inheriting according to the names of their ancestorfs tribe. 56Depending on the lot, the portion of their inheritance is to be divided between those with more members and those with lesser members.h
57Those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi, listed according to their families, included: From Gershon, the family of the descendants of Gershon; from Kohath, the family of the descendants of Kohath; and from Merari, the family of the descendants of Merari. 58These were the families of Levi: The family of the descendants of Libni, the family of the descendants of Hebron, the family of the descendants of Mahli, the family of the descendants of Musha, and the family of the descendants of Korah.
Now Kohath had a son Amram. 59Amramfs wife was Levifs daughter Jochebed, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.
60To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire in the Lordfs presence. 62All of those individuals numbered 23,000. No male from the age of a month and above was numbered among the Israelis because no inheritance was to be assigned to them among the Israelis.
63So this has been a list of those who were registered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they numbered the Israelis in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 64But none of these men among these numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the Israelis in the wilderness of Sinai, survived to enter the land, 65because the Lord had said about them, gTheyfll certainly die in the wilderness. No man will survive from them except Jephunnehfs son Caleb and Nunfs son Joshua.h
Chapter 27
1Now the daughters of Hepherfs son Zelophehad, Gileadfs grandson, who had been fathered by Machir, who had been fathered by Manasseh, from the tribe of Manasseh, the direct son of Joseph, were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached 2Moses, Eleazar the priest, the elders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, stood before them, and said, 3gOur father died in the wilderness, but he wasnft with the company of those who gathered against the Lord along with the company of Korah. He died in his own sin, and he had no sons. 4Why are you going to eliminate the name of our father from his family, just because he had no son? Give us a possession from among our fatherfs relatives.h
5So Moses brought the family into the Lordfs presence, 6and the Lord told Moses, 7gThe daughters of Zelophehad are telling the truth. You are certainly to give to them a possession for an inheritance among their fatherfs relatives. You are to pass on the inheritance of their father to them. 8Tell the Israelis that when a man dies without a son, you are to pass his inheritance to his daughter. 9If he doesnft have a daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10If he doesnft have brothers, give his inheritance to his fatherfs brothers. 11If his father doesnft have brothers, then give his inheritance to a relative who is nearest to him from the family and hefll take possession of it. This is to be a permanent ordinance for the Israelis, just as the Lord commanded Moses.h
12Then the Lord told Moses, gYou are to climb these Abarim mountains and look over the land that Ifm going to give the Israelis. 13After youfve seen it, youfll be taken to be with your people just as your brother Aaron was gathered to them, 14because in the wilderness of Zin, when the community rebelled, you rebelled against my command to treat me as holy before their eyes in regards to the Meribah Springs in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.h
15Moses responded to the Lord. 16gMay the Lord God of the spirits of all living creatures appoint a man over the community 17who will go in and out before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in so that the Lordfs community wonft be like a flock without a shepherd.h
18gSelect Nunfs son Joshua. The Spirit is in that man.h the Lord answered Moses. gYou are to lay your hand on him 19and make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the entire community. Then you are to set him in charge right before their eyes, 20turning over your authority to him so that the entire community of Israel knows to obey him.
21gYou are to make him stand in the presence of Eleazar the priest, who is to inquire on his behalf using the Urim in the presence of the Lord regarding a decision of judgment, because by his command he and all the Israelis with him will go out or come in.h
22So Moses did what the Lord had commanded him. He took Joshua, made him stand in the presence of Eleazar the priest and the entire community, 23laid his hands on him, and charged him, just as the Lord had commanded, using Mosesf authority.
Chapter 28
1The Lord told Moses, 2gYou are to command the Israelis about my offerings that they are to be sure to bring edible offerings to me, presented by fire and a pleasing aroma to me, at their appointed time.
3gTell them that this is the offering, presented by fire that you are to offer to the Lord: two one year old lambs, offered daily every day. 4Offer the first lamb in the morning and the second toward the evening, 5accompanied by one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for grain offering, mixed with one fourth of a hin of pure olive oil. 6This burnt offering, which was prescribed at Mount Sinai, is to be offered every day as a pleasing aroma made by fire to the Lord.
7gThe drink offering is to be one fourth of a hin for each lamb. You are to pour out a drink offering of strong wine to the Lord in the Holy Place. 8You are also to offer the second lamb toward the evening. Just like the morning sacrifice, you are to present the grain offering, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering, as a presentation made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.h
9gEvery Sabbath day, you are to offer two one year old lambs without any defects with two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for grain offering, mixed with olive oil, along with their corresponding drink offering. 10This burnt offering is to be presented every Sabbath, apart from the continuous burnt offering, along with its corresponding drink offering.h
11gOn the first day of each month, you are to offer a burnt offering to the Lord consisting of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all of them without any defects, 12along with three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, for each bull, two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, for the one ram, 13one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This burnt offering will be a pleasing aroma, incinerated as an offering to the Lord. 14Their drink offerings are to be half a hin of wine for each bull, one third of a hin for the ram, and one fourth of a hin for each lamb. This burnt offering is to be presented each and every month throughout the year. 15One goat is to be offered at regular intervals as a sin offering to the Lord, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering.h
16gThe Lordfs Passover is to take place on the fourteenth day of the first month. 17You are to hold a festival on the fifteenth day of this month for seven days, during which time unleavened bread is to be eaten.h
18gOn the first day, you are to hold a sacred assembly. No servile work is to be done. 19Bring an offering that is to be incinerated in the Lordfs presence, consisting of two young bulls, a ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without any defects, 20along with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil. Offer three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths of an ephah for the ram, 21and one tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs. 22Then present one goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you, 23apart from the burnt offering in the morning, which you are to continue offering.
24gDo this every day for seven days, as an edible sacrifice to the Lord made by fire, a pleasing aroma. It is to be offered apart from the continuous burnt offering and its corresponding drink offering. 25On the seventh day you are to hold another sacred assembly for your benefit, on which no servile work is to be done.h
26gOn the first day of your harvest season, you are to hold a sacred assembly when you present your first fruits during the Festival of Weeks. No servile work is to be done. 27You are to offer this burnt-offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, 28along with their corresponding grain offerings of fine flour mixed with olive oil; specifically, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths of an ephah for the one ram, 29one tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs, 30and one goat to make atonement for you. 31Offer them in addition to the regular burnt offering, accompanied by its grain offering and its corresponding drink offerings.h
Chapter 29
1gYou are to hold a sacred assembly on the first day of the seventh month of each year. No servile work is to be done. Itfs a day of blowing trumpets for you.
2gYou are to bring these burnt offerings as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: a one year old young bull, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without any defects, 3along with their corresponding grain offering of fine flour, mixed with olive oil\three tenths of an ephah for the young bull, two tenths of an ephah for the ram, 4one tenth of an ephah for each lamb of the seven lambs, 5accompanied by one goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6This is to be separate and apart from the burnt offering for the New Moon, with its corresponding grain offering, the continuous burnt offering with its corresponding grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their respective ordinances, as a pleasing aroma, an incinerated offering made to the Lord.
7gYou are to hold a sacred assembly on the tenth day of this same seventh month. You are to humble yourselves, and no servile work is to be done. 8You are to bring these burnt offerings to the Lord for a pleasing aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven one year old lambs, all without any defects, for you, 9along with these corresponding grain offerings of fine flour mixed with olive oil: three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, 10one tenth for each of the seven lambs, 11then one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering, to make atonement, along with the regular burnt offering, its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
12gYou are to hold a sacred assembly on the fifteenth day of the same seventh month. No servile work is to be done. You are to celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days by 13bringing these burnt offerings made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: Thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without any defects, 14along with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil, three tenths for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, 15one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs, 16and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
17gOn the second day, you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, 18along with their corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, 19and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
20gOn the third day, you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, 21along with their corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinance, 22and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
23gOn the fourth day, you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, 24along with their corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number based on their ordinance, 25and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
26gOn the fifth day, you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, 27with their corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinance, 28and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
29gOn the sixth day, you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, 30along with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinance, 31and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
32gOn the seventh day, you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, 33along with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinance, 34and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.h
35gOn the eighth day, you are to call a sacred assembly. No servile work is to be done. 36You are to offer these burnt offerings by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without defects, 37along with their corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bull, ram, and lambs, according to their number, based on their ordinance, 38and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings.
39gPresent these to the Lord at your appointed festival, in addition to your offerings in fulfillment of vows, free will offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings.h
40Moses instructed the Israelis regarding everything that the Lord had commanded Moses.
Chapter 30
1Later, Moses told the elders of the Israeli tribes, gThis is what the Lord has commanded. 2When a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath\an obligation that is binding to himself\ he is not to break his word. Instead, he is to fulfill whatever promise came out of his mouth.h
3gWhen a young woman makes a vow to the Lord or pledges herself to an obligation while she still lives in her fatherfs house, 4and her father hears her vow and the obligations that she had pledged herself to fulfill, yet her father keeps silent about it, then all her vows and every obligation she pledged herself to are to stand.
5gBut if her father disallows her on the same day that he hears what she has said, then all her vows and every obligation she had pledged herself to fulfill are not to stand. The Lord will forgive her, because her father has forbidden her.h
6gIf she has a husband and she makes a vow that is binding on herself, or if she makes a hasty vow with her mouth that she pledges herself to fulfill, 7and husband hears her vow, yet remains silent on the day that he hears it, then her vows are to stand and the obligation to which she had pledged herself is to stand. 8But if, on the same day her husband hears, and he disallows her, then he has revoked her vows that she made for herself, along with any hasty vows that she spoke and to which she pledged herself to fulfill. The Lord will forgive her.h
9gEverything that a widow or a divorced woman pledges herself to fulfill are to be binding on her. 10But if, while she had been living in her late or former husbandfs house, she makes a vow or a promise that binds her with an oath, 11and her husband hears it but remains silent, not disallowing it, then all her vows are to stand, along with every obligation that she has pledged herself to fulfill.
12gBut if her husband disallowed them the very day that he heard her, everything that she spoke relating to her vows and her obligation to herself are not to stand, because her husband had revoked them. The Lord will forgive her.
13gHer husband may confirm or revoke every vow and binding obligation that afflicts her. 14But if her husband remains silent about her from day to day, then he has affirmed all her vows or obligations that she has obligated herself to fulfill. He has affirmed them because he remained silent from the day he heard her vows. 15But if he had nullified them after he had heard, then he will be responsible for any resulting iniquity.h
16These are the statutes that the Lord commanded Moses concerning a man and his wife and concerning a father and his young daughter while she still lives in her fatherfs house.
Chapter 31
1Later, the Lord told Moses, 2gBe sure to exact vengeance on behalf of the Israelis from the Midianites, after which youfll be taken home to your people.h
3So Moses instructed the people, gMuster your men of war to attack the Midianites and deliver the Lordfs vengeance against Midian. 4Send 1,000 men to war from every tribe throughout all of Israel.h 5So 1,000 men from every tribe\12,000 from the thousands of Israel\were mustered and equipped for war.
6Moses sent 1,000 men from every tribe to fight against them, along with Eleazarfs son Phinehas, in whose hands were the articles of the sanctuary and trumpets to sound battle alarms.
7They fought against the Midianites just as the Lord had commanded Moses, killing every man. 8They executed the five kings of Midian, including Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also executed Beorfs son Balaam with a sword.
9After this, the Israelis took captive the Midianite women and children and confiscated as spoils of war all their cattle, livestock, and their goods. 10They burned every town where they had lived and incinerated all of their encampments. 11They took all the booty and plunder, including both humans and animals. 12Then they brought the captives, booty, and plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the entire community of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River in Jericho. 13Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went out to meet them outside the camp.
14But Moses became livid with anger at the officers of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds who had returned from servicing in the battle. 15gDid you keep all the women alive?h Moses asked them. 16gLook! These women were the same ones who were counseled by Balaam to cause the Israelis to commit a grievous sin against the Lord at Peor. As a result, that plague infected the Lordfs community. 17You are to kill every male child and every woman who has had sexual relations with a man. 18You are to allow the young women who havenft yet had sexual relations with a man to live for yourselves.h
19gNow you are to stay outside the camp for seven days, after which anyone who has killed a person or touched someone who was killed may purify yourselves on the third day and you and your captives will be pure on the seventh day. 20Furthermore, you are to purify every garment, that is, everything made of leather, goatfs hair, or containing wood.h
21Eleazar the priest told soldiers who had gone to battle, gThis is the ordinance of the law that the Lord commanded Moses 22concerning anything containing gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, and lead, 23or anything that can survive a refinerfs fire: You are to pass it through fire, after which it will be clean. Then it is to be purified with the water of impurity. Everything that cannot survive a refinerfs fire is to be washed in water. 24Wash your clothes on the seventh day, after which you will be clean. Then you may enter the camp.h
25Then the Lord told Moses, 26gTake an inventory of the booty that was taken in the battle, both of humans and of animals. You, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the fathers of the community, 27are then to divide the booty between the warriors who went to war and the rest of the community.
28gAfter this, you are to exact a tribute for the Lord from the soldiers who went to war, consisting of the tribute earned by one person out of every 500, whether from people, cattle, donkeys, or flocks. 29gYou are to take half their share and give it to Eleazar the priest as a raised offering to the Lord.
30gThen take half the share of the Israelis, one drawn out of every fifty people, cattle, donkeys, flocks, and from every animal, then give to the descendants of Levi who maintain the service of the Lordfs tent.h
31So Moses and Eleazar the priest did what the Lord had commanded Moses. 32Now, the goods confiscated, in excess of the war implements that the warriors had gathered was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, and 35 32,000 women who had not had sexual relations with a man.
36Now half of the share of those who went to war numbered 337,500 sheep, 37so the Lordfs tribute from the sheep totaled 675.
38The cattle numbered 36,000 so the Lordfs tribute totaled 72.
39The donkeys numbered 30,500 so the Lordfs tribute totaled 61.
40The people numbered 16,000, and Lordfs tribute totaled 32 people.
41Then Moses gave the tribute, a raised offering of the Lord, to Eleazar the priest, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 42From half of the share of the Israelis that Moses had set aside from the soldiers 43there were 337,500 sheep for the community, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys, 46and 16,000 people.
47Moses took a portion drawn from every 50 Israelis, including from both human and animals, and gave them to the descendants of Levi who maintained the Lordfs tent, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
48Then the officers in charge of thousands of soldiers, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds approached Moses 49and told him, gYour servants took a count of the soldiers who were under our authority. We didnft miss a single man. 50Wefve brought offerings to the Lord from whatever each man found\jewel-encrusted gold, anklets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces to make atonement for ourselves in the Lordfs presence.h
51Then Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them and everything that was fashioned into jewels. 52The gold for the raised offering that they brought to the Lord totaled 16,750 shekels, 53because every soldier had confiscated war booty for his own use. 54Moses and Eleazar took the gold from the captains of thousands and hundreds and brought it to the Tent of Meeting, to serve as a memorial to the Israelis in the Lordfs presence.
Chapter 32
1Now, the descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad happened to be joint owners of a very large herd of cattle. When they observed that Jazer and Gilead were good grazing lands for cattle, 2the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community and said, 3gAtaroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon\4the land that the Lord defeated in the sight of the community of Israel\is perfect for cattle and your servants have cattle. 5If wefve found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as our possession instead of us crossing the Jordan River.
6gWill your relatives have to go to war while you remain here?h Moses asked the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben in response. 7gWhy would you discourage the Israelis from crossing over to the land that the Lord has given them? 8Thatfs what your ancestors did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land. 9When they arrived in the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelis from entering the land that the Lord had given them.
10gThatfs why the Lordfs anger flared up that day and he promised by an oath that 11eNot one of the men who went up from Egypt from 20 years old and above will see the land that I promised to give to their ancestors, that is, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because none of them followed me whole heartedly, 12except Jephunnehfs son Caleb, the Kenizzite, and Nunfs son Joshua. Theyfve whole heartedly followed the Lord.f
13gThe Lordfs anger had flared up against Israel so that he made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that whole generation, who committed evil in the eyes of the Lord, had died. 14And now, look! Youfre acting just like your ancestors, like a brood of sinful men, who are provoking the fierce anger of the Lord against the Israelis one step at a time. 15If you stop following him, he will once again abandon them in the wilderness. Youfll end up destroying this entire people.h
16Then they approached him and said, gHerefs where wefre going to build corrals for our cattle and cities for our families, 17but we will keep ourselves armed and stay ready to go with the Israelis until wefve brought them to their own places. Our families intend to live in fortified cities in the presence of the inhabitants of the land, 18but we wonft return to our homes until every Israeli has taken possession of each of their inheritances, 19since our inheritance will not be with them across the Jordan River and beyond. Instead, our inheritance is on this side of the Jordan River, facing eastward.h
20gIf you do this,h Moses replied to them, gthat is, if you equip yourselves for war in the Lordfs presence 21and every one of your armed soldiers crosses over the Jordan River in the presence of the Lord until he has dispossessed his enemies ahead of him 22and subjugated the land before him, then afterwards when you return, youfll be able to stand blameless before the Lord and before Israel. This land will then be your possession before the Lord.
23gBut if you wonft do so, look out! You will be sinning against the Lord. Be certain of this, that your sin will catch up to you! 24So after youfve built cities for your families and corrals for your cattle, be sure to keep your promises.h
25Then the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben spoke, gYour servants will do exactly what our master has commanded. 26Our children, wives, flocks, and all our cattle will be settled in the cities of Gilead, 27but every soldier that wefve equipped for battle will cross the Jordan River in the presence of the Lord, as our master has spoken.h
28So Moses instructed Eleazar the priest and Nunfs son Joshua, and the officers of the ancestral tribes of the Israelis, 29telling them, gIf the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben cross over the Jordan River with you, that is, all of their soldiers whofve been equipped for battle in the Lordfs presence, so that the land is subjugated right before your eyes, then you are to give them the land of Gilead as their possession. 30But if the armed men donft cross over with you, then they wonft have any possession in the land of Canaan.h
31gWefll do just what the Lord told your servants,h the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben responded. 32gWe are to cross over in battle array in the Lordfs presence into the land of Canaan, and afterwards the possession of our inheritance will be in this side of the Jordan River.h
33So Moses gave to the descendants of Gad, to the descendants of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Josephfs son Manasseh the kingdom of Sihon, the king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the whole land with its cities, and even the territories surrounding it.
34The descendants of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Atrothshophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities with corrals for sheep. 37The descendants of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38Nebo, Baal-meon, (after having changed their names) and Sibmah. The cities that they rebuilt were renamed.
39The descendants of Manassehfs son Machir attacked Gilead and then captured and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 40Thatfs why Moses gave Gilead to Manassehfs son Machir, who lived there at the time.
41Manassehfs son Jair captured their towns and renamed them Havvoth-jair.
42Nobah captured Kenath and its towns and renamed it Nobah after himself.
Chapter 33
1Herefs the travel itinerary for the Israelis after they left the land of Egypt in groups under the authority of Moses and Aaron.
2Moses recorded their departures in their travels after being commanded to do so by the Lord. Herefs a list of their travels based on their departures:
3They departed from Rameses on the first month, the fifteenth day of the first month. The day after the Passover, the Israelis came out confidently, and all the Egyptians watched them leave, 4while they were burying their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them.
The Lord also executed justice against their gods.
5Then the Israelis traveled from Rameses and rested in Succoth.
6They traveled from Succoth then rested in Etham, which is at the outskirts of the wilderness.
7They traveled from Etham but turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is outside of Baal-zephon.
They rested outside of Migdol. 8They traveled from Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea to the wilderness. They were on the road three days in the wilderness of Etham then rested in Marah.
9They traveled from Marah and arrived at Elim. In Elim there were twelve wells of water and 70 palm trees, so they rested there.
10They traveled from Elim, then rested by the Reed Sea.
11They traveled from the Reed Sea, then rested in the Wilderness of Sin.
12They traveled from the Wilderness of Sin, then rested in Dophkah.
13They traveled from Dophkah, then rested in Alush.
14They traveled from Alush, then rested in Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.
15They traveled from Rephidim, then rested in the Wilderness of Sinai.
16They traveled from the Wilderness of Sinai, then rested in Kibroth-hattaavah.
17They traveled from Kibroth-hattaavah, then rested in Hazeroth.
18They traveled from Hazeroth, then rested in Rithmah.
19They traveled from Rithmah, then rested in Rimmon-perez.
20They traveled from Rimmon-perez, then rested in Libnah.
21They traveled from Libnah, then rested in Rissah.
22They traveled from Rissah, then rested in Kehelathah.
23They traveled from Kehelathah, then rested at Mount Shepher.
 24They traveled from Mount Shepher, then rested in Haradah.
25They traveled from Haradah, then rested in Makheloth.
26They traveled from Makheloth, then rested in Tahath.
27They traveled from Tahath, then rested in Terah.
28They traveled from Terah, then rested in Mithkah.
29They traveled from Mithkah, then rested in Hashmonah.
30They traveled from Hashmonah, then rested in Moseroth.
31They traveled from Moseroth, then rested in Bene-jaakan.
32They traveled from Bene-jaakan, then rested in Hor-haggidgad.
33They traveled from Hor-haggidgad, then rested in Jotbathah.
34They traveled from Jotbathah, then rested in Abronah.
35They traveled from Abronah, then rested in Ezion-geber.
36They traveled from Ezion-geber, then rested in the Wilderness of Zin, which is also known as Kadesh.
37They traveled from Kadesh, then rested in Mount Hor at the outskirts of the land of Edom.
38Then Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor in obedience to the Lordfs command and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelis had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. 39Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40Meanwhile, the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard of the approach of the Israelis, 41who had traveled from Mount Hor and then rested in Zalmonah.
42They traveled from Zalmonah, then rested in Punon.
43They traveled from Punon, then rested in Oboth.
44They traveled from Oboth, then rested in Iye-abarim at the outskirts of Moab.
45They traveled from Iyim, then rested in Dibon-gad.
46They traveled from Dibon-gad, then rested in Almon-diblathaim.
47They traveled from Almon-diblathaim, then rested in the mountains of Abarim, facing Nebo.
48They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, then rested in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
49They rested by the Jordan River in the area from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
50Then the Lord told Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho, 51gTell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River to the land of Canaan, 52they are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their idols and their molten images. You are to demolish all their high places, 53take possession of the land, and live in it, because Ifve given you the land to inherit.
54gYou are to divide the land among yourselves by lot according to your families. The larger the families are in number, the larger their inheritance is to be. The lesser the families are in number, the lesser their inheritance is to be. To whomever the lot falls, that inheritance goes to him. Divide it according to your ancestral tribes.
55gBut if you fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, their survivors will become irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, to prick your sides and afflict you in the very land in which youfll be living. 56Then, what I had planned to do to them, Ifll start to do to you.h
Chapter 34
1The Lord told Moses, 2gIssue these orders to the Israelis: eYoufre about to enter the land of Canaan. This territory has been apportioned to you as your inheritance: the entire land of Canaan, all the way to its borders.h
3geTo your south is the Wilderness of Zin, bordering Edom. Your southern border is to extend east toward the far end of the Dead Sea, 4then it is to turn southward to the ascent of Akrabbim, cross Zin, and then run south of Kadesh-barnea and proceed from there to Hazar-addar and across to Azmon. 5Then the border is to turn from Azmon toward the wadi of Egypt and from there to the Mediterranean Sea.h
6gThe western border is to be the Mediterranean Sea. This is to be the western border.h
7gYour northern border is to extend from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor. 8From Mount Hor, you are to mark out the entrance to Hammath, with the border running through Zedad, 9then through Ziphron, and then to Hazar-enan. This is to be the northern border.h
10gYou are to mark the border on the east from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11The border is then to extend from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, then to the Sea of Chinnereth on the east. 12The border is to continue along the Jordan River all the way to the Dead Sea. This is to be your land, as measured by its boundaries.h
13Moses commanded the Israelis, gYou are to inherit this land by lot, just as the Lord commanded to give it to the remaining nine and a half tribes. 14The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, as defined by their ancestral houses, have received their inheritance. 15These two and a half tribes received their inheritance this side of the Jordan River, east of Jericho, facing the rising sun.h
16Then the Lord told Moses, 17gThese are the names of the men who are to divide the land for your inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Nunfs son Joshua. 18You are to appoint a leader from each tribe to divide the land for inheritance.
19gThese are the names of the men: Appoint Jephunnehfs son Caleb from the tribe of Judah, 20Ammihudfs son Shemuel from the tribe of Simeon; 21Chislonfs son Elidad from the tribe of Benjamin; 22and Joglifs son Bukki is to be leader of the tribe of Dan.
23gFrom the tribe of Joseph, you are to appoint Ephodfs son Hanniel to be leader of the half tribe of Manasseh; 24Shiphtanfs son Kemuel to be leader of the half tribe of Ephraim. 25Parnachfs son Elizaphan to be leader of the tribe of Zebulun; 26Azzanfs son Paltiel to be leader of the tribe of Issachar; 27Shelomifs son Ahihud to be leader of the tribe of Asher; 28and Ammihudfs son Pedahel to be leader of the tribe of Naphtali.h
29These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance of the Israelis in the land of Canaan.
Chapter 35
1The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near Jericho. He told him, 2gInstruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. 3The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals.
4gThe grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by descendants of Levi are to extend 1,500 feet from the walls of the town. 5You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 3,000 feet, on the south side 3,000 feet, on the west side 3,000 feet, and on the north side 3,000 feet, with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing land for their towns. 6You are to set aside six towns of refuge from the towns that you will be giving to the descendants of Levi, where someone who kills a human being may run for shelter. In addition, give them 42 other towns.
7gThe total number of towns that you are to give to the descendants of Levi is to be 48 towns, including grazing lands surrounding these town. 8You are to apportion the towns that you will be giving the Israelis according to the relative size of the tribe. Take a larger portion from those larger in numbers and a lesser portion from those lesser in number. Each is to set aside towns for the descendants of Levi proportional to the size of their inheritance that they receive.h
9Then the Lord told Moses, 10gTell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 11they are to designate some towns of refuge so that anyone who kills someone inadvertently may flee there. 12They are to serve as cities of refuge from a blood avenger in order to keep the inadvertent killer from dying until he has stood trial in the presence of the community. 13You are to set aside six towns of refuge. 14Appoint three towns this side of the Jordan River and three towns in the land of Canaan to serve as the towns of refuge, 15that is, places of refuge for the Israelis, the resident alien, and any travelers among them. Anyone who kills a person inadvertently may flee there.h
16gWhoever uses an iron implement to kill someone is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death.
17gFurthermore, whoever uses a stone implement to kill someone is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death.
18gAlso, whoever uses a wooden implement to kill someone with it is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death.
19gThe blood avenger himself is to execute the murderer. When he meets him, the blood avenger is to put him to death. 20If the killer shoved his victim out of hatred, or hurled something at him while waiting in ambush so that he died, 21or if he struck him with his hand out of hatred so that he dies, then the killer is certainly to be put to death for murder. The avenger of blood is to put him to death when he meets him.h
22gBut if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or had he hurled something in his direction without waiting in ambush, 23or if he hit him with a stone carelessly so that he was fatally injured, though he isnft his enemy and he wasnft seeking to commit evil against him, 24then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances. 25The community is to release the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil.
26gBut if the inadvertent killer leaves the town of refuge where he had fled 27and the blood avenger finds him outside the town of refuge where he had fled and kills him, the blood avenger is not to be found guilty of murder. 28The inadvertent killer is to live in the town of refuge until the High Priest dies. After the death of the High Priest, the inadvertent killer is to return to the land of his inheritance. 29These are to be the statutes and ordinance for you throughout all your generations, regardless of where you live.h
30gEvery murderer of a human being is to be executed only according to testimony given by multiple witnesses. A single witness is not to result in a death sentence.
31gYou are to receive no ransom for the life of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die. 32You are not to receive payment of a ransom for someone who had fled to a town of refuge but then left to live in his homeland before the death of the high priest.
33gYou are not to pollute the land where you live, because blood defiles the land, and the land cannot atone for blood that has been spilled on it, except through the blood of the one who spilled it. 34You are not to defile the land where you will be living, because Ifm living among you. I am the Lord, who lives in Israel.h
Chapter 36
1The leaders of the ancestral families of the descendants of Gilead, who were descendants of Machir, and descendants of Manasseh, from Josephfs tribe, approached and spoke to Moses and the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelis.
2gThe Lord commanded my master to apportion the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelis,h they said. gNow my master was ordered by the Lord to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.
3gBut when they get married to one of the descendants of the tribes of Israel, their inheritances are to be withdrawn from our fatherfs inheritance and added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they are to belong. Consequently, it is to be withdrawn from the portion of our inheritance.
4gBut when the Jubilee Year of the Israelis comes, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they have come to belong. Their inheritance will thus be taken away from the inheritance of our fatherfs tribe!h
5So Moses issued the Israelis these orders based on what the Lord said: gThe tribe of the descendants of Joseph has spoken. 6This is what the Lord is commanding the daughters of Zelophehad. If they decide itfs a good idea in their opinion to get married only within the family of their fatherfs tribe, then let them get married 7so that the inheritance of the Israelis wonft be turned over from one tribe to another.
gEach one has an inheritance from his own fatherfs tribe that the Israelis are to maintain. 8Every daughter who is in possession of an inheritance from the Israelis is to marry someone from the families within her fatherfs tribe so the Israelis can retain possession of their ancestral inheritance. 9That way, their inheritance wonft be turned over from one tribe to another, because the Israelis are each to maintain their ancestral inheritances.h
10Zelophehadfs daughters did just what the Lord had commanded Moses 11for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah: Zelophehadfs daughters married their unclefs sons. 12They married into families of the descendants of Manasseh, that is, Josephfs descendants, so that their inheritance remained within the tribe of their ancestorfs family.
13These were the commands and the ordinances that the Lord issued to the Israelis through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River in Jericho.
Deuteronomy
Chapter 1
1These are the words that Moses spoke to the assembly of Israel east of the Jordan River, in the Arabah desert, opposite Suph between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. 2It takes 11 days to travel from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea via Mount Seir.
3On the first day of the eleventh month, in the fortieth year, Moses spoke to the Israelis about everything that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. 4This took place after he defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and Og, king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth at Edrei.
5East of the Jordan River, in the land of Moab, Moses began to expound this Law: 6gThe Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb. He said, eYou have been at this mountain long enough. 7Break camp, get going, and proceed to the hill country of the Amorites and all the nearby places in the Arabah desert, the highlands, the foothills, the Negev, the coastal plains, all of the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8Look! Ifve given you the land that lies ahead. Go in and possess the land that I, the Lord, promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as to their descendants.fh
9gI also told you at that time that I wonft be able to sustain you on my own. 10The Lord your God greatly multiplied your numbers, and today you are like the stars in the sky. 11May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase your numbers a thousand times more, and may he bless you, as he promised you. 12How can I bear the burden of you and your bickering all by myself? 13Choose for yourselves wise and discerning men, known to your tribes, and appoint them as your leaders.
14gYou answered by saying that this plan is a good thing. 15So I chose leaders from your tribes, wise and respected men, and I appointed them over you\commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
16gI charged your judges at that time, eWhen you hold a hearing between brothers, judge fairly between a man and his brother or between foreigners. 17When you hold a hearing, donft be partial in judgment toward the least important or toward the great. Never fear men, because judgment belongs to God. If the matter is difficult for you, bring it to me for a hearing. 18I charged you at that time that you must do all of these things.fh
19gThen we set out from Horeb and walked through that vast and dreadful desert, where you observed the road to the Amorite hill country. Just as the Lord our God ordained for us, we finally arrived at Kadesh-barnea. 20I told you at that time, eYou have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is about to give us. 21Look! The Lord your God has given the land that lies before you. Go and possess it, just as the Lord God of your ancestors commanded you. Donft be afraid or discouraged.f
22gThen all of you approached me and said: eLetfs send out men in advance of us so they can survey the land and bring back a report to us on how wefll go up to their cities.f 23Because this suggestion seemed good to me, I chose twelve men from among you, one from each tribe.
24gThen these men set out, went up to the hill county, reached the Eshcol Valley, and surveyed it. 25They hand-picked some of the fruit of the land, brought it down to us, and gave a report that said, eThe land which the Lord is about to give us is good.fh
26gHowever, your ancestors didnft go up. Instead, they rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. 27You murmured in your tents, eThe Lord hates us. He brought us out of the land of Egypt in order to deliver us to the Amorites so he could destroy us. 28Where can we go? Our brothers discouraged us when they said that the people are bigger and taller than we are. Their cities are tall and fortified to the sky, and we also saw the Anakim there.f
29gThen I told you, eDonft be terrified or afraid of them. 30The Lord your God is the One who will be going ahead of you. Hefll fight for you just as he did in Egypt before your eyes. 31In the desert you saw that the Lord carried you like a man carries his son, on every road you traveled until you reached this place.f 32But despite this, you didnft trust in the Lord your God, 33who walked ahead of you along the way to scout a place for you to pitch camp\by fire at night and cloud by day\to lead you on the way you should go.h
34gWhen the Lord heard your complaints, he became angry and declared, 35eI swear that not one man of this evil generation will see the good land that I promised to give to your ancestors, 36except Jephunnehfs son Caleb. He will see it and I will give to him and to his descendants the land on which he has walked because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord.f
37gThe Lord was also furious with me because of you. He said: eYou will not enter the land. 38However, Nunfs son Joshua, your assistant, will go there. Encourage him, for he will cause Israel to take possession of it. 39Your little ones\whom you said would be taken captive\and your children who do not yet know right from wrong, will enter the land. I will give it to them and they themselves will possess it. 40But as for you, prepare to set out for the desert on the way to the Reed Sea.f
41gYou responded to me and said, eWe have sinned against the Lord. We will now go up and fight according to what the Lord our God commanded.f So each man put on his weapon for battle and recklessly started out for the hill country.h
42gThen the Lord told me: eTell them not to go up and fight because I will not be in their midst, or else you will be defeated before your enemies.f
43gI spoke to you but you didnft listen. Instead you rebelled against the command of the Lord and went up to the hill country. 44The Amorites who lived in the hill country came out to engage you in battle. They pursued you like bees do and crushed you from Seir to Hormah. 45You returned and cried out in the Lordfs presence, but the Lord didnft hear your voice or listen to you. 46You remained in Kadesh for many days. It was a long time, indeed.h
Chapter 2
1gWe turned and set out for the desert on the road to the Reed Sea just as the Lord had directed me. We traveled around Mount Seir for many days.
2gThen the Lord told me, 3eYou went around this mountain long enough. Turn northward 4and command this people, gYou are about to pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau who live around Seir. They will be afraid of you so be very careful. 5Donft fight them, because I wonft give you any part of their land, not even the size of a footprint. I have given Mount Seir to Esau as their property. 6You may buy food to eat and water to drink from them, paying with cash.hf 7Indeed, the Lord your God blessed all the works of your hands. He knows about your travels through this vast desert. The Lord your God was with you this past 40 years, so that you didnft lack anything. 8So we bypassed our relatives, the descendants of Esau who live in Seir. We turned through the Arabah desert from Elath, and from Ezion-geber we traveled the desert road to Moab.h
9gThen the Lord told me, eDonft harass Moab or provoke them to war, because I wonft give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their property. 10(The Emites, a people as powerful, numerous, and tall as the Anakim, lived there before. 11Like the Anakim, they were thought of as Rephaim, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12The Horites used to live in Seir before the descendants of Esau dispossessed them, exterminated them, and settled there instead, just as Israel will do in the land of its possession, which the Lord gave them.) 13Now get going and cross the Wadi Zered.f And so we crossed the Wadi Zered.
14gNow from the time we left Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Wadi Zered was 38 years. All of that generation, the soldiers in the camp, were destroyed just as the Lord swore they would be. 15Indeed, the hand of the Lord was against them to root them out from the camp until they were utterly destroyed.h
16gAnd so all the soldiers among the people died. 17Then the Lord spoke to me, 18eToday, you are about to cross the border of Moab at Ar. 19When you come to the Ammonites, donft harass or provoke them to war, for I wonft give any part of Ammonite land to you, since I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their property.f
20ge(Indeed, it was considered Rephaim territory, since the Rephaim used to lived there. The Ammonites called them Zamzummites, 21a great people, numerous, and tall as the Anakim. But the Lord destroyed the Rephaim, so that the Ammonites dispossessed them and settled there instead. 22This is what he did for the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them. So they dispossessed them and settled there in their place, where they live to this day. 23It was the same for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza. The Caphtorites, who came from Crete, destroyed them and settled there in their place.)
24geGet ready and set out for the Wadi Arnon. Look! Ifve given into your control Sihon king of Heshbon, the Amorite, along with his land. Prepare to take possession by provoking him to war. 25Starting today I will begin to instill fear and terror of you on the part of every nation under heaven who hears reports about you. Theyfll tremble in anguish before you.fh
26gI sent messengers from the desert of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon, with this message of peace: 27eLet me pass through your territory. Ifll stay on the main road. I wonft turn to the right or left. 28Sell me food for cash so I can eat and give me water for cash, so I can drink. Just let me pass through on foot 29as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir did for me, as did the Moabites who live in Ar. Ifll pass through, until I will have crossed the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is about to give us.f 30But Sihon king of Heshbon did not allow us to pass through, because the Lord your God had hardened his spirit and made him arrogant, in order to deliver him into your control today.
31gThen the Lord told me, eSee, Ifve begun to deliver Sihon and his territory over to you. Prepare to take possession of his land.f
32gSihon came out to meet us, including his entire army, at the battle of Jahaz. 33The Lord our God delivered him to us, so we attacked him, his son, and his whole army. 34We captured all his towns at that time. We utterly destroyed every town\the men, the women, and the children, leaving no survivors. 35We only appropriated the livestock for our use, along with plunder from the cities that we captured. 36From Aroer on the edge of Arnon Valley and from the town all the way to Gilead, there was no city that was too strong for us\the Lord our God delivered them all to us. 37You did not encroach onto Ammonite land, the banks of the Wadi Jabbok, the towns in the hill country, and all the other places that were forbidden by the Lord our God.h
Chapter 3
1gWe set out and went up along the road to Bashan. Then Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us\he and his whole army\for a battle at Edrei. 2gThen the Lord told me, eDonft fear him, because Ifve delivered him, his army, and his territory into your control. Do to him just as you have done to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.f
3gSo the Lord our God also delivered into our control Og king of Bashan, along with his whole army. We attacked him until there were no survivors. 4Then we captured all his cities at that time. There was not a city left that we didnft capture from them\sixty cities in all from the region of Argob, which is part of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5All of these cities were fortified with high walls, gates, and bars. Furthermore, there were very many unwalled regions. 6We utterly destroyed them, just as we did Sihon king of Heshbon, attacking them in every city\the men, women, and children. 7But we kept for ourselves all of the livestock and plunder from the towns.
8gSo at that time we took control from the two Amorite kings the territory east of the Jordan from Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon. 9(The Sidonians called Hermon Sirion, but the Amorites called it Senir.) 10We took control of all the cities of the plain, all of Gilead and Bashan as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11Only Og the king of Bashan remained from the remnants of the Rephaim. In fact, his bed was made of iron. Itfs in Rabbah of the Ammonites, isnft it? Itfs about thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide.h
12gOf the land that we captured at that time, Ifve given its towns to the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad from Aroer near the Wadi Arnon to half of the hill country of Gilead. 13The remainder of Gilead and Bashan of the kingdom of Og, Ifve given to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (The whole region of Argob\that is, all of Bashan\is called the land of the Rephaim.) 14Manassehfs son Jair captured all the Argob region as far as the territory of the descendants of Geshur and the descendants of Maacath. Bashan was named after him; thatfs why it is called Havvoth-jair to this day. 15Furthermore, Ifve given Gilead to Machir. 16And Ifve given Gilead to the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad as far as the Arnon Valley, designating the middle of the valley as its boundary, including up to the Jabbok River as a boundary with the Ammonites. 17The Arabah and the Jordan River are also a boundary from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah on the east.h
18gThen I commanded you at that time, eThe Lord your God gave you this land as a possession. Those equipped for battle\every man a warrior\will cross before your fellow Israelis. 19However, your women, children, and livestock\and I know you have many\may reside in your towns that I gave you 20until the Lord grants rest to your fellow Israelis like you. When they take possession of the territory that the Lord your God is about to give them on the other side of the Jordan River, then each of you may return to the territory that Ifve allotted for you.f
21gI also charged Joshua at that time, eYou witnessed everything that the Lord your God did to the two kings. Indeed, the Lord will do this to all the kingdoms which you are about to enter. 22You are not to fear them, because the Lord your God will fight for you.fh
23gI pleaded with the Lord at that time, 24eLord God, youfve begun to show your greatness and your strong power to your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can equal your works and mighty deeds? 25Let me cross over that I may see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River, the good hill country, as well as Lebanon.f
26gHowever, the Lord was furious with me because of you. He did not listen to me. Instead, the Lord said, eYou are not to speak to me about this matter again! 27Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift your eyes toward the west, north, south, and east. Look with your own eyes, since you wonft be able to cross this Jordan River. 28Therefore charge Joshua to be doubly strong, for he will lead this people and cause them to inherit the land that youfll see.f 29We then encamped in the valley opposite Beth-peor.h
Chapter 4
1gNow, Israel, listen to the statutes and the ordinances that Ifm teaching you to observe so you may live and go in to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is about to give you. 2Do not add or subtract a thing to what Ifm commanding you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God.
3gYou saw with your own eyes what he did in Baal Peor. The Lord your God exterminated from among you every man who followed Baal of Peor. 4But all of you who are clinging to the Lord your God are alive today. 5See! I taught you the statutes and the ordinances, just as the Lord God commanded. Therefore, observe them when you enter the land you are about to possess. 6Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of people whofll listen to all these decrees. Then theyfll say: eSurely this great nation is a wise and discerning people.f 7For what great nation has a god so near like the Lord our God whenever we call on him? 8And what great nation has all the decrees and righteous ordinances like all this teaching that Ifm giving you today? 9Only guard yourselves carefully so you wonft forget the things that you saw and let them slip from your mind for the rest of your life. Tell them to your children and to your grandchildren. 10The day you stood in the presence of the Lord your God in Horeb, the Lord told me, eGather the people before me so they may hear my words, learn to revere me the whole time that they live in the land, and teach them to their children.fh
11gWhen you approached and stood at the foot of the mountain\a mountain that was blazing with fire at its core while the sky was covered with thick, dark clouds\ 12the Lord your God spoke from the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but you saw no form; there was only a voice. 13He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to observe\the Ten Commandments that he wrote on two stone tablets. 14The Lord commanded me at that time to teach you to observe the statutes and ordinances in the land after you cross over to take possession of it.
15gTherefore, for your own sake, be very careful, since you did not see any form on the day that the Lord your God spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire. 16Be careful! Otherwise, you will be destroyed when you make carved images for yourself\all sorts of images in the form of man, woman, 17any animal on earth, any winged bird that flies in the sky, 18any creeping thing on the ground, or any fish in the sea. 19Do not gaze toward the heavens and observe the sun, the moon, the stars\the entire array of the sky\with the intent to worship and serve what the Lord your God gave every nation. 20For the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace\out of Egypt\to be the people of his inheritance, as you are today.
21gBut the Lord was angry with me because of you. So he swore that Ifll never cross the Jordan River to enter the good land that the Lord your God is about to give you as an inheritance. 22For Ifm going to die in this land and I wonft cross the Jordan River, but youfre about to cross over to possess that good land. 23Be careful! Otherwise, you will forget the covenant of the Lord your God, who established that covenant with you. Donft make carved images of any likeness in violation of everything that you were commanded by the Lord your God. 24Indeed, the Lord your God is a consuming fire. He is a jealous God.h
25gAfter youfve borne children and grandchildren, have been there for a long time in the land, have become so corrupted that you make images of any form, and have done evil in the eyes of the Lord your God, you will provoke him to anger. 26Heaven and earth will testify against what has occurred today: youfll surely and swiftly be destroyed from the land that you are about to possess by crossing the Jordan River. You wonft live long in it, because youfll certainly be exterminated. 27Moreover, the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and youfll be fewer in number in the nations where the Lord your God will drive you. 28There youfll serve gods made by human hands, serving trees and stones that cannot see, hear, eat, nor smell.
29gIf from there you will seek the Lord your God, then you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and soul. 30gIn your distress, when all these things happen to you in days to come and you return to the Lord your God, then you will hear his voice. 31For God is compassionate. The Lord your God wonft fail you. He wonft destroy you or forget the covenant that he confirmed with your ancestors.h
32gIndeed, ask from one end of the heavens to the other about days of old, before your time when God created mankind on the earth. Did we ever have anything as great as this, or ever hear of anything like it? 33Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the middle of a fire just as you did, and survived it? 34Or has any god ever taken for himself one nation out from another nation with testings, signs, wonders, wars, awesome power, and magnificent, terrifying deeds as the Lord your God did in Egypt before your eyes?
35gYou have been shown this in order to know that ethe Lord is Godf and there is no one like him. 36You have been made to hear his voice from heaven so you may be instructed. And he showed you his great fire here on earth, and you heard his voice from the middle of that fire. 37Moreover, he loved your ancestors, chose their descendants after them, and brought you out of Egypt, accompanied by his presence and great power, 38in order to drive out nations that are stronger and more powerful than you, to bring you into this land, and to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is today.
39gMay you acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in the heavens above and over the earth below\there is no other God. 40May you observe his statutes and keep his commands that Ifm giving you today, so that life may go well for you and for your descendants after you. That way, youfll live a long life in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you permanently.h
41Then Moses designated three cities on the east side of the Jordan, 42where a person who accidentally killed someone could flee, if he killed his neighbor without having enmity toward him in the past. He may flee to one of these cities and live: 43Bezer in the desert plain for the descendants of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for the descendants of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the descendants of Manasseh.
44This is the Law that Moses reviewed in the presence of the Israelis. 45These are the instructions, decrees, and ordinances that Moses declared to the Israelis when they came out of Egypt. 46He did this east of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and whom Moses and the Israelis defeated after leaving Egypt. 47So they took possession of his land, as well as the land of Og king of Bashan. Both Amorite kings lived east of the Jordan\48from Aroer on the edge of the Wadi Arnon as far as Mount Sirion, which is also called Hermon, 49and all the Arabah east of the Jordan as far as the Dead Sea below the slopes of Pisgah.
Chapter 5
1Moses called all of Israel together and told them: gListen, Israel! Today Ifm going to announce Godfs laws and regulations so that you will learn them and take care to obey them. 2When the Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb, 3it was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us\we who are here today\all of us who are now living. 4The Lord spoke to you face to face on the mountain from the fire. 5I stood at that time as mediator between the Lord and you to declare his message to you, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. He said:
6gI am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt\from the house of slavery. 7You are to have no other gods besides me.
8gYou are not to make for yourselves a carved image resembling any form in the heavens above, on earth below, or in the waters under the earth. 9You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them; because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the iniquity of their parents, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 10but showing gracious love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11gYou are not to misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave the one who misuses his name unpunished.
12gKeep the Sabbath day holy, just as the Lord your God commanded. 13Six days you are to labor and do all your work, 14but the seventh day is a Sabbath for the Lord your God. You are not to do any work: neither you, your children, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys, all your livestock, as well as the foreigners who live among you, so that your male and female servants may rest as you do. 15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out from there with great power and a show of force. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
16gHonor your father and your mother, just as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your life will be long and things will go well for you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
17gYou are not to murder.
18gYou are not to commit adultery.
19gYou are not to steal.
20gYou are not to testify falsely against your neighbor.
21gYou are not to desire your neighborfs wife, or covet your neighborfs house, fields, his male and female servants, his ox, his donkey, or anything that concerns your neighbor.h
22gThese commands the Lord declared in a loud voice to your entire assembly on the mountain from out of the fire and dark clouds, and nothing more was added. He inscribed them on two tablets of stones and gave them to me.
23gWhen you heard the voice from the darkness while the mountain was blazing, all the leaders and elders of your tribes came to me and said: 24eThe Lord our God truly has displayed his glory and power, for we heard him from out of the fire today. We have witnessed how God spoke to human beings, yet they lived. 25Now therefore, why should we die? This great fire will consume us. If we continue to listen to the voice of the Lord our God any longer, wefll die. 26For what mortal man has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire like we did, and lived? 27As for you, go near and listen to everything that the Lord our God will say to you. Then repeat it to us, then we will listen and obey.f
28gThe Lord heard what you said. He told me: eIfve heard what this people said. Everything they said was good. 29If only they would commit to fear me and keep all my commands, then it will go well with them and their children forever.
30geGo and tell them to return to their tents, 31but you stand here with me and Ifll speak to you all the commands, decrees, and laws that you must teach them to observe in the land that Ifm giving you to possess. 32You must be careful to do what the Lord your God commanded you, turning neither to the left nor to the right. 33Walk in every way that the Lord your God commanded you, so that life may go well for you, and so that you will prolong your days in the land that you will possess.fh
Chapter 6
1gNow these are the commands, decrees, and ordinances that the Lord commanded me to teach you. Obey them in the land you are entering to possess, 2so that you, your children, and your grandchildren may fear the Lord your God. Keep all his decrees and commandments that Ifm giving you every day of your life, so you may live a long time.
3gListen, Israel! Be careful to obey, so that life may go well for you and that you may increase greatly. Just as the Lord God of your ancestors told you, youfll have a land flowing with milk and honey.
4gListen, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
6gLet these words that Ifm commanding you today be always on your heart. 7Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. 8Tie them as reminders on your forearm, bind them on your forehead, 9and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates.h
10gWhen the Lord your God brings you to the land that he promised to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he will give you large and beautiful cities that you didnft build, 11houses filled with every good thing that you didnft supply, wells that you didnft dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you didnft plant. When you eat and are satisfied, 12be careful not to forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and slavery. 13Fear the Lord your God, serve him, and make your oaths in his name. 14Do not follow other gods, from the gods of the peoples around you. 15For the Lord your God who is among you is a jealous God. He will turn his anger against you and destroy you from the surface of the land.h
16gDonft test the Lord your God like you tried to do in Massah. 17Be sure to observe the commands of the Lord your God, his testimonies and his decrees that he gave you. 18Do what is good and right in the Lordfs sight so it may go well with you. Then youfll enter and possess the good land that the Lord your God promised to your ancestors, 19expelling all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.h
20gWhen your son asks you in the future, eWhat is the meaning of the instructions, decrees, and ordinances that the Lord our God commanded you?f 21tell him, eWe were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with great power. 22Before our very eyes, the Lord did great and terrible signs and wonders in Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to his entire household. 23But as for us, he brought us out from there to bring us into the land and it to us, as he promised our ancestors. 24Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God for our own good, so that he may keep us alive as we are today. 25It will be credited as righteousness for us, if wefre careful to obey the entire Law in the presence of the Lord our God, as he commanded.fh
Chapter 7
1gWhen the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, he will drive out many nations before you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations who are more numerous and stronger than you. 2So when the Lord your God delivers them to you and you have defeated them, then utterly destroy them. You are not to make any covenant with them nor be gracious to them. 3You are not to intermarry with them. You are not to give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons, 4because they will turn your children from me to serve other gods so that the Lordfs anger blazes against you and swiftly destroys you by fire. 5This is what you will do to them: tear down their altars, break their pillars, cut down their ritual pillars, and burn their carved idols in fire, 6because you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord your God chose you to be his people, his treasured possession from all the peoples on the face of the earth.h
7gIt was not because you were more numerous than other people of the earth that the Lord committed himself to you and chose you. In fact, you were the least numerous of all the peoples. 8But the Lord loved you and kept his oath that he made to your ancestors. The Lord brought you out with great power from slavery, from the control of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
9gKnow that the Lord your God is God, the trusted God who faithfully keeps his covenant to the thousandth generation of those who love him and obey his commands. 10But for the one who hates him, he will repay him by destroying him. He will not delay dealing with someone who hates him. 11Therefore keep the commands, decrees, and the ordinances that I am instructing you to obey today.h
12gIf you pay attention to these laws and obey them, then the Lord your God will continue with you his covenant of gracious love that he promised with an oath to your ancestors. 13He will love you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your land (the grain, new wine, and oil), the offspring of your herds, and the lambs of your flock, in the land that the Lord promised your ancestors he would give you. 14You will be blessed among all the nations. There will be no infertility among you, not even among your herds. 15The Lord will turn aside every disease from you. He will not inflict on you the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but will inflict them instead on all who hate you. 16You are to utterly destroy everyone whom the Lord your God will deliver to you. Do not have pity on them nor serve their gods. Otherwise, they will become a snare for you.h
17gYou may say to yourselves, eThese nations are more numerous than we are. How can we dispossess them?f 18But you must not fear them. Be sure to remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all of Egypt. 19Your eyes saw the great trials, the signs and wonders, the awesome power with which the Lord your God brought you out.
gThe Lord your God will do the same to all the people whom you fear. 20Hefll send plagues against them until the survivors who hide from you have perished. 21Do not tremble before them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. 22He slowly will dislodge these nations before you, but he will not destroy them quickly, so the wild animals wonft multiply around you. 23But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. 24He will deliver kings into your control, and you will wipe out the memory of them from under heaven. No one will be able to stand before you. You are to utterly destroy them. 25Burn the images of their gods in the fire. Desire neither the silver nor the gold that adorns them, nor take them for yourselves, so you wonft be ensnared by them, because the gold and silver is detestable to the Lord your God. 26Do not bring any detestable thing to your house, because you yourself will be utterly destroyed along with these detestable things. You must absolutely abhor and detest all of it, because it has been devoted to destruction.h
Chapter 8
1gBe careful to observe every command that Ifm instructing you today, in order that you may live, increase, and enter and take possession of the land that the Lord promised by an oath to your ancestors.
2gRemember how the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the desert, to humble and test you in order to make known what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3He humbled you, causing you to be hungry, yet he fed you with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that human beings are not to live by food alone\instead human beings are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
4gThe clothes you wore did not wear out, nor did your feet blister during these 40 years. 5Be convinced in your heart that as a father disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. 6Observe the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him, 7because the Lord your God is bringing you to a good land\a land with rivers and deep springs flowing to the valleys and hills. 8Itfs a land filled with wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates. Itfs a land filled with olive oil and honey\ 9a land without scarcity. Youfll eat food in it and lack nothing. Itfs a land where its rocks are iron and you can dig copper from its mountains.h
10gWhen you have eaten and are satisfied, bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. 11Be careful! Otherwise, you will forget the Lord your God by failing to keep his commands, ordinances, and statutes that Ifm commanding you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you have built beautiful houses and lived in them, 13when your cattle and oxen multiply, when your silver and gold increase, 14then you will become arrogant. Youfll neglect the Lord your God, 15who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, and who led you through the vast and dangerous desert, that parched land without water, with its poisonous snakes and scorpions. He brought water out of solid rock for you, 16and fed you in the desert with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, to humble and test you so that things go well with you later.
17gYou may say to yourselves, eI have become wealthy by my own strength and by my own ability.f 18But remember the Lord your God, because he is the one who gives you the ability to produce wealth, in order to confirm his covenant that he promised by an oath to your ancestors, as is the case today. 19If you neglect the Lord your God, follow other gods, and serve and worship them, I testify to you today that you will certainly be destroyed. 20Just like the nations whom the Lord destroyed before you, so will you be destroyed, because you did not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.h
Chapter 9
1gListen, Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and dispossess greater and mightier nations than you, who live in large cities that are fortified to the sky. 2The Anakim are strong and tall, and you know them. Youfve heard it said, eWho can stand up against the Anakim?f
3But know today that the Lord your God is going ahead of you as a consuming fire. He will destroy and subdue them before you. He will dispossess and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord told you. 4After the Lord has expelled them before you, you are not to say to yourselves, eThe Lord caused me to enter and possess this land because of my righteousness.f 5On the contrary, it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you to confirm what the Lord promised by an oath to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6Know that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving to you this good land to inherit, for you are a stubborn people.h
7gRemember\and donft ever forget\how you provoked the Lord your God in the desert. From the day that you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place you have been rebelling against the Lord. 8At Horeb you continuously rebelled against the Lord, so that he was angry enough to destroy you.
9gThen I went up to the mountain to receive the two stone Tablets of the Covenant that the Lord had established with you. I stayed on the mountain for 40 days and nights without eating food or drinking water. 10Then the Lord gave me the two stone tablets on which God inscribed with his own finger all the words that the Lord spoke to you on the mountain from the middle of the fire that day when you were all assembled together. 11At the end of 40 days and nights, the Lord gave to me the two stone Tablets of the Covenant.
12gThen the Lord told me, eGet going! Go down from here at once! Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have become corrupt. They have turned quickly from the way that I commanded them, and have cast an idol for their use.f
13gThen the Lord told me, eI have examined this people, and they are stubborn indeed. 14Let me alone! I will destroy them and blot out their name under heaven. Then Ifll make you into a nation that will be mighty and more numerous than they are.f
15gSo I turned and went down from the mountain while the mountain was on fire. The two Tablets of the Covenant were in both of my hands. 16Then I saw how you had really sinned against the Lord your God! You had made for yourselves a calf, a cast idol. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord your God had commanded. 17So I grabbed the two tablets and then threw them out of my hands, breaking them before your eyes. 18I fell down in the Lordfs presence, just as I had the first 40 days and nights. I did not eat food or drink water because of your sin. You had sinned by committing this evil in the sight of the Lord, thereby provoking him to anger. 19I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord against you, because he was irate enough to destroy you. But the Lord also listened to me at that time. 20It was as had been the case with Aaron, the Lord was very angry and about to destroy him, but I prayed for Aaron at that time. 21Now, when you made the calf that made you sin, I grabbed it, burned it with fire, crushed it, and ground it thoroughly until it was pulverized to powder. Then I threw the powder into the river that was flowing from the mountain.h
22gYou provoked the Lord again at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth-hattaavah. 23When the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea and told you, eGo possess the land that I gave you,f instead you disobeyed what the Lord your God said. You didnft trust him or listen to his voice. 24You have been rebelling against the Lord since the day I knew you. 25I fell down in the Lordfs presence for 40 days and nights, because the Lord said he was ready to destroy you. 26So I prayed to the Lord and said, eOh Lord my God, donft destroy your people and your inheritance whom you redeemed by your power. You brought them out from Egypt in a powerful way. 27Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Donft pay attention to the stubbornness, wickedness, and sinfulness of this people. 28Otherwise, the people of the land from which you brought us will say, gThe Lord wasnft able to bring them out of the land that he had promised them. So he brought them out to kill them in the desert because he hated them.h 29But they are your people and inheritance, whom you brought out by your mighty strength and awesome power.fh
Chapter 10
1gAt that time, the Lord told me, eChisel two tablets of stone for yourself just like the first ones, and then come up to me on the mountain. Also make for yourself a wooden chest. 2Ifll write on the tablets what was on the first tablets that you broke. Then place them in the wooden chest.f 3So I made a chest out of acacia wood and chiseled two tablets of stones just like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. 4Then the Lord inscribed on the tablets what he wrote before, that is, the Ten Commandments that the Lord declared to you on the mountain from the middle of the fire during the day of the assembly. And the Lord gave them to me. 5Then I turned and went down the mountain and placed the tablets in the chest that I had made. They are there now, just as the Lord commanded me.h
6gThe Israelis traveled from the wells of the descendants of Jaakan to Moserah. Aaron died, and he was buried there. His son Eleazar succeeded him as priest. 7From there they moved on to Gudgodah and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with flowing streams. 8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, to stand in the Lordfs presence, to serve, and to bless his name until this day. 9That is why the descendants of Levi do not have a portion and an inheritance among their relatives. As for the Lord, he is their inheritance, just as the Lord your God told them. 10When I stood on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights as I did the first time, the Lord listened to me once again. The Lord was not willing to destroy you. 11So the Lord told me, eGet up and proceed to lead the people, so they may enter and take possession of the land that I promised to give their ancestors by an oath.fh
12gNow Israel, what does the Lord your God desire from you? Only this: fear him, walk in all his ways, love him, serve him with all your heart and in all your life, 13and observe his commands and statutes that Ifm commanding you today for your own good. 14You see, heaven\even the highest heavens\belongs to the Lord, along with the earth and all that is in it, 15yet the Lord committed himself to love your ancestors\and did so! He chose you\their descendants after them\from all the nations, as it is today. 16Therefore, circumcise your heart and stop being stubborn. 17For the Lord your God is the God of all gods, the Lord of all lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show favoritism or take bribes. 18He executes justice for the orphan and the widows, loves the foreigner, and gives them food and clothing.h
19gYou are to love the foreigner, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20You are to fear the Lord your God and serve him. Cling to him and swear by his name. 21He is the one you are to praise, because he is, your God who carried out those great and awesome things for you that you witnessed. 22Your ancestors went down to Egypt with seventy people, but the Lord your God has now made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.h
Chapter 11
1gTherefore love the Lord your God and be very careful to keep his injunctions, statutes, ordinances, and commands all the time. 2Keep in mind today that I am not speaking to your children, who neither were aware of nor did they witness the discipline of the Lord your God, that is, his great and far-reaching power, 3including: the signs and works that he did within Egypt to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to all his land; 4what he did to the Egyptian army, its horses and chariots, when he caused the waters of the Reed Sea to engulf them as they pursued you; how the Lord destroyed them, even to this day; 5what he did for you in the desert until you came to this place; 6and what he did to Eliabfs sons Dathan and Abiram, descendants of Reuben, when the ground opened up and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing belonging to them in the full sight of Israel. 7Your very own eyes saw all the great things that the Lord did.h
8gKeep all the commands that Ifm giving you today, so you can be strong enough to enter and possess the land that you are crossing over to inherit 9and so youfll live long in the land that the Lord your God promised by an oath to give your ancestors and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10For the land that you are about to enter to inherit isnft like the land of Egypt that you just left, where you plant a seed and irrigate it with your feet like a vegetable garden. 11Instead, the land that you are crossing over to inherit is a land of hills and valleys that drinks water supplied by rain from heaven, 12a land about which the Lord your God is continually concerned, because the eyes of the Lord rest continually on it throughout the entire year.
13gIf you carefully observe the commands that Ifm giving you today, to love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, 14then he will send rain on the land in its season\the early and latter rains\then youfll gather grain, new wine, and oil. 15He will provide grass on the fields for your livestock, and youfll eat and be satisfied. 16Be careful! Otherwise, your hearts will deceive you and you will turn away to serve other gods and worship them. 17The wrath of God will burn against you so that he will restrain the heavens and it wonft rain. The ground wonft yield its produce and youfll be swiftly destroyed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you.
18gTake these commands to heart and keep them in mind, tying them as reminders on your arm and as bands on your forehead. 19Teach them to your children, talking about them while sitting in your house, walking on the road, or when you are about to lie down or get up. 20Also write them upon the doorposts of your house and gates 21so that you and your children may live long on the land that the Lord promised to give your ancestors\as long as the sky remains above the earth.h
22gIf you carefully observe all of these commands that Ifm giving you to do\to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cling to him, 23then the Lord will dispossess all these nations before you and youfll dispossess nations that are even greater and stronger than you. 24Every place upon which the soles of your feet tread will be yours as boundaries\from the desert to Lebanon and from the River (that is, the Euphrates) to the Mediterranean Sea. 25No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God will instill terror and fear of you throughout the entire land wherever you go, just as he promised you. 26Look! Ifm about to grant you a blessing and a curse\ 27a blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that Ifm giving you today, 28or a curse if you donft obey the commands of the Lord your God, by turning from the way that Ifm commanding you today and following other gods whom you have not known.h
29gWhen the Lord brings you to the land that you are about to enter to inherit, repeat the blessings on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal. 30Theyfre across the Jordan River to the west, arenft they, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal near the Oak of Moreh? 31For you are about to cross the Jordan River to go in and possess the land that the Lord your God is about to give you to inherit and live in. 32Be careful to obey all the statutes and ordinances that Ifm placing before you today.h
Chapter 12
1gThese are the statutes and ordinances that you must carefully observe in the land that the Lord God of your ancestors has given you to possess every day that you live on the earth. 2Be sure you destroy there all the places where the nations that youfre going to dispossess serve their gods\upon the high mountains and hills and under every leafy tree. 3Tear down their altars, cut down their sacred poles, and burn them. Cut down the carved images of their gods to erase their memory from that place.h
4gYou must not act like this with respect to the Lord your God. 5Instead, you must seek to enter only the place that the Lord your God will choose among your tribes. There he will establish his name and live. 6Bring your burnt offerings there, along with your sacrifices, your tithes, your hand-carried gifts, your offerings in fulfillment of promises, your freely given offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. 7Then you and your household will eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice with all the works of your hand with which he blessed you.
8gYou must not act as we have been doing here today, where everyone acts as they see fit, 9for you havenft arrived yet to your allotted place that the Lord your God is about to give you. 10But after you have crossed the Jordan River and settled in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and after you have received relief from the enemies around you and are living securely, 11then bring to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling place\where he will establish his name\everything that Ifm commanding you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your hand-carried gifts, and all your best offerings in fulfillment of promises that you pledged to the Lord.
12gRejoice in the presence of the Lord your God\you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the descendant of Levi who is in your city\for there is no territorial allotment for him as you have. 13Be careful not to offer burnt offerings at any location you happen to see 14instead of at the place the Lord will choose in one of the tribal areas. There you may offer burnt offerings, and there you may do everything that Ifm commanding you.h
15gYou may slaughter and eat as much meat as you desire, according to the blessing of the Lord your God, when he provides for you in all your cities. Both ritually unqualified and qualified people may eat it as they would gazelle and deer. 16Only, you must not consume the blood; instead, pour it out on the ground as you would water.
17gYou wonft be allowed to eat your tithe of grain, new wine, oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, your votive offerings that you pledged, your free-will offerings, and the works of your hands in your own cities. 18Youfll eat only in the presence of the Lord your God at the place that he will choose\you, your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the descendant of Levi who is in your cities. Rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God in everything you undertake. 19Be careful not to forget the descendant of Levi while you live in the land. 20When the Lord your God enlarges your territory\just as he told you\and you say eI want to eat meatf since you desire to eat it, you may do so as much as you please.
21gIf the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish his name is distant from you, then you may slaughter from your herd and your flock what the Lord has provided for you, as he instructed you. You may consume them in your cities as much as you please. 22You may eat them, just as you would gazelle and deer. Ritually unqualified and qualified people may eat them. 23Only be sure to refrain from eating blood, because blood is the source of life and you must not consume blood with the meat. 24You must not consume it; instead, pour it on the ground as you would water. 25You must not eat it, so that life will go well for you and for your children after you. Then youfll do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
26gYou may carry and bring only your consecrated gifts and offerings in fulfillment of promises to the place that the Lord will choose. 27You must offer your burnt offerings, both the meat and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God. You must offer the blood by pouring it on the altar of the Lord your God while you consume the meat. 28Be sure to observe all these words that Ifm commanding you, in order that life may go well for you and your children after you forever, for this is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God.h
29gWhen the Lord your God eliminates the nations that you are about to dispossess so you can live in their land, 30after they have been destroyed in your sight, be careful not to be ensnared as they were. Otherwise, you will seek their gods and ask yourselves, eHow do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.f 31You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practiced in the presence of their gods every sort of abomination that the Lord hates. Moreover, they sacrificed their sons and daughters to their gods. 32Now as to everything Ifm commanding you, you must be careful to observe it. Donft add to or subtract from it.h
Chapter 13
1gA prophet or a diviner of dreams may arise among you, give you an omen or a miracle 2that takes place, and then he may tell you, eLetfs follow other gods (whom you have not known) and letfs serve them.f Even though the sign or portent comes to pass, 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or that diviner of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to make known whether or not youfll continue to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. 4You must follow the Lord your God, fear him, observe his commandments, listen to his voice, serve him, and cling to him. 5That prophet or diviner of dreams must be executed, because he advocated rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and because he lured you from the way in which the Lord your God instructed you to live. Purge the evil from among you.h
6gYour own blood brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your friend who is like your soul mate quietly may entice you. He may tell you, eLetfs go and serve other gods,f (whom neither you nor your ancestors have known 7from the gods of the people that surround you\whether near or far from you\from one end of the earth to the other). 8You must not yield to him, listen to him, look with pity on him, show compassion to him, or even cover up for him. 9But you must surely execute him. You must be the first to put him to death with your own hand, and then the hands of the whole community. 10Stone him to death, because he sought to lure you from the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the land of slavery. 11Then all Israel will hear about it, be afraid, and wonft do this evil thing again among you.
12gYou may hear in one of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you to inhabit 13that worthless men have come from among you to entice those who live in the towns. They may say, eLetfs go and serve other gods that you havenft known.f 14You must thoroughly investigate and inquire if it is true that this detestable thing exists among you. If it is so, 15then put the inhabitants of the town to death by the sword. Devote everything in it to divine destruction\even its livestock\by the sword.
16Gather whatever youfve taken as spoils at the public square of the town, then burn the town, along with whatever youfve taken, as an offering to the Lord your God. It will remain a permanent mound of ruins, never to be rebuilt again. 17Moreover, you must never take any item from those condemned things, so the Lord may yet relent from his burning anger and extend compassion, have mercy, and cause you to increase in number\as he promised by an oath to your ancestors\ 18if you obey the voice of the Lord your God by observing all his commands that Ifm commanding you today.
Do what is right in the sight of the Lord your God.h
Chapter 14
1gYou are children of the Lord your God. You must not lacerate yourselves or shave your foreheads on account of the dead, 2because you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord chose to make you his precious possession from among all the peoples of the earth.
3gYou must not eat any detestable food. 4These are the animals that you may eat: ox, sheep, goat, 5deer, gazelle, roebuck, wild goat, ibex, antelope, and mountain sheep. 6You may eat every animal with a divided hoof\those with split cloven hooves\that chews the cud. 7However, you must not eat these animals that chew the cud or have a divided hoof: the camel, hare, and rock badger. Even though they chew the cud, their hooves are not divided. Therefore they are unclean for you. 8And also the pig, because even though its hoof is divided, it does not chew the cud. It is therefore unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or even touch their carcasses.
9gYou may choose to eat from these creatures in the water: you may eat anything with fin and scale, 10but you may not eat anything without fin and scale, since it is unclean to you.
11gYou may eat all clean birds. 12But you must not eat from any of these: the eagle, vulture, osprey, 13buzzard, any kind of kite, 14any kind of raven, 15the ostrich, night hawk, seagull, any kind of falcon, 16the little owl, the great owl, the horned owl, 17the pelican, the carrion vulture, the cormorant, 18the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. 19Any winged, swarming insect is unclean to you. They must not be eaten. 20You may eat every bird that is clean.
21gYou must not eat any carcass. But you may give it to the alien in your cities so he may eat it or sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to the Lord your God.
gYou must not cook a young goat in its motherfs milk.h
22gBe sure to tithe annually from everything you plant that yields a harvest in the field. 23Then in the presence of the Lord your God, in the place where hefll choose to establish his name, you may consume the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your livestock and flock, so that youfll learn to revere the Lord your God all your life. 24Now the way may be distant from you, so that you are unable to transport your tithe because you have been blessed by the Lord your God and the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish his name may be distant from you. 25In that case, convert it into cash, secure the money, and then bring it to the place where the Lord will choose. 26You may spend the money to your heartfs content to buy livestock, flocks, wine, strong drink, and whatever you desire. You and your household may eat there and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God.h
27gBut you must not forget the descendant of Levi in your town because there is no tribal allotment for him as there is for you. 28Every third year, bring all the tithes of your produce of that year and store it in your cities 29so the descendants of Levi\who have no tribal allotment as you do\foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities may come, eat, and be satisfied. That way, the Lord your God shall bless you in everything you do.h
Chapter 15
1gYou must cancel your debts at the end of every seventh year. 2This is the way to conduct remission: every creditor must cancel the loan that his friend borrowed, and he must not pressure his friend or brother to repay it, because remission to the Lord will be proclaimed. 3You may exact payment from a foreigner, but cancel whatever your brother owes you.
4gMoreover, there will be no poor person among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land that he is about to give you to possess. 5Only be certain to obey the voice of the Lord your God. Carefully observe all of these commands that Ifm commanding to you today. 6For the Lord your God will bless you just as he promised. You are to lend to many nations but not borrow. Also, you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.h
7gIf there should be a poor man among your relatives in one of the cities of the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, donft be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative. 8Instead, be sure to open your hand to him and lend him enough to lessen his need.
9gBe careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: eThe seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near,f and you show ill will toward your poor relative and not give to him. He may then call to the Lord on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin. 10You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so. Because of this, the Lord your God will bless all your works and everything you do. 11Since poor people wonft cease to exist in the land, therefore Ifm commanding you: Be sure to be generous to your poor and needy relatives in your land.h
12gWhen a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set them free. 13But when you set them free, donft send them away empty-handed. 14Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the Lord your God has blessed you, so give to them. 15Donft ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the Lord your God redeemed you. Therefore, Ifm giving you these commands today.
16gShould that slave say to you, eI wonft leave you,f because he loves you and your household, and it was good for him to be with you, 17then take an awl and pierce through his earlobe into the door. Then he will be your slave forever. You are to do the same for your female slaves. 18Donft view this as a hardship for yourself when you set him free, for he will have served you for six years\twice the time of a paid worker. Then the Lord will bless you in all that you do.h
19gSet apart for the Lord your God every firstborn male among your herd and flock. You must not put the firstborn of your ox to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. 20Then in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your household must eat them every year at the place the Lord will choose. 21If it has a blemish\lameness, blindness, or any kind of defect\you must not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. 22In your cities both the unclean and the clean together are to eat together, as the gazelle and the deer. 23Only you must not eat its blood. Pour it on the ground like water.h
Chapter 16
1gObserve the month of Abib, keeping the Passover to the Lord your God, because the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt during the night in the month of Abib. 2Then sacrifice sheep and cattle for the Passover to the Lord your God at the place where the Lord your God will choose to establish his name. 3You must not eat any yeast with it. Instead, for seven days eat bread without yeast\the bread of affliction\because you left the land of Egypt in haste. Remember the day you went out of the land of Egypt for the rest of your lives. 4Yeast is not to be seen in any of your territories for seven days. The meat is not to remain from the evening of the first day until morning.
5gYou must not sacrifice the Passover in just any of your cities that the Lord your God is about to give you. 6But at the place where your God will choose to establish his name, you are to sacrifice the Passover in the evening at dusk, at the time of day you left Egypt. 7Boil and eat the Passover meal at the place that the Lord your God will choose. In the morning you may go back to your tents. 8Eat bread without yeast for six days. Then on the seventh day, hold an assembly to the Lord your God. Donft do any work.h
9gCount off seven weeks from when the sickle is first put to standing grain. 10Then observe the Festival of Weeks in the presence of the Lord your God by giving your tribute and the freewill offering of your hands in proportion to the manner in which the Lord your God blessed you. 11Rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God with your son, daughter, male and female slaves, the descendant of Levi who is in your city, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow among you, at the place where the Lord your God will choose to establish his name. 12Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, so keep and observe these statutes.h
13gCelebrate the Festival of Tents for seven days after you harvest from your threshing floor and your wine press. 14Rejoice in your festival\you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the descendants of Levi, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities. 15For seven days you are to celebrate in the presence of the Lord your God at the place where the Lord will choose; for the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in everything you do, and your joy will be complete.
16gEvery male must appear in the presence of the Lord your God three times a year at the place where he will choose: for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Seven Weeks, and the Festival of Tents. He must not appear in the Lordfs presence empty-handed, 17but each one must appear with his own gift, proportional to the blessing that the Lord your God has given you.h
18gAppoint judges and civil servants according to your tribes in all your cities that the Lord your God is about to give you, so they may judge the people impartially. 19You must not twist justice, show favoritism, or take bribes, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the speech of the righteous. 20You are to pursue justice\and only justice\so you may live and possess the land that the Lord your God is about to give you.
21gYou are not to set up a sacred pole beside the altar of the Lord your God that you will build. 22Furthermore, you are not to erect for yourselves a sacred stone pillar, because the Lord your God detests these things. 
Chapter 17
1You are not to sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has a defect or any flaw in it, because that is detestable to the Lord your God.h
2gYou may discover that a man or woman living in one of your cities that the Lord your God is about to give you has done evil in the eyes of the Lord your God by transgressing his covenant. 3He may be following and serving other gods by bowing down to them\that is, to the sun, the moon, or to any of the heavenly host (something I did not command). 4When it is reported to you or you hear of it, then investigate it thoroughly. When the truth has been established that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5summon the man or the woman who did this evil thing to your city gates. Then stone the man or the woman to death. 6Based on the testimony of two or three witnesses, they must surely die. But they are not to die based on the testimony of one person. 7Let the witnesses be the first to begin executing them, then the rest of the people shall follow. By doing this you will purge evil from among you.h
8gIf a case is too difficult for you to decide with respect to bloodshed, civil claims, assault and battery, or other matters of dispute within your courts, bring it to the place that the Lord your God will choose. 9Present the case to the Levitical priest or the judge at that time. When you have inquired and they have announced the verdict, 10carry out the verdict that was declared to you at the place that the Lord will choose. Carefully observe all of their instructions to you 11in accordance with what the Law says, and in accordance with the verdict that will be handed to you. You must not deviate from the verdict that they declare to you either to the right or to the left.
12gIf a man presumptuously disregards the priest who is serving the Lord your God there or the judge, that person must die so you will purge evil from Israel. 13Then all the people who hear will be afraid and will not act presumptuously again.h
14gWhen you have come to the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, and you have taken possession of it, and have settled in it, then you will say, eI will appoint a king over me like all the nations around me.f 15You will certainly set a king over you, whom the Lord your God will choose from among your relatives, but you must not place a foreign king over you who is not from your relatives. 16Only he must not amass horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt to obtain more horses. For the Lord said you must never return that way again. 17Also, he must not accumulate wives for himself (otherwise, his affection will become diverted), nor accumulate for himself excessive quantities of silver and gold. 18When he occupies his royal throne, he must make a copy of this Law for himself from a scroll used by the Levitical priests. 19It is to remain with him the rest of his life so he may learn to fear the Lord his God and observe all the words of this Law and these statutes, in order to fulfill them. 20He is not to exalt himself over his relatives, nor turn aside from the commandment\neither to the right nor to the left\so that he and his sons may reign long in Israel.h
Chapter 18
1gThe Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, will not have a portion or an inheritance within Israel. Instead, they will eat the burnt offerings of the Lord, because that is their inheritance. 2But they will not have an inheritance among their relatives, because the Lord alone is their inheritance\as he promised them.h
3gA portion of what the people offer in sacrifice, whether cattle or sheep, is to be due the priests. They must set aside the shoulder, jowls, and stomach for the priest. 4Give them the first gatherings of your grain, wine, oil, and wool from the shearing of your flock. 5For the Lord your God has chosen them and their descendants from among your tribes to stand and serve in the name of the Lord all their lives.h
6gAny descendant of Levi who wishes to do so may come from any city or part of Israel where he resides to the place that the Lord will choose. 7There he may serve in the name of the Lord his God. Like his fellow descendants of Levi who stand there in the Lordfs presence, 8he may eat the same share as they do regardless of what he receives from his ancestral estate.h
9gWhen you enter the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, donft learn the detestable practices of those nations there. 10There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, practices divination, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11casts spells, or who is a medium, an occultist, or a necromancer. 12Whoever practices these things is detestable to the Lord, and the Lord your God will expel them before you because of these things. 13You must be completely faithful to the Lord your God, 14because those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to those who practice witchcraft and divination. But the Lord does not allow you to act this way.h
15gThe Lord your God will raise up a prophet like me for you from among your relatives. You must listen to him. 16For this is what you asked from the Lord your God at Horeb when you were assembled together: eDonft let us hear the voice of the Lord our God again, or even see this great fire\otherwise, we will die.f
17gThen the Lord told me: eWhat they have suggested is good. 18I will raise up a prophet like you from among their relatives, and I will place my words in his mouth so that he may expound everything that I have commanded to them. 19But if someone will not listen to those words that the prophet speaks in my name, I will hold him accountable. 20Even then, if the prophet speaks presumptuously in my name, which I didnft authorize him to speak, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.f 21Now you may ask yourselves, eHow will we be able to discern that the Lord has not spoken?f 22Whenever a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, and the oracle does not come about or the word is not fulfilled, then the Lord has not spoken it. The prophet will have spoken presumptuously, so you need not fear him.h
Chapter 19
1gWhen the Lord your God destroys those nations whose lands he is about to give you, you must dispossess them and live in their cities and houses. 2You must reserve three cities within the land that the Lord your God is about to give you to possess. 3Build roads throughout the land that the Lord your God is providing as an inheritance, and then divide it into three districts so that any killer may flee there.
4gNow this is the situation for any killer who flees there to live: suppose he strikes his friend unwittingly, not having hated him previously. 5For instance, he may have accompanied his friend to go to a forest to cut trees. Then he swung his axe to cut some wood, but the ax head flew off the handle and hit his friend, so that he died. The killer may flee to one of these cities to live. 6While the distance may be great and the angry avenger pursues the killer, he may overtake him and kill him, in which case there will be no justice in his death, because he did not hate his friend previously. 7Therefore I am commanding you to reserve three cities.h
8gNow if the Lord enlarges your territories just as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land that he promised, 9and if you are careful to observe all these commands that I am commanding you today\to love the Lord your God and to walk daily in his ways\then add three more cities in addition to these three cities. 10You must not shed innocent blood on your land that the Lord your God is about to give you as an inheritance. Otherwise, youfll be guilty of murder.h
11gHowever, if a person hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and attacks him so that he dies, and then he flees to one of those cities, 12then the elders of his own city shall send for him, remove him from there, and deliver him to the related avenger for execution. 13Have no pity on him, but totally purge the shedding of innocent blood from Israel so that life may go well with you.
14gWhen you inherit the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, donft move your neighborfs boundary marker from where it was placed long ago.h
15gThe testimony of one person alone is not to suffice to convict anyone of any iniquity, sin, or guilt. But the matter will stand on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 16When a malicious witness takes the stand against a man and accuses him, 17then both must stand with their dispute in the Lordfs presence, the priests, and the judges at that time. 18The judges will investigate thoroughly. If the false witness lies in testifying against his relative, 19do to him just as he intended to do to his relative. By doing this you will purge evil from your midst. 20When others hear of this, they will be afraid and will not do such an evil deed again in your midst. 21Your eyes must not show pity\life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.h
Chapter 20
1gWhen you go to war against your enemies and observe more horses, chariots, and soldiers than you have, donft be afraid of them, for the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt is with you.
2gAs you draw near for battle, let the priest approach and speak to the army. 3He will say to them, eListen, Israel! Youfre about to go into battle today against your enemies. Donft be faint-hearted. Donft be afraid, donft panic, and donft be terrified to face them. 4For the Lord your God will be with you, fighting on your behalf against your enemies in order to grant you victory.f
5gFurthermore, let the officials ask the army, eIs there a man here who has built a new house but has not yet dedicated it? Let him go back home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
6geAnd is there a man here who has planted a vineyard and not yet benefited from it? Let him go home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man use it.
7geAnd is there a man here who is engaged to a woman and has not yet married her? Let him go back home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man marry her.f
8gLet the officials also speak to the army, eIs there a man here who is afraid and faint-hearted? Let him go back home. Otherwise, he may demoralize his fellow soldier.f
9gWhen the officials have finished speaking to the army, they must appoint officers to lead the troops.h
10gWhen you approach a city to wage war against it, extend terms of peace. 11If it agrees to peace and welcomes you, then all the people found in it will serve you as forced laborers. 12But if they refuse to make peace with you and instead choose war, then attack it. 13The Lord your God will deliver it into your control, and you must execute every male. 14The women, children, all the livestock in the city, and all of the spoil and plunder will belong to you. Appropriate the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God will give you. 15Do this to all the cities that are distant from you\that is, to those cities that are not in neighboring nations.h
16gYou are not to leave even one person alive in the cities of these nations that the Lord your God is about to give you as an inheritance. 17You must completely destroy the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, just as the Lord your God commanded you, 18so they wonft teach you to do all the detestable things that they do for their gods. If you do what they teach you, you will sin against the Lord your God.h
19gWhen you attack a city and have to fight against it for many days, donft destroy its trees by cutting them down with an ax. You may eat from them, but you must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human beings, that you would come and attack them? 20However, you may cut down the trees whose fruit you know isnft edible, in order to build siege works against the city that waged war with you, until it falls.h
Chapter 21
1gIf a murder victim is found fallen in the open country of the land that the Lord your God is about to give you to possess, and it is not known who killed him, 2then let your elders and judges go out and measure the distance from the dead body to the neighboring cities. 3Then the elders of the city nearest the body are to take a heifer that hasnft been put to work or hasnft pulled a yoke 4and shall lead the heifer to a flowing stream in a valley that has never been tilled or planted. They shall break the heiferfs neck there.
5gThen the priests of the sons of Levi will step forward, because the Lord your God chose them to serve and pronounce blessings in his name. Every case of dispute and assault is to be subject to their ruling. 6All the elders of the city nearest the dead body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7and they are to make this declaration: eOur hands didnft shed this blood, nor were we witnesses to the crime. 8Make atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, Lord, and donft charge the blood of an innocent man against them.f Then the blood shed will be atoned for. 9This is how you will remove the guilt of innocent blood from among you, for you must do what is right in the sight of the Lord.h
10gIf you go to battle against your enemies, and the Lord your God delivers them into your control, you may take some prisoners captive. 11If you see among the prisoners a beautiful woman and you desire her, then you may take her as your wife. 12Bring her to your house, but shave her head and trim her nails. 13Remove her prisonerfs clothing and let her remain for a month in your house, mourning her parents. After that, you may become her husband and she is to become your wife. 14If you arenft pleased with her and you send her away, you must not sell her for money or mistreat her, since you have dishonored her.h
15gIf a man has two wives where one is loved but the other is unloved, and both of them bear him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the unloved wife, 16then when he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, he must not give preference to the firstborn of the beloved wife over the firstborn of the unloved wife. 17Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn of the unloved wife by giving him double of everything he owns, because he is really the first fruit of his fatherfs strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.h
18gIf a man has a stubborn son who does not obey his parents, and although they try to discipline him, he still refuses to pay attention to them, 19then his parents shall seize him and bring him before the elders at the gate of his city. 20Then they are to declare to the elders of their city: eOur son is stubborn and rebellious. He does not obey us. He lives wildly and is a drunkard.f 21Then all the men of his city shall stone him with stones so that he dies. This is how you will remove this evil from among you. Then all Israel will hear of it and will be afraid.h
22gIf a man is guilty of a capital offense, is executed, and then is impaled on a tree, 23his body must not remain overnight on the tree. You must bury him that same day, because cursed of God is the one who has been hanged on a tree. Donft defile your land that the Lord is about to give you as your inheritance.h
Chapter 22
1gWhen you see the ox or sheep of your fellow countryman straying, donft go away and leave them. Instead, be sure to return them to him. 2If your fellow countryman doesnft live near you or you donft know who he is, bring the animal to your house and let it remain with you until he claims it. Then return it to him. 3Do the same for his donkey, his garment, and for anything lost that belongs to your fellow countryman. When you find it, you must not ignore it. 4When you see the donkey or the ox of your fellow countryman fallen on the road, donft ignore them. Instead be sure to help them get up.h
5gA woman must not wear what is appropriate to a man, nor shall a man put on a womanfs garment, because anyone who does this is detestable to the Lord your God.
6gWhen you encounter a birdfs nest along the road, whether in a tree or on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting on its chicks or eggs, donft take the mother along with its young. 7You may take the young but be sure to release the mother, so that life will go well for you and that you may have a long life.
8gWhen you build a new house, install a parapet along your roof so that if someone falls from the roof, you wonft bring guilt of bloodshed on your house.h
9gDonft plant two kinds of seeds in your vineyard. Otherwise, the entire crop will have to be forfeited, both the seed that you have sown and the produce from it.
10gDonft plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
11gDonft wear material made from wool and linen mixed together.
12gSew tassels for yourselves on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.h
13gSuppose a man marries a wife but after having sexual relations with her, he despises her, 14invents charges against her, and defames her by saying, eI have married this woman, but when I had sexual relations with her I found that she wasnft a virgin.f
15gThen the father of the young lady, along with her mother, is to bring evidence of the young ladyfs virginity to the elders at the gate. 16The father of the young lady is to then say to the elders: eI have given my daughter to this man as a wife, but he despises her. 17Now look, he has invented charges against her by saying, gI havenft found your daughter to be a virgin.h But here is the proof of my daughterfs virginity.f Then they are to spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
18gThe elders of that city will then take the man, punish him, 19fine him 100 shekels of silver, and then give them to the young ladyfs father, because he had defamed a virgin of Israel. She is to remain his wife and he canft divorce her as long as he lives.
20But if this charge is true, and the evidence of the young ladyfs virginity werenft found, 21they are to bring her to the door of her fatherfs house. Then the men of the city shall stone her with boulders until she dies for doing a detestable thing in Israel\acting like a prostitute while in her fatherfs house. By doing this, you will remove this evil from among you.
22gIf a man is caught having sexual relations with a married woman, then both of them must die\the man who had sex with the woman and the woman herself\so that this evil will be removed from Israel.
23gIf a man meets a young virgin lady engaged to be married in the city and has sexual relations with her, 24then the two must be brought to the city gate and there they must be stoned to death\the girl because she was in a city but did not cry out for help, and the man who abused a woman who was engaged to another man. By doing this you are to remove this evil from among you.
25gIf a man meets a girl in the country who is engaged to be married and then rapes her, the man alone\the one who had sexual relations with her\must die. 26As for the young lady, donft do anything to her. The young lady did nothing worthy of death. This case is similar to when a man attacks his countryman and kills him. 27Since he found her in the country, the engaged girl may have cried out, but there was no one to rescue her.
28gHowever, if a man meets a girl who isnft engaged to be married, and he seizes her, rapes her, and is later found out, 29then the man who raped her must give 50 shekels of silver to the girlfs father. Furthermore, he must marry her. Because he had violated her, he is to not divorce her as long as he lives.
30gA man must not marry his fatherfs wife, so that he will not dishonor his fatherfs memory.h
Chapter 23
1gNo man whose testicles have been crushed or whose penis has been cut off may participate in the assembly of the Lord. 2Furthermore, no one born due to an illicit sexual relationship may participate in the assembly of the Lord, including his descendants to the tenth generation.
3gNo Ammonite or Moabite may participate in the assembly of the Lord, and none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord, to the tenth generation, 4because they didnft come to meet you with food and water along the way as you were coming out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Beorfs son Balaam from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. 5However, the Lord your God didnft listen to Balaam. The Lord your God turned Balaamfs curse into a blessing, because the Lord your God loves you. 6Donft seek a peace treaty with them as long as you live.
7gDonft detest Edomites, since they are related to you. Donft detest Egyptians, either, because you were strangers in their land. 8Their grandchildren may participate in the assembly of the Lord.h
9gWhen you are encamped for battle against your enemies, be on guard against every form of impropriety. 10If someone among you becomes unclean due to nocturnal emissions, he must leave the camp and stay outside. 11As evening approaches he must wash himself with water. Then at sunset, he may return to the camp.
12gChoose a place outside the camp for a latrine. 13Include a spade among your equipment so that when you squat to relieve yourself, you can dig a hole and then cover your excrement. 14For the Lord your God is on the move within your camp to deliver you and to hand your enemies over to you. Therefore your camp must be holy so that he will not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.h
15gDonft hand over a slave who escaped from his master when he runs to you. 16Let him live among you wherever he chooses in any of your cities that he likes. Donft mistreat him.h
17gThere is to be no cultic prostitutes from among the daughters or the sons of Israel. 18Donft bring the earnings of a female prostitute nor the income of a male prostitute into the house of the Lord your God as payment for any vow. Both of these are detestable to the Lord your God.h
19gDonft charge interest to your relatives, whether for money, food, or for anything that has been loaned at interest. 20You may charge interest to a foreigner, but donft charge interest to your relatives, so the Lord your God may bless you in everything you undertake in the land that you are about to enter and possess.
21gWhen you make a vow to the Lord your God, donft delay paying it, because the Lord your God will certainly demand payment from you, and then you will be guilty of sin. 22But if you refrain from making a vow, then you wonft be guilty. 23Be sure you do whatever you promise, because you have given your word voluntarily to the Lord your God.
24gWhen you enter your countrymenfs vineyard, you may eat the grapes to your satisfaction, but donft take any in a basket. 25When you enter your countrymenfs grain fields, you may pluck the grain with your hand, but donft put a sickle to his standing grain.h
Chapter 24
1gIf a man chooses to enter into marriage with a woman, but she finds herself displeasing to him because he has found something objectionable about her, he must draw up divorce papers, hand them to her, and then send her out of his house. 2If she goes out from his house, becomes the wife of another man, 3and this second husband dislikes her, he, also, must draw up divorce papers, hand them to her, and then send her away from his house. Should the second husband die, 4her first husband who married her and divorced her earlier must not remarry her, because she was defiled, since this is detestable to the Lord. Donft defile the land that the Lord your God is about to give you as a possession.
5gWhen a man is newly married, he must not be sent out to war or have a related duty placed on him. Let him stay home for one year and be happy with his wife whom he has married.
6gDonft take a pair of millstones, especially the upper millstone, as collateral for a loan, because this means taking a manfs livelihood.
7gIf a man is found kidnapping his relative, a fellow Israeli, and mistreats or sells him, that kidnapper must die. By doing this, you will remove this evil from among you.
8gIn cases of leprosy, be very careful to observe exactly what the Levitical priests instructed you. Carefully follow what I have commanded them. 9Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam along the way as you were coming out of Egypt.h
10gWhen you loan something to your neighbor, donft enter his house to seize what he offered as collateral. 11Stay outside and let the man to whom you made the loan bring it out to you. 12If he is a poor man, donft go to sleep with his collateral in your possession. 13Be sure to return his garment to him at sunset so that he may sleep with it, and he will bless you. It will be a righteous deed in the presence of the Lord your God.
14gDonft take advantage of a hired person who is poor and needy, whether hefs your fellow citizen or a foreigner who lives in your city. 15Pay his wages that same day before the sun sets, because he is poor and his livelihood depends on it. Otherwise, he may cry out to the Lord against you, and you will incur guilt.h
16gFathers must not be put to death on account of their childrenfs sin; nor shall children die on account of their fathersf sin. Each person is to be put to death for his own sin.
17gDonft deny justice to a foreigner or to an orphan, nor take a widowfs garment as collateral for a loan. 18Remember to observe this because you were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I am commanding you to do this.
19gWhen you are reaping in the field, and you overlook a sheaf, donft return to get it. Let it remain for the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless everything you undertake.
20gWhen you harvest the olives from your trees, donft go back to the branches a second time. What remains is for the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow.
21gWhen you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, donft go back a second time. What remains are for the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow. 22Remember to do this because you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why Ifm commanding you to do this.h
Chapter 25
1gWhen there is a conflict between individuals, let them come to court to judge the case, decide who is innocent, and condemn the guilty person. 2If the guilty person deserves a beating, the judge will make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes fit for his crime. 3But he must not be beaten more than 40 lashes, because if he receives more than 40 lashes, your brother will be humiliated in your eyes.
4gDonft muzzle an ox while it is threshing grain.h
5gWhen two brothers are living together and one of them dies without leaving a son, his widow must not be married outside the family to a foreigner. Instead, the brother-in-law must go to her, take her as his wife, and by doing so perform the duty of a brother-in-law. 6The firstborn whom she will bear will continue the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be erased from Israel. 7But if the man does not want to marry his brotherfs widow, then she must go to the elders at the city gate and declare, eMy husbandfs brother refuses to perform the duty of a brother-in-law in order to preserve the name of his brother in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law.f 8Then the elders of the city are to summon him and speak with him. If he insists on saying, eI donft want to marry her,f 9then she is to approach her brother-in-law in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and say in response, eMay this be done to the man who does not preserve the lineage of his brother.f 10Then his family name in Israel will be known eas the family of the one whose sandal was removed.fh
11gIf two men are fighting together, and the wife of one comes to rescue her husband from the grasp of his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes his genitals, 12cut off her hand. Donft show any pity.h
13gDonft have different weights in your bag\one heavy and one light. 14Donft have different measuring devices in your house\one large and one small. 15You must have honest weights and measuring devices, so you may live long in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, 16for anyone who does these things\anyone who deals dishonestly\is detestable to the Lord your God.h
17gRemember what the Amalekites did to you along the road while you were coming out of Egypt, 18how when you were very tired and weary, they lay in wait for you on the road and eliminated everyone who was lagging behind. They had no fear of God. 19Therefore, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies who surround you in the land that he is about to give you to possess as an inheritance, you must completely erase the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven. Donft forget!h
Chapter 26
1gWhen you arrive in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you as an inheritance, take possession of it and settle in it. 2Gather all the first produce of the ground that you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is about to give you, place it in a basket, and bring it to the place where the Lord your God will choose to establish his name. 3Approach the priest who is in charge at that time and say to him, eI acknowledge today to the Lord your God that Ifve arrived in the land that the Lord promised our ancestors to give us.f
4gThen the priest will take the basket from you and place it in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5Then you are to affirm and declare in the presence of the Lord your God:
A wandering Aramean was my ancestor, who went down to Egypt and traveled there with very few family members, yet there he became a great, powerful, and populous nation. 6But the Egyptians oppressed us, afflicted us, and assigned us to hard labor. 7So we cried out to the Lord God of our ancestors, and he heard our cries and observed our affliction, trouble, and oppression. 8The Lord brought us out of Egypt with his awesome power, with great terror, signs, and wonders. 9And then we arrived at this place, and he gave this land to us, flowing with milk and honey. 10Now, look\I brought the first produce of the land that you, Lord, have given me.
Then set it in the presence of the Lord your God and worship him. 11Rejoice with the descendants of Levi and the foreigner among you at all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family.h
12gWhen you have finished your harvest, reserve the tithe in the third year (the year of the tithe), and give the entire tithe to the descendants of Levi, to the foreigners, to the orphans, and to the widows, so they may eat and be satisfied in your cities. 13Then declare in the presence of the Lord your God:
eIfve removed the holy offering from my house and given it to the descendants of Levi, to the foreigners, to the orphans, and to the widows just as you have commanded me. I havenft violated or forgotten your commands. 14I havenft eaten any part of it while mourning, nor removed any part of it while unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead. Ifve obeyed the voice of the Lord my God and did all that he commanded me. 15Look down from your holy habitation in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land that you have given us, just as you promised our ancestors\a land flowing with milk and honey.fh
16gThe Lord your God is commanding you this very day to observe these statutes and judgments. Be careful to obey them with all your heart and soul. 17You have declared this very day that the Lord will be your God. You are to walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and judgments, and obey his voice. 18The Lord affirmed this day that you are his prized possession. Therefore observe his commands, 19so he may elevate you far above all the nations that he has made. Then you will live to the praise, fame, and glory of God, and so be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, as he has promised.h
Chapter 27
1Moses and the elders of Israel gave these orders to the people: gObserve all of the commandments that Ifm giving you today. 2On the day you cross over the Jordan River to the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. 3Then inscribe on them all the words of this law when youfve crossed over into the land that the Lord your God is about to give you\a land flowing with milk and honey\just as the Lord God of your ancestors promised you.
4gWhen you have crossed the Jordan River, set up these stones about which Ifm commanding you today on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster. 5Then build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones that hasnft been worked with iron tools. 6Build the altar to the Lord your God with uncut stones, then offer a burnt offering to him. 7Offer a burnt offering there, then eat and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. 8Inscribe on the stones plainly and distinctly all the words of this Law.h
9Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to Israel. They said, gBe quiet and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10Listen to his voice and carry out his commands and statutes that Ifm giving you today.h
11Moses commanded the people that day saying, 12gWhen you cross the Jordan River, these tribes are to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people\Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali are to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curse.
14gThe descendants of Levi are to declare in a loud voice to every Israeli:
15gCursed is the one who makes a sculptured or cast image\a detestable thing to the Lord, the work of a craftsman\and sets it up secretly.f
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
16gCursed is the one who treats his father and mother with dishonor.f
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
17gCursed is the one who moves his neighborfs boundary stone.f
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
18gCursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
19gCursed is the one who perverts justice due the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow.f
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
20gCursed is the one who has sexual relations with his fatherfs wife, because he has disgraced his father.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
21gCursed is the one who has sexual relations with any animal.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
22gCursed is the one who has sexual relations with his sister, the daughter of his father or mother.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
23gCursed is the one who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
24gCursed is one who strikes his neighbor secretly.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
25gCursed is one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!f
26gCursed is the one who doesnft uphold the words of this Law and observe them.
gThen all the people are to respond by saying, eAmen!fh
Chapter 28
1gIndeed, if you diligently obey the Lord your God to carry out all his commands that Ifm giving you today, then the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2Moreover, all these blessings will come upon you in abundance, if you obey the Lord your God:
3gBlessed will you be in the city and blessed will you be in the country.
4gBlessed will your children be, as well as the produce of your land, the offspring of your beasts and cattle, and the offspring of your flock.
5gBlessed will be your grain basket and your kneading bowl.
6gBlessed will you be in your comings and goings.h
7gThe Lord will make your enemies, who rise against you and attack from one direction, to flee from you in seven directions.
8gThe Lord will send blessings for you with regard to your barns and everything you undertake. Indeed, he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you.
9gThe Lord will assign you to be a holy people for himself, just as he promised you, as long as you keep his commands and walk in his ways.
10gThen all the people of the earth will observe that the name of the Lord is proclaimed among you, and they will fear you.
11gThe Lord will show his abundant goodness with respect to your children, the offspring of your animals, and the produce of your farmland that he promised your ancestors he would give you.
12gThe Lord will open his rich treasury, the heavens, to release rain upon your land in season and bless everything you undertake so that youfll lend to many nations but wonft borrow.
13gThe Lord your God will make you the head and not the tail\placing you above and not beneath\if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that Ifm giving you today to keep and observe. 14Do not deviate from any of his commands that Ifm giving you today\neither to the right nor the left\to follow and serve other gods.h
15gBut if you donft obey the Lord your God and faithfully carry out all his commands and statutes that Ifm giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you and overwhelm you.
16gCursed will you be in the city and cursed will you be in the country.
17gCursed will be your grain basket and your kneading bowl.
18gCursed will your children be, as well as the produce of your land, the offspring of your beasts and cattle, and the offspring of your flock.
19gCursed will you be in your comings and goings.h
20gThe Lord will send the curse among you, will confuse you, and will rebuke you in everything you undertake until you are destroyed and perish quickly because of your evil deeds, since you will have forsaken him. 21The Lord will cause you to be ill with long-lasting diseases until you are wiped out from the land that you are entering to possess. 22The Lord will afflict you with tuberculosis, fever, inflammation, high fever, drought, blight, and mildew. These will attack you until you are completely destroyed. 23The sky above your head will become bronze while the ground beneath you will become iron. 24The Lord will change the rain on your land to powder and dust. It will come down from the sky until you are exterminated.h
25gThe Lord will cause you to be defeated by your enemies. Youfll go out against them in one direction, but youfll flee from them in seven directions. Consequently, youfll be in a state of great terror throughout all the kingdoms of the earth. 26Your dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, with no one to chase them away.
27gThe Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, skin disease, and festering rashes, and none of them will be curable. 28The Lord will afflict you with insanity, blindness, and mental confusion. 29As a result, youfll wander aimlessly in broad daylight just as a blind person wanders in darkness. You wonft prosper in life. Instead youfll be oppressed and plundered all day long, with no deliverer.
30Youfll be engaged to a woman, but another man will rape her. Youfll build a house but you wonft live in it. Youfll plant a vineyard but you wonft harvest it. 31Your ox will be slaughtered in front of you, and you wonft be able to eat it. Your donkey will be stolen from you while you watch and wonft be returned to you. Your flock of sheep will be handed to your enemies and there will be no deliverer. 32Your sons and daughters will be given to another people while you watch, and you wonft be able to approach them at all, and youfll be powerless to help.
33A people whom you donft know will devour what your land and labor produces. Youfll be only oppressed and discouraged continually 34until you are driven insane from what your eyes will see.
35gThe Lord will inflict you with incurable boils on your knees and legs, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.
36gThe Lord will banish you and your king whom you will appoint over you to go to a nation that neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there youfll serve other gods of wood and stone. 37Youfll become a desolation and a proverb, and youfll be mocked among the people where the Lord will drive you.h
38gYoufll plant many seeds in a field, but your harvest will be small because the locust will consume it. 39Youfll plant a vineyard, but you wonft drink wine or harvest any grapes, because worms will consume it. 40Youfll have olive trees throughout your territory, but you wonft be able to anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off the trees. 41Youfll bear sons and daughters, but they wonft belong to you, because theyfll go into captivity. 42Whirling locusts will consume every tree and the produce of your land. 43The foreigner in your midst will be elevated higher and higher over you, while you are brought low little by little. 44He will lend to you, but you wonft lend to him. Hefll be the head, but youfll be the tail. 45All these curses will come upon you and will overwhelm you until you are exterminated, because you didnft obey the Lord your God to keep his commands and statutes, which he had commanded you. 46These curses will serve as a sign and wonder for you and your descendants as long as you live.h
47gBecause you didnft serve the Lord your God joyfully and wholeheartedly, despite the abundance of everything you have, 48youfll serve your enemies whom the Lord your God will send against you. You will serve in famine and in drought, in nakedness, and in lack of everything. Theyfll set a yoke of iron upon your neck until they have exterminated you.
49gThe Lord will raise a distant nation against you from the other side of the earth. Swooping down like a vulture, 50it will be a nation whose language you donft understand, whose stern appearance neither shows regard nor extends grace to anyone whether old or young. 51Its army will consume the offspring of your animals and the produce of your soil until you are exterminated. They will leave you without your grain, wine, oil, the increase of your cattle, and the lamb of your flock, until you are completely destroyed. 52Theyfll besiege all your cities until your high and fortified walls in which you have trusted collapse throughout the land. Indeed, they will besiege all your cities, which the Lord your God gave you.
53gYoufll eat your own children\the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God gave you\on account of the siege and the distress with which your enemy will oppress you. 54Even the compassionate man among you\the very sensitive one\will look with evil in his eyes toward his brother, his beloved wife, and his surviving sons, whom he spared. 55He will withhold from each of them the flesh of his sons that he is eating\since there will be nothing left\on account of the siege and distress with which your enemy will oppress you in all your cities. 56The most tender and sensitive lady among you, who doesnft venture to touch the soles of her feet to the ground on account of her daintiness, will look with hostility in her eyes against her beloved husband, her sons, and her daughters. 57She will eat her afterbirth and her newborn children secretly\since there will be nothing left\on account of the siege and distress with which your enemy will oppress you in your cities.h
58gIf you arenft careful to observe all the words of this Law that have been written in this book, instructing you to fear this glorious and awesome name of the Lord your God 59then he will inflict extraordinary plagues on you and your children, great and lasting plagues, and severe and lasting illnesses. 60He will inflict on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they wonft be curable. 61Moreover, the Lord will inflict you with illnesses and plagues that were not written in this Book of the Law, until you are exterminated. 62Because you will not have obeyed the Lord your God, very few of you will be left\instead of you being as numerous as the stars in the heavens. 63Just as the Lord delighted to prosper and increase you, so now the Lord will delight to destroy, exterminate, and banish you from the land that you are about to enter to possess.h
64gHefll scatter you among the peoples from one end of the earth to the other, and there youfll serve other gods made of wood and stones, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. 65Among those nations youfll have no rest. Therefll be no resting place for the soles of your feet. Instead, the Lord will give you an anxious heart, failing eyesight, and a despairing spirit. 66Youfll cling to life, being fearful by both night and day, with no assurance of survival. 67In the morning youfll say, eI wish it were evening.f Yet in the evening youfll say, gI wish it were morning,h on account of what youfll dread and what youfll see. 68Finally, the Lord will bring you back to Egypt by ship, a place that I said youfll never see again. There youfll try to sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.h
Chapter 29
1These are the terms of the covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelis in the land of Moab in addition to the covenant that he made with them in Horeb. 2Moses called all Israel together and addressed them: gYou saw everything that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to his whole country. 3Those great feats that you saw with your own eyes are signs and great wonders. 4Yet to this day, the Lord hasnft given you a heart that understands, eyes that perceive, and ears that discern.
5gThough Ifve led you for 40 years in the desert, neither your clothes nor your shoes have worn out. 6You didnft have bread to eat or wine or anything intoxicating to drink, so that you would learn that I am the Lord your God. 7Then you reached this place, where King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan had come out to meet and fight with us, but we defeated them. 8We captured their land and handed it as an inheritance to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. 9Therefore, keep the terms of this covenant, carrying them out so that youfll be wise in everything you do.h
10gAll of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God\the heads of your tribes, your elders, your magistrates, all the men of Israel, 11along with your children, your wives, even the foreigner in your camp, including the woodchopper and the water drawer\12to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God and into the oath that he is about to make with you today, 13so that he will elevate you to be a people for him. And he will be God to you, just as he promised you and swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 14Now, Ifm not making this covenant and oath with you alone, 15but with whoever is here with us standing in the presence of the Lord our God today, as well as with those who arenft here with us today.h
16gNow, you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the territory of other nations. 17You have seen their detestable practices, their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold that they had with them. 18Be alert so there is no man, woman, family, or a tribe whose heart is turning away from the Lord your God to go and serve the gods of those nations.
gBe alert so there will be no root among you that produces poisonous and bitter fruit, 19because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he will bless himself and say:
eI will have a peaceful life, even though Ifm determined to be stubborn.f By doing this he will be sweeping away both watered and parched ground alike.f
20The Lord wonft forgive such a person. Instead, the zealous anger of the Lord will blaze against him. All the curses that were written in this book will fall on him. Then the Lord will wipe out his memory from under heaven. 21The Lord will set him apart from all the tribes of Israel for destruction, according to the curses of the covenant that were written in this Book of the Law.h
22gThen the generation to come\your descendants after you and the foreigners who come from afar\will see plagues and illnesses infecting the land that the Lord will inflict on it. 23The whole land will be covered with salt pits and burning sulfur, with nothing planted, nothing sprouting, and producing no vegetation\overthrown like Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, when the Lord had overthrown them in his raging fury. 24All the nations will ask, eWhy did the Lord do this to this land? What is the meaning of this fierce and great anger?f 25Then they will answer themselves,
eBecause theyfve abandoned the covenant of their Lord, the God of their ancestors that he had made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. 26They followed and worshipped other gods whom they had not known and whom he did not assign to them. 27For this reason, the anger of the Lord raged against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that were written in this book. 28The Lord uprooted them from the land in his anger, wrath, and great fury, deporting them to another land, and thatfs the way things are today.f
29The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but what has been revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, so that we might observe the words of this Law.h
Chapter 30
1gWhen all these things happen to you\both the blessings and the curses that Ifve presented to you\and you take them seriously in all the nations where the Lord your God will deport you, 2and when you\you and your descendants, that is\will have returned to him and obeyed all the commands that Ifm giving you today with all your heart and soul, 3then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and will show compassion to you. He will gather you from among the peoples where he had scattered you. 4Even if the Lord had banished you to the ends of the heavens, the Lord your God will gather you from there 5and hefll bring you to the land that your ancestors inherited. Youfll possess it, youfll prosper, and youfll greatly multiply more than your ancestors did. 6Then the Lord your God will circumcise both your hearts and those of your descendants so that you can love him with your heart and with your soul and therefore live. 7Then the Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you.h
8gSo now, return and obey the Lord your God and observe all his commands that Ifm giving you today, 9and the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all that you do, along with your children, your livestock, and the produce of your fields. For the Lord your God will again be delighted with you for good, just as he was delighted with your ancestors, 10if you obey him and keep his commands and statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, and if you return to him with all your heart and soul.
11gIndeed, these commands that Ifm giving you today are neither confusing nor unattainable for you. 12They arenft in the heavens, so you have to ask, eWhofll go up to the heavens for us and get it for us so we can hear it and act on it?f 13And they arenft beyond the seas either, so you have to ask, eWhofll cross the sea and get it for us so we can hear it and act on it?f 14No, the word is very near you\itfs within your mouth and heart for you to attain.h
15gLook, today I have set before you life and what is good, along with death and what is evil. 16Thatfs why Ifm commanding you today to love the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by observing his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live long, increase, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in the land that you are about to enter to possess.
17gBut if you turn your heart away, and do not obey, but instead if you stray away to worship and serve other gods, 18Ifm declaring to you today that you will surely be destroyed. You wonft live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to enter and possess.
19gI call heaven and earth to testify against you today! Ifve set life and death before you today: both blessings and curses. Choose life, that it may be well with you\you and your children. 20Love the Lord your God, obey his voice, and cling to him, because he is your life\even your long life\so that you may live in the land that the Lord promised to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.h
Chapter 31
1Moses went and explained these things to everyone in Israel. 2Then he concluded, gIfm now 120 years old. Ifm not able to get around anymore, 3and the Lord told me, eYou wonft be crossing the Jordan River.f But the Lord your God is crossing over before you. He will destroy these nations in front of you and you will dispossess them.
gAs for Joshua, he will cross over before you, just as the Lord promised. 4The Lord will do to them just as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land when he destroyed them. 5The Lord will hand them over to you, so you can do to them what Ifve instructed you to do. 6Be strong and courageous. Donft fear or tremble before them, because the Lord your God will be the One who keeps on walking with you\he wonft leave you or abandon you.h
7Then Moses called on Joshua and told him in the presence of everyone in Israel, gBe strong and courageous, because youfll bring this people to the land that the Lord your God had promised to give your ancestors. You will be the one who causes them to possess it. 8Indeed, the LORD is the One who will keep on walking in front of you. Hefll be with you and wonft leave you or abandon you, so never be afraid and never be dismayed.h
9Then Moses wrote down this Law and gave it to the Levitical priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and to all of Israelfs leaders. 10Then he gave these orders: gAt the end of seven years, the year designated for release, during the Festival of Tents, 11when all of Israel comes to appear in the presence of the Lord your God at the place that hefll choose, read this Law aloud to them. 12Gather the people\the men, women, children, and the foreigners that live in your cities\so they may hear and fear the Lord your God, and so they may be careful to obey the words contained in this Law. 13Their children who donft know will hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.h
14Then the Lord told Moses: gLook! Because your time to die is approaching, call Joshua, present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, and then I will commission him.h Moses and Joshua complied and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting. 15So the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud that stood above the entrance.
16Then the Lord told Moses: gLook! You are about to join your ancestors. Afterwards, this people will rebel and commit prostitution with the foreign gods of the land that they are about to enter to possess. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I made with them. 17When that happens, my anger will burn against them, because they will have abandoned me. Ifll hide my face from them, they will be consumed, and many evils and distresses will find them. When this happens, they will say, eThese troubles have happened to us because God isnft among us.f 18Ifll surely hide my face in that day on account of the evil that they will have done for they turned to other gods.h
19gNow write this song and teach it to the Israelis. Put this song in their very mouths, so that it will be a witness for me against the Israelis, 20because after Ifve brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised to their ancestors by an oath, theyfll eat, grow fat, and then theyfll turn to other gods and serve them, while despising me and breaking my covenant. 21Then, when many evils and troubles will have come upon them, this song will serve as a witness against them, since their descendants wonft fail to sing it. I know the plan that they are devising even before I bring them into the land that I promised them by an oath.h
22So Moses wrote the song that very day and taught it to the Israelis. 23Then the Lord charged Nunfs son Joshua, gBe strong and courageous, because youfll bring the Israelis to the land that I promised to them by an oath. Ifll be with you.h
24When Moses had finished writing the words of this Law in a book, 25he gave this charge to the descendants of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord: 26gTake the book of this Law and set it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God. Let it remain there with you as witness against you, 27because indeed I know your rebellion and stubbornness. Note that even while Ifm still alive, youfve been rebelling against the Lord\how much more so after my death! 28Gather together the leaders of your tribes and your foremen so I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and the earth as witnesses against them, 29because I know that after my death, youfll surely act wickedly and turn from the road that Ifve instructed you. As a result, evil will fall on you in days to come, because youfll act wickedly in the sight of the Lord, causing him to become angry due to your behavior.h 30So Moses spoke the words of this song\to the very end\in front of the entire assembly of Israel.
Chapter 32
1Hear, heavens, and I will speak!
Listen, earth, to the words of my mouth!
2May my instructions descend like rain
and may my words flow like dew,
as light rain upon the grass,
and as showers upon new plants.
3For Ifll proclaim the name of our Lord.
Ascribe greatness to our God!
4Flawless is the work of the Rock,
because all his ways are just.
A faithful God\never unjust\
righteous and upright is he.
5But those who are not his children
acted corruptly against him;
they are a defective and perverted generation.
6This is not the way to repay the Lord, is it,
you foolish and witless people?
Is he not your father,
who bought you, formed you, and established you?
7Remember the days of old,
reflect on the years of previous generations.
Ask your father,
and hefll tell you;
your elders will inform you.
8When the Most High gave nations as their inheritance,
when he separated the human race,
he set boundaries for the people
according to the number of the children of God.
9For the Lordfs portion is his people;
Jacob is his allotted portion.
10The Lord found him in a desert land,
in a barren, eerie wilderness.
He surrounded, cared for, and guarded him
as the pupil of his eye.
11Like an eagle stirs its nest,
hovering near its young,
spreading out his wings to take him
and carry him on his pinions,
12the Lord alone guided him.
There was no foreign god with him.
13He mounted him on a high place above the earth,
feeding him from the produce of the field.
He nourished him with honey from the rock
and with oil from the flint rock,
14with curds from cattle and with milk from sheep,
with the fat of lambs, with rams from Bashan,
with the fat of goats, with the finest of wheat\
and from the juice of grapes you drank wine.
15Jacob dined until satisfied;
Jeshurun grew fat and kicked.
He grew fat, coarse, and gross,
so that he abandoned the God who made him
and spurned the Rock that was his salvation.
16They provoked him to jealousy over foreigners
and to anger over detestable things.
17They sacrificed to demons\
not to the real God\
gods whom they didnft know,
new neighbors who had recently appeared,
whom your ancestors never feared.
18You neglected the Rock that fathered you;
you abandoned God, who was awaiting your birth.
19The Lord saw it and became jealous,
provoked by his sons and daughters.
20So he said:
gLet me hide my face from them.
I will observe what their end will be,
because they are a perverted generation,
children within whom there is no loyalty.
21They provoked me to jealousy over non-gods,
and to be angry over their vanity.
Now Ifll provoke them to jealousy over a non-people;
and over a foolish nation Ifll provoke them to anger.
22For a fire breaks out in my anger\
burning to the deepest part of Sheol,
consuming the earth and its produce
and igniting the foundations of the mountains.
23Ifll bury them in misfortunes
and bring them to an end with my arrows.
24Emaciated from famine,
feverish from plague,
and destroyed by bitterness,
Ifll send fanged beasts against them,
along with poisonous snakes that glide through the dust.
25Outside, the sword will cause bereavement;
within, there will be terror
for the young man and virgin alike,
also for the nursing infant and the aged man.h
26I said:
gI will scatter them,
erasing their memory from the human race,
27if it werenft for dreading the taunting of their enemies\
otherwise, their adversary might misinterpret and say,
eOur power is great.
It isnft the Lord who made all of this happen.fh
28They are a nation devoid of purpose
and without insight.
29O, that they were wise to understand this
and consider their future!
30How can one person chase a thousand of them
and two put a myriad to flight,
unless their Rock delivers them
and the Lord gives them up?
31For their rock isnft like our Rock,
as even our enemies admit.
32Instead, their vine is from the vines of Sodom
and the vineyards of Gomorrah.
Their grapes are poisonous;
their clusters bitter.
33Their wine is the venom of serpents,
a poisonous cobra.
34gIs this not kept in reserve,
sealed up with me in my treasury?
35To me belong vengeance and recompense.
In due time their feet will slip,
because their time of calamity is near
and the things prepared for them draw near.
36For the Lord will vindicate his people
and bring comfort to his servants,
because he will observe that their power has waned,
when neither prisoner nor free person remain.
37gHe will say, eWhere are their gods,
the rock in which they took refuge?
38Who ate the fat of their offerings
and drank the wine that was their drink offering?
Let them rise and help you
and be your hiding place!f
39gLook now! I AM,
and there is no other god besides me.
I myself cause death
and I sustain life;
I wound severely
and I also heal;
from my power no one can deliver.
40gI solemnly swear to heaven\
I say eAs certainly as Ifm alive and living forever,
41Ifll whet my shining sword,
with my hands in firm grasp of judgment.
Ifll show vengeance on my adversary
and repay those who keep on hating me.
42Ifll make my arrows drunk with blood.
My sword will devour flesh,
along with the blood of the slain,
and Ifll take their enemy leaders captive.f
43gSing for joy, nations!
Sing for joy, people who belong to him!
For hefll avenge the blood of his servants,
turn on his adversary,
and cleanse both his land and his people.h
44So Moses and Nunfs son Joshua came and recited all the words of this song while the people were assembled. 45When Moses had finished addressing all of these words to all Israel, 46he told them, gTake to heart my entire testimony against you today. Command your children to observe carefully every word of this Law, 47because theyfre not just empty words for you\they are your very life. Through these instructions you will live long in the land that you are about to cross over the Jordan River to possess.h
48Later that day, the Lord told Moses, 49gAscend this Abarim mountain range toward Mount Nebo in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and look out over the land of Canaan that Ifm about to give to the Israelis as a possession. 50You will die on the mountain that you are about to ascend and be taken to be with your ancestors, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was taken to be with his ancestors. 51Both of you acted unfaithfully against me among the Israelis at Meribah-kadesh in the desert of Sin, when you failed to uphold my holiness among the Israelis. 52Youfll see the land from a distance, but you wonft be able to enter the land that I am about to give to the Israelis.h
Chapter 33
1This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelis before his death. 2He said:
gThe Lord came from Sinai.
Rising from Seir upon us,
he shone forth from Mount Paran,
accompanied by a myriad of his holy ones,
with flaming fire from his right hand for them.
3Indeed, lover of people,
all of his holy ones are in your control.
They gather at your feet
to do as you have instructed.
4Moses commanded with the Law,
an inheritance for the community of Jacob.
5The Lord was king of Jeshurun
when the leaders of the people\
all the tribes of Israel\gathered together.h
6gMay Reuben live and not die,
though his numbers are few.h
7He declared this about Judah:
gHear, Lord, the voice of Judah
and return him to his people.
With his own strength he fights for himself,
and you will be of assistance against his enemies.h
8About Levi he said:
gLet your Thummim and Urim be with the man
to whom you showed gracious love,
whom you tested at Massah
and with whom you struggled
at the waters of Meribah,
9the one who told his mother and father,
eI donft know them,f
and who would neither acknowledge his brothers
nor know his own children.
For they kept your word
and guarded your covenant.
10They will teach your ordinances to Jacob,
and your Law to Israel.
They will offer incense as a pleasant aroma to you
and a whole burnt offering upon your altar.
11Lord, bless his substance
and approve the work that he undertakes.
Shatter the legs of those who oppose against him;
may those who hate him stand no more.h
12About Benjamin he said:
gThe beloved of the Lord will live confidently,
the Most High protecting him all day long,
and resting in his bosom.h
13About Joseph he said:
gMay the blessing of the Lord be on his land:
dew from the choicest of the heavens,
and from the depths beneath;
14from the choicest products of the sun,
the rich fruit of the harvest moon,
15the choicest portion of the eternal mountains,
and the best of the everlasting hills;
16from the choicest of the earth and its fullness,
and the favor of the One who lived in the burning bush.
May blessing rest on Josephfs head,
and on the crown of the head
of the one set apart from his brothers.
17May the firstborn of his bull be honorable to him,
and may his horns be those of a wild ox.
With them may he push people all together,
to the ends of the earth.
These are the myriads of Ephraim
and the thousands of Manasseh.h
18About Zebulun he said:
gZebulun, rejoice as you go out
and Issachar, in being inside your tents.
19They will call the peoples to the mountain,
and there they will offer righteous sacrifices,
for theyfll draw from the abundance of the sea
and from the hidden treasures of the sand.h
20About Gad he said:
gBlessed be the One who enlarges Gad!
Like a roaring lion, he crouches,
tearing arm and scalp.
21He chose the best part for himself,
when the leaderfs portion was assigned.
He came at the head of the people,
carrying out the Lordfs justice
and his ordinances concerning Israel.h
22About Dan he said:
gDan is a lionfs cub,
leaping forth from Bashan.h
23About Naphtali he said:
gNaphtali, full of favor and the Lordfs blessing,
take possession of the west and south.h
24About Asher he said:
gMay Asher be blessed, along with his descendants,
may his brothers be pleased with him,
may he dip his feet in oil,
25may your bolts be made of iron and bronze,
and may your strength be sufficient for each day you live.h
26gThere is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides through the heavens
with its lofty clouds to help you.
27The God of old is a dwelling place,
with everlasting arms underneath.
He drove out your enemies before you
and said: eDestroy them!f
28So Israel lives in confidence,
isolated as the fountain of Jacob
in a land of grain and new wine,
where the heavens rain down dew.
29How blessed are you, Israel!
Who can be like you,
a people delivered by the Lord,
your shield of help and
your finely crafted sword.
May your enemies cower before you.
You will tread down their high places.
Chapter 34
1Moses ascended from the desert plain of Moab toward Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the entire land, from Gilgal as far as Dan, 2all of Naphtali, the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire territory of Judah all the way to out over the sea, 3including the Negev, the Arabah, the valley of Jericho, and the city of the palm trees as far as Zoar. 4Then the Lord told him: gThis is the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by an oath when I said, eIfll give it to your descendants.f Ifll let you see it with your eyes, but you wonft cross over there.h
5So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. 6He was buried in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab, but no one knows to this day where his burial place is. 7Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight wasnft impaired and he was still vigorous and strong. 8The Israelis mourned for Moses at the desert plain of Moab for 30 days, after which the period of mourning for Moses was completed.
9Now Nunfs son Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had placed his hands on him, so Israelis listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
10No prophet ever rose again in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew with such great intimacy.
11What signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do throughout the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all of his servants who lived in the whole land!
12What great power and great terror Moses displayed on behalf of all Israel!
Joshua
Chapter 1
1After Moses, the servant of the Lord, had died, the Lord spoke to Nunfs son Joshua, announcing to him, 2gMy servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross the Jordan River\you and all the people\to the land that Ifm giving the Israelis. 3Ifm giving you every place where the sole of your foot falls, just as I promised Moses. 4Your territorial border will extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon Mountains, from the great River Euphrates\all the land of the Hittites\as far as the Mediterranean Sea where the sun sets. 5No one will be victorious against you for the rest of your life. Ifll be with you just like I was with Moses\Ifll neither fail you nor abandon you.
6gBe strong and courageous, because youfll be leading this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. 7Only be strong and very courageous to ensure that you obey all the instructions that my servant Moses gave you\turn neither to the right nor to the left from it\so that you may succeed wherever you go. 8This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything thatfs written in it, for then youfll prosper and succeed. 9gIfve commanded you, havenft I? Be strong and courageous. Donft be fearful or discouraged, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.h
10Then Joshua gave orders to the officials of the people. 11gGo through the camp,h he said, gand command the people, ePrepare provisions for yourselves, because within three days youfll be crossing the Jordan River to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you\so go get it!fh
12Joshua told the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 13gRemember what Moses commanded you when he said, eThe Lord your God will provide you rest, as well as this land.f 14Your wives, your young children, and your livestock will remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan River, but you and all your warriors will cross, ready for battle, in full view of your relatives, and you will help them 15until the Lord gives relief to your relatives, as he did to you. Then theyfll take the land that the Lord your God is giving them as their inheritance. Youfll return to the land of your heritage and receive the inheritance that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the east side of the Jordan River, in the direction of the sunrise.h
16gWefll do everything that you commanded,h they replied. gWefll go wherever you send us. 17Wefll listen and obey you in everything, just like we did with Moses. Only may the Lord your God be with you, just as he was with Moses. 18Anyone who rebels against what you say and doesnft listen to your words regarding everything that you command will be executed. Only be strong and courageous.h
Chapter 2
1After this, Nunfs son Joshua sent two men from the Acacia groves as undercover scouts. He told them, gGo and look over the land. Pay special attention to Jericho.h So they went out, came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there.
2Then the king of Jericho was told, gLook! Israeli men arrived tonight to scout out the land.h
3So the king of Jericho sent for Rahab and ordered her, gBring out the men who came to visit you and lodged in your house, because theyfve come to scout out the entire land.h
4Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, gThe men really did come to me, but I didnft know from where they came. 5At dusk, when it was time to close the city gates, the men left. I donft know where the men went. Go after them quickly, and you might overtake them.h
6But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof. 7So the men pursued them along the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as the search party had left, they shut the city gate after them.
8Before the scouts had lain down, she went up to them on the roof 9gIfm really convinced that the Lord has given you the land,h she said, gbecause wefre overwhelmed with fear of you. All the other inhabitants of the land are demoralized at your presence, 10because we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Reed Sea right in front of you as you were coming out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan River\to Sihon and Og\whom you completely destroyed. 11When we heard these reports, we all became terrified and discouraged because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. 12Now therefore, since Ifve treated you so kindly, please swear in the name of the Lord that youfll also be kind to my fatherfs household by giving me this sure sign: 13Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we wonft be killed.h
14So the men told her, gOur life for yours\even to death\if you donft betray this mission of ours. Then when the Lord gives us this land, wefll treat you graciously and faithfully.h
15So she let them down by a rope through the window, since her house was built into the town wall where she lived. 16She told them, gGo out to the hill country, so the search party wonft find you, and hide for three days. After that, you may go on your own way.h
17The men replied, gWefll be free from our commitment to you to which youfve obligated us 18when we invade the land, if you donft tie this rope made with red cords in the window through which you let us down, and if you donft gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all of the rest of your fatherfs household into your house. 19Everyone who leaves through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, but wefll be responsible for anyone who remains with you in the house if even so much as a hand is laid on him. 20But if you report this incident, wefll be free from the oath to which youfve made us swear.h
21gSince you put it that way,h she replied, gI agree.h After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window.
22The scouts left for the hill country and remained there for three days until the search party returned. The search party searched the entire road, but was unable to find them. 23Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River, approached Nunfs son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them. 24They reported to Joshua, gThe Lord really has given the entire land into our control. The inhabitants of the land have melted away right in front of us!h
Chapter 3
1Joshua got up early the next morning. Accompanied by all the Israelis, he set out from the Acacia groves and arrived at the Jordan River, where they encamped before crossing it. 2Three days later, the officers went throughout the camp, 3giving orders to the people. They said, gWhen you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then get up, leave where you are, and follow it. 4Be sure to keep a distance of about 1,000 yards between you and it. Donft come near it, so you can be certain where youfre going, since you havenft passed this way before.h
5Then Joshua addressed the people: gConsecrate yourselves, because tomorrow the Lord will do marvelous things among you.h
6After this, Joshua instructed the priests, gTake up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over ahead of the people.h So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went on ahead of the people.
7At this point, the Lord told Joshua, gToday Ifm going to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so theyfll be sure that Ifm going to be with you just as I was with Moses. 8Give this command to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: eWhen you arrive at the water of the Jordan River, stand still in the Jordan.fh
9So Joshua told the Israelis, gCome here and listen to what the Lord your God has to say.h 10Joshua continued, gThis is how youfll know that the living God really is among you: hefs going to remove the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites right in front of you. 11Look! The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing ahead of you into the Jordan River. 12So take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe. 13When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, touch the water in the Jordan River, the water that feeds the Jordan will be cut off from above and theyfll stand still in a single location.h
14So the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan River, with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant in full view of the people. 15When the priests who carried the ark entered the Jordan River, as their feet touched the waterfs edge (The Jordan River overflows all of its banks daily during the harvest season.), 16the water flowing downstream from above stood still in a single location, a great distance away at Adam, a city near Zarethan. The water that flowed south toward the sea in the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17The priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan River.
Chapter 4
1As soon as the entire nation had completed its crossing of the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, 2gGather together twelve men from the people\one man from each tribe\ 3and tell them, ePick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priestsf feet were standing, bring them along with you, and put them down where you camp tonight.fh
4So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had chosen from the people of Israel, one man from each tribe. 5Joshua told them, gCross over again in front of the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan River. Then each of you pick up a stone on his shoulder with which to build a memorial, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 6Let this serve as a sign among you, so that when your children ask in times to come, eWhat do these stones mean to you,f 7then youfll say to them, eBecause the waters of the Jordan River were cut off in front of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan River, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.f So these stones will become a memorial to the Israelis forever.h
8The Israelis did just as Joshua commanded. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River\just as the Lord had spoken to Joshua\according to the number of the tribes of the Israelis, and they carried them over to where they would be pitching camp, and they put them down there. 9Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River at the location where the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had been standing, and they remain there to this day.
10The priests who were carrying the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan River until everything had been done in accordance with what the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people and with everything that Moses had commanded Joshua. So the people hurried and crossed over. 11When all of the people had completed their crossing, the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in full view of the people. 12Just as Moses had directed, the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, dressed in battle regalia, in full view of the other Israelis. 13About 40,000 soldiers equipped to do battle in the Lordfs presence crossed over to the desert plains of Jericho.
14That day, the Lord exalted Joshua in the presence of all Israel so that they revered him just as they had revered Moses throughout his life.
15Now the Lord had told Joshua, 16gCommand the priests who carry the Ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan River.h
17So Joshua ordered the priests, gCome up from the Jordan River.h
18As soon as the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord had come up from the middle of the Jordan River, and the soles of the priestsf feet came up to dry ground, the water of the Jordan River returned to normal, covering its banks as it had done so before.
19The people came up from the Jordan River on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern outskirts of Jericho. 20Joshua set up the twelve stones that they had removed from the Jordan River at Gilgal. 21Then he told the Israelis, gWhen your descendants ask their parents in years to come, eWhat is the meaning of these stones?f 22you are to tell your descendants: eIsrael crossed this Jordan River on dry ground 23because the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan River right in front of you, until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God had done to the Reed Sea\which he had dried up in front of us until we had crossed it also.f 24Do this so that all of the people of the earth may know how strong the power of the Lord is, and so that you may fear the Lord your God every day.h
Chapter 5
1All the Amorite kings who lived across the Jordan River to the west and all the Canaanite kings by the Mediterranean Sea became discouraged as soon as they heard that the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan River for the people of Israel until they had crossed it. They no longer had a will to fight because of the people of Israel.
2At that time the Lord told Joshua, gMake for yourselves some flint knives and circumcise the Israelis who havenft been circumcised yet.h
3So Joshua made some flint knives and circumcised the Israelis at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4Joshua circumcised them because all of the males among the people who came out of Egypt\that is, all the warriors\had died during their journey through the wilderness following their departure from Egypt. 5Although everyone who had left Egypt had been circumcised, nevertheless all the people born during the journey after their departure from Egypt had not been circumcised. 6The Israelis traveled 40 years in the wilderness until the entire nation\that is, the warriors who had departed from Egypt\had perished because they hadnft listened to the voice of the Lord. The Lord had promised them that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to give us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 7As a result, it was their descendants, whom he raised up to take their place, that Joshua circumcised. They had remained uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised during their journey. 8When the circumcision of the entire nation was complete, they remained in their places within the camp until they were healed.
9Then the Lord told Joshua, gToday I have rolled the disgrace of Egypt away from you.h Thatfs why that place is called gGilgalh to this day.
10While the Israelis remained encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they observed the Passover during the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. 11On the day following Passover\on that exact day\they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land. Since the Israelis no longer received manna, they ate crops from the land of Canaan that year.
13Now it happened that while Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and much to his amazement, he saw a man standing in front of him, holding a drawn sword in his hand! Joshua approached him and asked him, gAre you one of us, or are you with our enemies?h
14gNeither,h he answered. gI have come as commander of the Lordfs Army.h
Joshua immediately fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, saying to him, gLord, what do you have for your servant by way of command?h
15The commander of the Lordfs Army replied to Joshua, gRemove your sandals from your feet, because the place where youfre standing is holy.h So Joshua did so.
Chapter 6
1Meanwhile, Jericho was fortified inside and out because of the Israelis. Nobody could leave or enter.
2The Lord told Joshua, gLook! I have given Jericho over to your control, along with its kings and valiant soldiers. 3March around the city, all the soldiers circling the city once. Do this for six days, 4with seven priests carrying in front of the ark seven trumpets made from ramsf horns. On the seventh day march around the city seven times while the priests blow their trumpets. 5When they sound a long blast with the ramfs horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then the entire army is to cry out loud, the city wall will collapse, and then all of the soldiers are to charge straight ahead.h
6So Nunfs son Joshua called for the priests. gPick up the Ark of the Covenant,h he told them, gand have seven priests carry seven trumpets made from ramsf horns in front of the ark of the Lord.h
7He told the army, gGo out and encircle the city. Have the armed men march out in front of the ark of the Lord.h
8And so, just as Joshua had commanded, seven of the priests went forward, carrying the seven trumpets made of ramsf horns in the Lordfs presence, blowing the trumpets while the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord followed them. 9Armed men preceded the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and a rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets continued to blow.
10Joshua issued orders to the army: gYou are not to shout or even let your voice be heard. Donft utter a word until I tell you to shout. Then shout!h 11So the ark of the Lord was taken once around the city, then they went back to camp and spent the night there.
12Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests picked up the ark of the Lord. 13The seven priests who carried the seven trumpets made from ramsf horns preceded the ark of the Lord, blowing their trumpets constantly. The armed men preceded them, and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets continued to blow. 14On the second day they marched around the city once and then went back to camp. They did this for six days. 15They rose early at dawn on the seventh day and marched around the city seven times, just as they had before, except that on that day only they marched around the city seven times.
16As they completed the seventh time, after the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua told the army, gShout, because the Lord has given you the city! 17The city\along with everything in it\is to be turned over to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone who is with her in her house may live, because she hid the scouts we sent. 18Now as for you, everything has been turned over for destruction. Donft covet or take any of these things. Otherwise, youfll make the camp of Israel itself an object worthy of destruction, and bring trouble on it. 19But everything made of silver and gold, and vessels made of bronze and iron are set apart to the Lord. They are to go into the treasury of the Lord.h
20So the army shouted and the trumpets were blown again. As soon as the army heard the sound of the trumpets, they shouted loudly and the wall collapsed. The army charged straight ahead into the city and captured it. 21They turned over everyone in the city for destruction and executed them, including both men and women, young and old, and oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
22Joshua told the two men who had scouted the land, gGo into the prostitutefs home and bring her out of it, along with everyone who is with her, just as you promised her.h 23So the young men who had been scouts went in and brought Rahab out, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and everyone else who was with her. They brought her entire family out and set them outside the camp of Israel.
24Then the army set fire to the city and to everything in it, except that they reserved the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron for the treasury of the Lord. 25But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, along with her family and everyone who was with her. Her family has lived in Israel ever since, because she hid the scouts whom Joshua sent to observe Jericho.
26Then Joshua made everyone take the following oath at that time. He said:
gCursed in the presence of the Lord is the man
who restores and rebuilds this city of Jericho!
He will lay its foundation at the cost of his firstborn,
and at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.h
27So the Lord was with Joshua, and as a result, Joshuafs reputation spread throughout the land.
Chapter 7
1Later, the Israelis broke their promise regarding the things that had been turned over to destruction. Carmifs son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah from the tribe of Judah, appropriated some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. As a result, the Lord became angry with the Israelis.
2Meanwhile, Joshua had sent some soldiers from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He ordered them, gGo up and scout the land.h So the soldiers went up and scouted Ai and 3returned to Joshua.
gNot all of the people need to go up,h they reported. gOnly about two or three thousand men should attack Ai. Since they are so few, donft make all of the army work hard up there.h
4So about three thousand went up there, but they ran away from the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai killed about 36 of them, pursuing them outside the city gates as far as Shebarim, killing them as they descended. As a result, the army became terrified and lost their confidence. 6At this, Joshua tore his clothes, fell down to the ground on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening\he and the leaders of Israel\and they covered their heads with dust. 7gLord God,h Joshua asked, gWhy have you brought this people across the Jordan River? To hand us over to the Amorites so wefll be destroyed? Wouldnft it have been better for us to be content to settle on the other side of the Jordan? 8Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has run away from its enemies? 9The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, will surround us, and eliminate us from the earth! Then what will you do about your great reputation?h
10gGet up!h the Lord replied to Joshua. gWhy have you fallen on your face? 11Israel has sinned. They broke my covenant that I commanded them by taking some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. They have stolen, have been deceitful, and have stored what they stole among their own belongings. 12The Israelis have been unable to stand before their enemies. Theyfre turning their backs and running from their enemies because they themselves have been turned over to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy these things that have been turned over to destruction. 13So get up and sanctify the people. Tell them, eSanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, because this is what the Lord God of Israel, says: gThere are things turned over to destruction among you, Israel. You wonft be able to defeat your enemies until you remove what has been turned over to destruction.
14gTomorrow morning you are to come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord selects is to come forward by clans, the clan that the Lord selects is to come forward by households, and the household that the Lord selects is to come forward one by one. 15The one selected as having taken what has been turned over to destruction is to be cremated, along with everything that pertains to him, because he has transgressed against the covenant of the Lord and committed an outrageous thing in Israel.hfh
16So Joshua got up early that morning, brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17He brought near the clans of Judah, and the Zerahite clan was selected. Then he brought near the Zerahite clan family by family, and the household of Zabdi was selected. 18Next, he brought near his household one by one, and Carmifs son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah, was selected from the tribe of Judah.
19Joshua then spoke to Achan, gMy son, give glory and praise to the Lord God of Israel. Tell me right now what you did. Donft hide anything.h
20Achan answered Joshua, gItfs true. Ifm the one who sinned against the Lord God of Israel. 21I noticed among the war spoils a beautiful mantle from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. Because I wanted them, I took them, and theyfre buried in the ground inside my tent. The silver is underneath.h
22So Joshua sent some messengers, who ran to the tent. And there it was, hidden in the tent with the silver underneath. 23They took the things from the tent that had been turned over to destruction, brought them to Joshua and all of the Israelis, and laid them out in the presence of the Lord. 24Then Joshua, with all Israel accompanying him, took Zerahfs son Achan, along with the silver, the mantle, the gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that belonged to him to the Valley of Achor.
25Joshua announced, gWhy did you bring trouble to us? Today the Lord is bringing trouble to you!h So all Israel stoned him to death, cremated them, and buried them with stones, 26piling up a large mound of boulders that remains to this day. After this, the Lord turned his burning anger away, and that is why that place is called gthe Valley of Achorh to this day.
Chapter 8
1The Lord then told Joshua, gDonft be afraid or lose heart! Take all the fighting men with you, and go up right now to Ai. Take note that I have handed over the king of Ai into your control, along with his people, his city, and his land. 2Do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, but take its spoil and its livestock as war booty for yourselves. Set an ambush around the city.h
3So Joshua and all of the fighting men prepared to go out against Ai. Joshua selected 30,000 valiant warriors and sent them out by night, 4telling them, gPay attention now! You are to set up an ambush around the city. Donft go very far from the city, and all of you remain on alert. 5I and all of the army with me will advance upon the city. When they come out after us like they did before, wefll run away from them. 6Theyfll come after us until wefve drawn them away from the city, because theyfll say, eTheyfre running away from us just like they did before.f While wefre running away from them, 7you get up from the ambush and seize the city, because the Lord your God will give it into your control. 8When youfve taken the city, set it on fire, just as the Lord ordered. Look! These are your orders!h 9So Joshua sent them out, and they set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai.
Joshua spent that night in the camp among the army. 10In the morning, Joshua got up early, mustered his army, and set off for Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel in full view of the army. 11The entire fighting force with him attacked, approaching the city, and camped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. 12Taking about 5,000 men, he set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai to the west of the city, 13stationing their forces with its main encampment north of the city and its rear guard to the west. Joshua spent that night in the valley.
14When the king of Ai saw what had happened, he and his army quickly got up early and went out to meet Israel in battle; he and all his people met at the place adjacent to the desert plain. But he didnft know about the ambush that had been set for him on the other side of the city. 15Because Joshua and the entire fighting force of Israel pretended to lose the battle by running away in front of them toward the wilderness, 16everyone in the city followed after them. As they pursued Joshua, they were drawn away from the town. 17There wasnft a single man left in Ai or Bethel who didnft run out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
18Then the Lord told Joshua, gStretch out the battle lance thatfs in your hand toward Ai, because I will give it into your control.h So Joshua stretched out the battle lance that was in his hand toward the city. 19As soon as he stretched out his hand, the troops in ambush quickly got up from their place of hiding and attacked. They entered the city, seized it, and immediately set it on fire.
20Then the men of Ai looked back behind them. Look! Smoke from the city was rising into the sky. They were unable to run in any direction, because the Israelis who had fled toward the wilderness had turned around to attack their pursuers. 21When Joshua and the entire fighting force of Israel observed that the men who had been in ambush had seized the city and that the smoke from the city was rising, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. 22Then the others came out from the city against them, so the men of Ai were surrounded by the Israelis, some on one side and some on the other. Israel attacked them until no one was left to survive or escape. 23But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
24When Israel had completed executing all of the residents of Ai in the open wilderness where they had chased them, and after all of them\to the very last of them\had been killed by swords, the entire fighting force of Israel returned to Ai and attacked it with swords. 25The total of all who fell that day, including men and women, was 12,000\the entire population of Ai. 26Joshua did not cease his attack until he had completely destroyed every inhabitant of Ai. 27Israel took only the livestock and the spoil of that city as their war booty, in accordance with what the Lord had commanded to Joshua. 28Joshua burned Ai, turning it into a permanent mound of ruins, and it remains so to this day. 29He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until dusk, and at sunset Joshua ordered his body brought down from the tree and laid at the entrance to the gate of the town. There he raised over it a large mound of stones, which stands there to this day.
30Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, 31just the way Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelis in the Book of the Law of Moses: gcan altar of uncut stones that hasnft been worked with iron toolsch and they offered burnt offerings to the Lord on it, along with peace offerings.
32There Joshua inscribed on stones a copy of the Law of Moses that Moses had presented to the Israelis. 33All Israel, both foreigners and citizens, together with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on opposite sides of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. Half stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half stood in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses, the Lordfs servant had commanded at the first, so that they could bless the people of Israel. 34Afterwards, Joshua read all the words of the Law\both the blessings and the curses\according to everything written in the Book of the Law. 35There wasnft one word of everything Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read in front of the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, their little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.
Chapter 9
1Eventually all the kings who reigned in the hill country across the Jordan River and in the low-lying coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea facing Lebanon heard about this. So the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites 2united together as one to fight against both Joshua and Israel.
3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4they took the initiative by preparing their provisions shrewdly: they took tattered sacks for their donkeys, worn-out, torn, and mended wineskins, 5worn-out, patched sandals for their feet, and worn-out clothes. All of their food was dried out and covered in mold. 6Then they approached Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and addressed him and the Israelis, gWefve arrived from a distant country, so please make a treaty with us right now.h
7But the Israelis responded to the Hivites, gPerhaps you live in our midst. If this is so, how can we make a treaty with you?h
8So they responded to Joshua, gWe are your servants.h
Joshua asked them, gWho are you? And where did you come from?h
9They answered, gYour servants have arrived from a very distant land, because of the reputation of the Lord your God, because wefve heard a report about all that he did in Egypt, 10along with all of what he did to the two Amorite kings who were beyond the Jordan River\that is, to King Sihon of Heshbon and to King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11So our leaders and all of the inhabitants of our country told us, eTake provisions along with you for your journey, go to meet them, and tell them, gWe are your servants. Come now and make a treaty with us.hf 12Look at our bread: it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for our journey on the very day we set out to come to you. But now, look how itfs dry and moldy. 13And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but look\now theyfre cracked. And our clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.h
14So the leaders of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not ask the Lord about it. 15They made a treaty with them, guaranteeing their lives with a covenant, and the leaders of the congregation confirmed it with an oath to them.
16But three days after they had made the treaty with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and were living in their midst. 17So the Israelis set out for their cities and three days later they reached their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18The Israelis did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had made an oath with them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the entire congregation grumbled against their leaders.
19Then all of the leaders spoke to the entire congregation, gWe have sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them. 20So this is what wefll do to them: wefll let them live, so that wrath wonft come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them.h
21The leaders told them, gLet them live.h So they became wood cutters and water carriers for the entire congregation, which is what the leaders had decided concerning them.
22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them, gWhy did you deceive us by saying eWe live far away from you,f even though you were, in fact, living in our midst? 23Now therefore you are under a curse. Some of you will always be slaves, wood cutters, and water carriers for the house of my God.h
24They replied to Joshua, gBecause your servants had been informed that the Lord your God had certainly commanded his servant Moses to give you the entire land and to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land before you. So we were terrified for our lives because of you. Thatfs why we did this. 25Now wefre under your control: do to us as it seems good and right in your opinion.h
26So this is what Joshua did for them: he saved them from the Israelis, and they did not kill them. 27However, on that very day Joshua made them become wood cutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the Lordfs altar in the place that he should choose, and this tradition continues to this day.
Chapter 10
1King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem eventually heard how Joshua had conquered Ai, utterly destroying it, doing to Ai and its king the same thing that he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were now living among them. 2So they were terrified, since Gibeon was a large city, comparable to one of the royal cities, was larger than Ai, and all of its men had been warriors.
3So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent word to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon. He told them, 4gCome over and help me, and letfs attack Gibeon, because it made a peace treaty with Joshua and the Israelis.h 5So the five kings of the Amorites\the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon\gathered their armies together and advanced with all of their armies toward Gideon, camped there, and laid siege to it.
6The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal: gDonft abandon your servants. Come quickly, save us, and help us, because all of the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have attacked us.h 7So Joshua went up from Gilgal, along with his entire fighting force of mighty warriors with him.
8The Lord told Joshua, gDonft fear them, because I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will withstand you.h 9So after an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua attacked them by surprise. 10The Lord threw the Amorites into a panic right in front of the army of Israel, which then slaughtered many of them at Gibeon. The Israeli army chased them along the road that goes up to Beth-horon, striking them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
11While they were fleeing in front of Israel and descending the slope of Beth-horon, the Lord rained down huge hailstones on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More died because of the hailstones than were killed by the Israelis in battle. 12Later that day, Joshua spoke to the Lord while the Lord was delivering the Amorites to the Israelis. This is what he said in the presence of Israel:
gSun, be still over Gibeon
Moon, stand in place in the Aijalon Valleyh
13So the sun remained still
and the moon stood in place
until the nation settled their score with their enemies.
This is recorded, is it not, in the book of Jashar?
The sun stood in place
in the middle of the sky
and seemed not to be in a hurry
to set for nearly an entire day.
14There has never been a day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man, because the Lord was fighting on behalf of Israel.
15After this, Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal with the entire fighting force of Israel.
16Meanwhile, the five kings had fled and hidden themselves inside a cave at Makkedah. 17Joshua was informed, gThe five kings have been discovered hiding in the cave at Makkedah.h
18So Joshua gave an order, gRoll large stones up against the mouth of the cave and assign men to stand guard there, 19but donft stay there yourselves. Instead, pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Donft allow them to enter their cities, because the Lord your God has delivered them into your control.h
20Now it came about that after Joshua and the Israelis had finished the battle, destroying and scattering their survivors, who retreated into their fortified cities, 21the entire army returned safely to Joshuafs encampment at Makkedah. No one could speak so much as a single word against any of the Israelis.
22Then Joshua gave this order: gUnseal the mouth of the cave and bring out these five kings to me from the cave.h
23So they did. They brought out these five kings to him from within the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24When they had brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel and spoke to the leaders of the men who had gone out to war along with him, gCome close and put your feet on the necks of these kings.h So they came near and put their feet on their necks.
25Joshua told the army, gDonft fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, because this is how the Lord will treat all of your enemies whom you fight.h
26After this, Joshua struck those kings down, executing them, and hanged them on five gallows until sunset. 27When evening had come, Joshua gave a command to remove the bodies from the gallows and bury them in the cave where they had hidden. The army sealed the mouth of the cave with large stones that remain there to this very day.
28Joshua captured Makkedah that very day, and attacked both it and its king with swords, utterly destroying it along with every person in it, leaving no survivors. He dealt with the king of Makkedah the same way he had dealt with the king of Jericho.
29Afterward, Joshua and all of Israel passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, where they fought against Libnah. 30The Lord gave both it and its king into the control of Israel, and Joshua executed both its king and every person in it with swords, leaving no survivors. He dealt with the king the same way he had dealt with the king of Jericho.
31Then Joshua and all of Israel passed from Libnah to Lachish, camped near it, and attacked it. 32The Lord gave Lachish into the control of Israel, and Joshua captured it the next day. He declared war on the city and executed everyone in it, the same way he had treated Libnah.
33Then Horam king of Gezer appeared to help Lachish. So Joshua attacked him and his army, until he left no one remaining. 34After this, Joshua, accompanied by all of Israel, proceeded from Lachish to Eglon, laid siege to it, and attacked it. 35They captured it on that day, attacking it in battle. Then Joshua completely destroyed it that day, the same way he had dealt with Lachish.
36Then Joshua, accompanied by all of Israel, left Eglon for Hebron, where they attacked it, 37captured it, and executed its inhabitants\its king, all of its cities, and every person in it, leaving no one remaining, the same way he had dealt with Eglon. He completely destroyed it, along with everyone in it.
38Then Joshua returned, accompanied by the entire fighting force of Israel, to Debir, where they attacked it, 39captured it, its king, and all of its villages. They executed them, totally destroying it and everyone in it, leaving no one remaining. He dealt with Debir and its king just as he had dealt with Hebron, treating them the same way he had dealt with Libnah and its king.
40So Joshua conquered the entire land, the hill country, the Negev, the Shephelah, and the wilderness highlands, along with all of their kings. He left none of them remaining, but completely destroyed every living person, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 41Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, including the entire territory of Goshen as far as Gibeon. 42Joshua conquered all of these kings and their territories in one campaign, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43Then Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, along with the entire fighting force of Israel.
Chapter 11
1When King Jabin of Hazor heard all of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, 2and to the kings in the north, in the hill country, in the plain south of Chinnereth, in the Shephelah, and in the hills of Dor toward the west, 3to the eastern and western Canaanites\the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites below Hermon in the territory of Mizpah. 4So they went out, they and all of their armies with them\a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore\accompanied by many horses and chariots. 5After all these kings had gathered together, they went out and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight Israel.
6But the Lord told Joshua, gDonft be afraid of them, because tomorrow about this time I am giving them all to you\dead\in the presence of Israel. Hamstring their horses and incinerate their chariots.h
7So Joshua and his entire fighting force approached them suddenly by the waters of Merom and attacked them. 8The Lord handed them over to the control of Israel, who defeated them and chased them as far as Greater Sidon and east as far as the Mizpah Valley. They attacked them until none remained. 9Joshua dealt with them just as the Lord had told him: he hamstrung their horses and incinerated their chariots.
10Joshua then turned back and captured Hazor, executing its king, because Hazor used to be the head of all of those kingdoms. 11They executed all of the people who lived in it, completely destroying and leaving no one alive. Then he burned Hazor in fire.
12So Joshua captured and annihilated all of these cities, along with their kings, completely destroying them, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13However, Israel did not burn any of the cities that had been built on mounds of ruins, except for Hazor only, which Joshua burned. 14The Israelis took the spoils of war from these cities, along with their livestock, but they executed every human being until they had completely destroyed them, leaving no one alive. 15Joshua did just what the Lord had commanded his servant Moses and just what Moses had commanded him, leaving nothing unfinished.
16So Joshua conquered all of these territories: the hill country, all of the Negev, the entire land of Goshen with its foothills, the plains of Jordan, and the mountains of Israel with its foothills 17from Mount Halak and the ascent toward Seir, including as far as Baal-gad in the Lebanon Valley that lies at the foot of Mount Hermon. Joshua captured all of their kings, struck them down, and put them to death. 18Joshua fought an extended campaign against all those kings. 19There wasnft a single city that made a peace accord with the Israelis, except the Hivites who lived in Gibeon. The Israelis captured all the rest in battle, 20because the Lord had hardened their hearts so they would fight Israel in war, be completely destroyed without mercy, and be completely wiped out, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21At that time Joshua came and annihilated the Anakim from the hill country, that is, from Hebron, Debir, and Anab, as well as from all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them along with their cities. 22None of the Anakim remained in the land belonging to the Israelis\they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. 23Joshua conquered the entire land, in accordance with everything that the Lord had told Moses. Joshua presented it as an inheritance to Israel, dividing it according to tribal allotments. Then the land enjoyed rest from war.
Chapter 12
1This is a list of the kings who ruled the land that the Israelis conquered, and whose territories they took on the other side of the Jordan River toward the east, from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, along with the entire eastern Jordan plain. 2Sihon king of the Amorites lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is located on the edge of the Arnon River from the middle of the valley, including half of Gilead as far as Wadi Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites, 3and toward the Arabah as far as the Sea of Galilee to the east, as far as the Arabah Sea (that is, the Dead Sea) to the east as one travels in the direction of Beth-jeshimoth, and to the south as far as the foothills of Pisgah. 4The territory of Og king of Bashan was conquered. He was one of the last of the Rephaim, and lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei, 5ruling over Mount Hermon, Salecah, and all of Bashan as far as the border of the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Maacath, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
6Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelis defeated them. Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave it to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance. 7This is a list of the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelis defeated beyond the Jordan River toward the west, from Baal-gad in the Lebanon valley as far as Mount Halak, which rises in the direction of Seir. Joshua gave it to Israel, distributing it according to their tribal divisions as their inheritance, 8in the mountain regions, in the Arabah, on the foothills, in the wilderness, in the Negev; that is, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
9The king of Jericho: 1
The king of Ai, which is near Bethel: 1
10The king of Jerusalem: 1
The king of Hebron: 1
11The king of Jarmuth: 1
The king of Lachish: 1
12The king of Eglon: 1
The king of Gezer: 1
13The king of Debir: 1
The king of Geder: 1
14The king of Hormah: 1
The king of Arad: 1
15The king of Libnah: 1
The king of Adullam: 1
16The king of Makkedah: 1
The king of Bethel: 1
17The king of Tappuach: 1
The king of Hepher: 1
18The king of Aphek: 1
The king of Lasharon: 1
19The king of Madon: 1
The king of Hazor: 1
20The king of Shimron-meron: 1
The king of Achshaph: 1
21The king of Taanach: 1
The king of Megiddo: 1
22The king of Kedesh: 1
The king of Jokneam in Carmel: 1
23The king of Dor in the Dor heights: 1
The king of various gentiles in Gilgal: 1
24The king of Tirzah: 1
Total number of all kings: 31
Chapter 13
1When Joshua had grown old, having lived many years, the Lord told him, gYou are old and have lived many years, but much of the land still remains to be possessed. 2This territory remains: all of the Philistine regions, including all Geshurite holdings 3from the Shihor east of Egypt as far as the border of Ekron on the north (which is considered part of Canaan). This includes the five rulers of the Philistines: the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, the Ekronites, and the Avvites.
4gTo the south, there remains to be conquered all the territory held by the Canaanites, Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorites, 5including the territory of the Gebalites and all of Lebanon facing the east from Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon as far as Lebo-hamath, 6and all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, including all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out in the presence of the Israelis. 7You only have to allocate the land as an inheritance, just as I commanded you.h
8The descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad, along with the other half-tribe of Manasseh, received their inherited portion that Moses the servant of the Lord had given them to the east beyond the Jordan River. 9Specifically included was from Aroer on the banks of the Wadi Arnon, and the town that lies in the middle of the valley, including all the plains from Medeba to Dibon, 10all the cities pertaining to King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonite territory, 11Gilead and the region belonging to the descendants of Geshur and Maacath, including all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah. 12Also included was the entire kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was the sole survivor left of the Rephaim.) Although Moses had defeated these people and driven them out, 13the Israelis did not drive out the descendants of Geshur or the descendants of Maacath\Geshur and Maacath live within the territory of Israel to this day.
14Moses allotted no inheritance solely to the tribe of Levi. As he had mentioned to them, the offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance.
15Moses allocated territory to the tribe of the descendants of Reuben according to their clans. 16Their allocation was from the border of Aroer on the edge of the Arnon valley (including the city that is located in the valley, as well as the entire plain next to Medeba), 17Heshbon and all of its cities that are on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, 18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, 20Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth-jeshimoth, 21all of the cities of the plain, the entire kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who used to reign in Heshbon and whom Moses attacked, along with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, nobles of Sihon who lived in the land. 22The Israelis also killed Beorfs son Balaam, the occult practitioner, executing him by the sword as one of those killed. 23The border of the descendants of Reuben was the Jordan River and its banks. This was the inheritance belonging to the descendants of Reuben, divided according to their families, cities, and villages.
24Moses also allocated territory to the tribe of Gad, that is, to the descendants of Gad, according to their families. 25Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer which is located near Rabbah, 26from Heshbon as far as Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, from Mahanaim as far as the border of Debir, 27the valley containing Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon, with the Jordan River as its border as far as the southern end of the Sea of Galilee beyond the Jordan River to the east. 28This was the inheritance belonging to the descendants of Gad according to their clans, cities, and villages.
29Moses also allocated territory to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, for the half-tribe of the descendants of Manasseh according to their clans. 30Their territory extended from Mahanaim to include all of Bashan, all of the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, all of the 60 towns of Jair there in Bashan, 31half of Gilead, including Ashtaroth and Edrei. The cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan went to half of the descendants of Manassehfs son Machir, according to their clans. 32These were the allotments that Moses apportioned for an inheritance in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan River east of Jericho.
33Moses allotted no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Chapter 14
1This is what the Israelis inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Nunfs son Joshua, and the heads of the families of the Israelis allotted to them as an inheritance 2by lot, just as the Lord commanded through Moses for the nine tribes and the half-tribe, 3since Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe across the Jordan River.
However, he did not give an inheritance to the descendants of Levi who lived among them, 4since the descendants of Joseph constituted two tribes\Manasseh and Ephraim. They did not allot a portion to the descendants of Levi in the land, since they were given cities to live in, along with pastures for their livestock and property. 5So the Israelis did just as the Lord had commanded Moses\they divided the land.
6After this, the descendants of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal. Jephunneh the Kenizzitefs son Caleb told him, gYou know the promise that the Lord gave Moses the man of God concerning the two of us in Kadesh-barnea. 7I was 40 years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land. I brought back an honest report to him. 8As it happened, my fellow Israelis who went up with me terrified the people, but I fully followed the Lord my God. 9Moses made a promise to me on that day when he said, eThe land that you covered on foot will certainly be your inheritance. It will belong to your descendants forever, because you have fully followed the Lord my God.f
10gLook how the Lord has let me survive, as you can see, these 45 years since the time when the Lord said this through Moses, while Israel was wandering through the wilderness. And look! Ifm here today\my eighty-fifth birthday! 11Ifm still as strong today as I was the day Moses commissioned me. Ifm as strong today as I was then, and I can go out to battle and come back successful. 12Now then, give me that hill country about which the Lord spoke back on that day, because you yourself heard back then that the Anakim were there, with great reinforced cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will expel them, just as the Lord said.h
13So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Jephunnehfs son Caleb for his inheritance. 14Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Jephunneh the Kenizzitefs son Caleb, and it remains so today, because he fully followed the Lord God of Israel. 15Hebron used to be known as Kiriath-arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. After all of this, the land enjoyed rest from war.
Chapter 15
1Joshua said, gNow the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah, allocated according to their families, will extend to the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin until landfs end, 2then from the southern end of the Dead Sea, that is, from the bay that orients toward the Negev, 3proceeding south to the ascent of Akrabbim, then continuing to Zin, and from there up along the south of Kadesh-barnea to Hezron, and from there up to Addar and then to Karka, 4passing along to Azmon toward the Wadi of Egypt and ending at the sea. This will be your southern border.h
5The eastern border was the Dead Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan River. The border of the north side extended from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan River 6toward Beth-hoglah, and continuing on the north of Beth-arabah. The border ascended up to the boundary marker set up by Reubenfs son Bohan.
7The boundary then went up to Debir from the Achor valley and turned north toward Gilgal opposite the ascent of Adummim in the southern part of the valley. Then the border continued to the waters of En-shemesh and terminated at En-rogel. 8Then the border proceeded up the valley of Ben-hinnom to the southern ascent of the Jebusites (that is, to Jerusalem), and from there to the top of the mountain that faces the valley of Hinnom to the west at the end of the valley of Rephaim toward the north.
9The border proceeded from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, then to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then the border curved toward Baalah (also known as Kiriath-jearim). 10The border turned west from Baalah to Mount Seir, continuing to the top of Mount Jearim on the north (also known as Chesalon), and then proceeded to Beth-shemesh, continuing through Timnah.
11The border proceeded north to the edge of Ekron, then curved to Shikkeron and on to Mount Baalah, proceeding then to Jabneel, where the boundary ended at the sea. 12The western border was at the Mediterranean Sea coastline. This is the border that surrounded the territory of the descendants of Judah, according to their families.
13Now Joshua gave an allotment among the descendants of Judah to Jephunnehfs son Caleb, just as God told Joshua, Kiriath-arba, which was named after the ancestor of Anak (that is, Hebron). 14From there Caleb drove the three descendants of Anak, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the Anakim. 15Then he went up from there to attack the inhabitants of Debir. (Debir was formerly known as Kiriath-sepher.)
16Then Caleb announced, gI will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it.h 17Othniel, the son of Calebfs brother Kenaz, captured it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife. 18Sometime later, she came to Othniel and persuaded him to ask her father for a field.
As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb asked her, gWhat do you want?h
19She replied, gGive me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also some springs of water.h So he gave her the upper and lower springs.
20Herefs a list of cities allotted for the tribe of the descendants of Judah according to their families: 21The cities to the far south of the tribe of the descendants of Judah (toward the border of Edom in the south) included Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (also known as Hazor), 26Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah, 29Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon, for a total of 29 cities and villages.
33The lowland cities included Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuach, Enam, 35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim, for a total of fourteen cities and villages.
37Also included were Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, 41Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah, for a total of sixteen cities and villages.
42Also included were Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah, for a total of nine cities and villages.
45Also included were Ekron, with its towns and villages, 46from Ekron to the Mediterranean Sea, including everything by the edge of Ashdod, along with their villages, 47Ashdod and its towns and villages, Gaza and its towns and villages as far as the River of Egypt, and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
48The hill country included Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (also known as Debir), 50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51Goshen, Holon, Giloh, for a total of eleven cities and villages. 52Also included were Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53Janum, Beth-tappuach, Aphekah, 54Humtah, Kiriath-arba (also known as Hebron), and Zior, for a total of nine cities and villages. 55Also included were Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah, for a total of ten cities and villages. 58Also included were Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon, for a total of six cities and villages. 60Also included were Kiriath-baal (also known as Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah, for a total of two cities and villages.
61The wilderness included Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62Nibshan, Salt City, and En-gedi, for a total of six cities and villages.
63Now as for the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, the descendants of Judah could not expel them, so Jebusites live with the descendants of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.
Chapter 16
1The territorial allotment for the descendants of Joseph proceeded from the Jordan River by Jericho eastward of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, proceeding from Jericho through the hill country of Bethel 2and from Bethel to Luz, continuing to the border of the Archites at Ataroth. 3It proceeded westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the territory of lower Beth-horon, then toward Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.
4Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.
5This was the territory allocated to the descendants of Ephraim according to their families: the border of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as upper Beth-horon. 6Then the border proceeded west from Michmethath on the north, then turned east toward Taanath-shiloh, continuing to the east of Janoah. 7It proceeded from Janoah to Ataroth, then to Naarah, then proceeded to Jericho and ended at the Jordan River. 8From Tappuach, the border proceeded west to the Kanah brook, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim according to their families, 9along with the cities that had been set aside for the descendants of Ephraim within the allotment of the descendants of Manasseh, including all of the cities and villages. 10However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live within the territory of Ephraim to this day, but they serve as forced laborers.
Chapter 17
1The territorial allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph, was allocated first to Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of Gilead. Since he had been a man of war, Gilead and Bashan were allocated to him.
2Now allotments were made with respect to the remaining descendants of Manasseh according to their families: for the descendants of Abiezer, the descendants of Helek, the descendants of Asriel, the descendants of Shechem, the descendants of Hepher, and the descendants of Shemida\the male descendants of Josephfs son Manasseh, according to their families.
3Hepherfs son Zelophehad, grandson of Gilead and great-grandson of Manassehfs son Machir had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4They appeared before Eleazar the priest and Nunfs son Joshua and declared, gThe Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.h So in keeping what the Lord had commanded, he gave them an inheritance among their ancestorfs relatives.
5That is why ten allotments fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan River, 6since the granddaughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. (The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.)
7The border of Manasseh proceeded from Asher to Michmethath east of Shechem, then turned south to include the inhabitants of En-tappuach. 8(The territory of Tappuach belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuach itself, on the border of Manasseh, was allocated to the descendants of Ephraim.) 9The border proceeded to the Kanah brook and proceeded south. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh, with the border of Manasseh on the north of the brook, terminating at the Mediterranean Sea.
10The southern area was allocated to Ephraim and the northern area to Manasseh. The Mediterranean Sea was the border, extending to Asher on the North and to Issachar on the east. 11In Issachar and Asher, Manasseh held Beth-shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, and the three coastal districts. 12The descendants of Manasseh did not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites predominated in that territory. 13Later on, when the Israelis had become strong, they forced the Canaanites to work for them, but they never did expel them completely.
14At that time, the descendants of Joseph asked Joshua, gWhy did you give us only one allotment and portion for an inheritance, since wefre numerous and the Lord has blessed us all along?h
15So Joshua replied to them, gSince youfre so numerous, go up to the forest and clear ground there for yourselves in the territory where the Perizzites and Rephaim are, because the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.h
16The descendants of Joseph replied, gThe hill country isnft sufficient for us, but all the Canaanites who live on the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shean and its villages as well as the inhabitants of the Jezreel Valley.h
17So Joshua told the tribes of Joseph, which were Ephraim and Manasseh, gYoufre truly a numerous group, and you have great power. You are not to have only one allotment, 18but the hill country will also belong to you. Even though itfs a forest, you will clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. Youfll drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and even though theyfre strong.h
Chapter 18
1After this, the entire assembly of the Israelis gathered together at Shiloh and set up a Tent of Meeting there, where the land lay conquered before them. 2Seven tribes remained among the Israelis for whom their inheritances had not yet been allocated.
3So Joshua told the Israelis, gHow long will you delay invading and taking possession of the land that the Lord God of your ancestors has given you? 4Appoint three men from each tribe and Ifll send them. Theyfll begin to go through the land and record a description of it, categorized according to their inheritance, and then theyfll report back to me. 5Theyfll divide it seven ways. Judah will stay in its territory on the south and the house of Joseph will remain in its territory on the north. 6Lay out the land in seven divisions, then bring your report here to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the Lord our God. 7The descendants of Levi have no allotment among you, since the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance to the east, beyond the Jordan River given to them by Moses the servant of the Lord.h
8So the men started out, following Joshuafs command to those who went to scout the land, gGo through the land and record a description of it, and then return to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the Lord your God in Shiloh.h 9Then the men left camp and went throughout the land, describing its cities in a book with seven divisions. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh. 10Joshua threw lots in Shiloh in the Lordfs presence and divided the land accordingly among the Israelis according to their divisions.
11The allotment of the tribe of the descendants of Benjamin came up according to their families, and their territorial allotment fell between the descendants of Judah and the descendants of Joseph. 12Their border started on the north side at the Jordan River, proceeded to the slope of Jericho on the north, then westward through the hill country, and terminated at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13From there the boundary proceeded south in the direction of Luz to the slope of Luz (also known as Bethel), then proceeded to Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-horon. 14From there the boundary changes direction, turning southward on the western side opposite Beth-horon, terminating at Kiriath-baal (also known as Kiriath-jearim), which belongs to Judah. This forms the western boundary.
15The southern boundary begins at the edge of Kiriath-jearim, proceeding from there to Ephron and then to the spring at the Nephtoah Waters. 16From there the boundary proceeds to the border of the mountain that overlooks the Ben-hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Rephaim Valley, where it proceeds down the Hinnom Valley south of the slope of the Jebusites toward En-rogel. 17Then it turns north toward En-shemesh and proceeds from there to Geliloth opposite the ascent of Adummim, where it turns toward the Stone of Bohan, Reubenfs son, 18and proceeds north of the slope of Beth-arabah down to the Arabah. 19From there the boundary proceeds to north of the slope of Beth-hoglah and terminates at the northern bay of the Salt Sea where the Jordan River ends in the south. This is the southern border. 20The Jordan River forms its boundary on the east. This is the inheritance for the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, boundary by boundary around the entire territory.
21The towns belonging to the tribe of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba, for a total of twelve towns and villages. 25Also included were Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (also known as Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim, for a total of fourteen towns and villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin according to their families.
Chapter 19
1The second lottery went to the tribe of Simeon according to its families. Its inheritance was enclosed within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. 2Its inheritance included Beer-sheba (also known as Shebah), Moladah, 3Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, 4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, 6Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen, for a total of thirteen towns and villages. 7Also included were Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan, for a total of four towns and villages. 8Also included were all the surrounding villages as far as Baalath-beer, in Ramah of the Negev. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, according to its families. 9The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon was contained in part of the territory of Judah; that is, because the portion allotted to the tribe of Judah was large enough for both tribes, the tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance within that of Judah.
10The third lottery went to the tribe of Zebulun according to its families. The boundary of its inheritance extended to Sarid, 11then turned westward toward Maralah, proceeding to Dabbesheth, and then to the valley that is east of Jokneam. 12From Sarid it proceeded back eastward, creating a sunrise boundary at Chisloth-tabor, and proceeded from there to Daberath, then to Japhia, 13from which it proceeded toward the east to Gath-hepher, then to Eth-kazin, then going to Rimmon, where it turned toward Neah. 14On the north of Neah, the boundary turned toward Hannathon, terminating at Iphtah-el Valley 15and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, for a total of twelve towns and villages. 16These towns and villages are the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun according to its families.
17The fourth lottery went to the tribe of Issachar according to its families. 18The territorial allotment included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, 19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez, 22with the boundary including Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh. The boundary terminated at the Jordan River, for a total of sixteen towns and villages. 23These towns and villages comprise the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to its families.
24The fifth lottery went to the tribe of Asher according to its families. 25The territorial boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal, and on the west Carmel and Shihor-libnath, 27then proceeded east to Beth-dagon. It proceeded to Zebulun and the Iphtah-el Valley, turned north to Beth-emek and Neiel, then proceeded north to Cabul, 28Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah as far as Great Sidon. 29There the boundary turned toward Ramah, reaching to the fortress city of Tyre and turned to Hosah, where it terminated at the Mediterranean Sea. Also included were Mahalab,? Achzib, 30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob, for a total of 22 towns and villages. 31These towns and villages are the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to its families.
32The sixth lottery went to the tribe of Naphtali according to its families. 33The territorial boundary proceeded from Heleph, the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel as far as Lakkum, terminating at the Jordan River. 34There the boundary proceeded west to Aznoth-tabor and then to Hukkok, reaching Zebulun at the south, Asher on the west, and Judah on the east at the Jordan River. 35Also included were the fortress towns of Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, 38Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh, for a total of nineteen towns and their villages. 39These towns and villages comprised the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali according to its families.
40The seventh lottery went to the tribe of Dan according to its families. 41The territorial allotment included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46Me-jarkon, and Rakkon at the border near Joppa. 47Later, when the descendants of Dan lost their territory, they went up and attacked Leshem. After they captured it and executed its inhabitants, they took possession of it and settled there, renaming the city of Leshem to Dan in memory of their ancestor Dan. 48These towns and villages comprised the inheritance of the tribe of Dan according to their families.
49When the Israelis had completed distribution of the various territories of the land as inheritances, they provided an inheritance to Nunfs son Joshua. 50By a command from the Lord, they allocated the town that he requested, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and settled there. 51These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Nunfs son Joshua, and the heads of the families of the Israeli tribes distributed by lot in the Lordfs presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
Chapter 20
1Then the Lord told Joshua, 2gTell the people of Israel, eSet apart cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses, 3so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally and without premeditation may run there and be protected from closely related avengers. 4He may run to one of those cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and tell his side of the story to the elders of the city. They are to bring him inside the city with them and provide him a place to live among them.
5geNow if the closely related avenger pursues him, then they are not to hand the killer over to him, because he killed his neighbor without premeditation and without hating him beforehand. 6He is to live in that city until he stands trial before the community, until the death of the one who is high priest at that time. Then the killer may return to his own city and to his own home, that is, to the city from which he fled.fh
7So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (also known as Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8East of Jericho beyond the Jordan River, they reserved Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 9These were appointed to be cities for all the Israelis and for the foreigner who lives among them, so that whoever kills anyone unintentionally may run there and not die at the hands of a closely related avenger until he stands for trial before the community.
Chapter 21
1Then the family leaders of the descendants of Levi approached Eleazar the priest and Nunfs son Joshua, along with the family leaders of the people of Israel. 2It was at Shiloh in the land of Canaan that they told them, gThe Lord ordered through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, along with their pasture lands for our livestock.h
3So, just as the Lord had said, the Israelis set aside cities for the descendants of Levi from a portion of their own inheritances, along with their grazing lands. 4The lottery went to the families of the descendants of Kohath. So the descendants of Aaron the priest, who were descendants of Levi, received thirteen cities by random lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 5The rest of the descendants of Kohath received ten cities by random lot from the families of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
6The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by random lot from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh located in Bashan. 7The descendants of Merari, allocated according to their families, received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
8The Israelis apportioned these cities, along with their pasture lands, to the descendants of Levi by random lot, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
9From the tribes of the descendants of Judah and Simeon, they gave these cities, delineated by name: 10for the descendants of Aaron, one of the families of the descendants of Kohath, of the descendants of Levi, since the lot fell in their favor first. 11They gave them Kiriath-arba, also known as Hebron, (Arba was named after the ancestor of Anak), in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding pasture lands. 12But the fields adjoining the city and its surrounding villages were given to Jephunnehfs son Caleb.
13So they gave Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest to serve as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands, 14Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, 15Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, 16Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands, for a total of nine cities from these two tribes.
17From the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands, 18Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities. 19All of the cities allocated to the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, numbered thirteen, along with their pasture lands.
20Cities from the tribe of Ephraim were also allotted to the families of the descendants of Kohath, that is, to the rest of the descendants of Kohath, who were descendants of Levi. 21Shechem was allocated to them as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, in the mountainous region of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, 22Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
23From the tribe of Dan were allocated Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, 24Aijalon with its pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
25From the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities. 26All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the descendants of Kohath numbered ten.
27To the descendants of Gershon (one of the Levitical families) from the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Golan in Bashan as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities.
28From the tribe of Issachar were allocated Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 29Jarmuth with its pasture lands, and En-gannim with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
30From the tribe of Asher were allocated Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 31Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
32From the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands were allocated as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands, for a total of three cities.
33All the cities of the descendants of Gershon according to their families totaled thirteen, including their pasture lands.
34From the tribe of Zebulun were allocated to the descendants of Merari (that is, the rest of the descendants of Levi) Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, 35Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
36From the tribe of Reuben were allocated Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands, 37Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
38From the tribe of Gad were allocated Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, to serve as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 39Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities in all.
40So the entire allocation to the descendants of Merari (that is, the rest of the families of the descendants of Levi) according to their families totaled twelve cities.
41All of the cities of the descendants of Levi that had been set apart among the territorial possession of the Israelis totaled 48, along with their pasture lands. 42These cities were each surrounded by pasture lands, as was the case with all of these cities.
43So the Lord gave all of the land to Israel that he had promised to give their ancestors, and they took possession and settled there in it. 44The Lord gave them peace all around them, just as he had promised their ancestors. Not one of their enemies was able to oppose them\the Lord placed all of their enemies under their control. 45Not one of the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed\all of them came about.
Chapter 22
1Later, Joshua called together the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2and told them, gYou have done everything that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and you have listened to me in everything that I commanded you. 3You havenft abandoned your relatives these past days to the present, and you have met the obligation contained in the commands of the Lord your God.
4Now the Lord has given peace to your relatives, just as he told them. Therefore, proceed to your tents\to the land that is yours to possess\that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan River. 5Only be very careful to keep the commands and the Law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you\that is, to love the Lord your God, to follow in all of his ways, to keep his commands, to stay close to him, and to serve him with all your heart and soul.h 6Thatfs how Joshua blessed them. Then he sent them on their way and they returned to their tents.
7Now Moses had made an allotment in Bashan to one half-tribe of Manasseh, but Joshua made an allotment west of the Jordan River to the other half-tribe of their relatives. So when Joshua sent them on their way back to their tents, he also blessed them by saying 8gReturn to your tents with great wealth, plenty of livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and lots of clothing. Divide the spoil from your enemies among your relatives.h
9The descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh went back to the land of Gilead, leaving the Israelis at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, for their territorial possession that they had inherited in accordance with the command of the Lord given through Moses.
10After they arrived at an area of the Jordan River that is in the land of Canaan, the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh constructed an altar there by the Jordan River, and it was very large. 11When the Israelis heard about it, they announced, gLook here, the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have constructed an altar in Canaanfs frontier district of the Jordan River, on the side apportioned to the Israelis.h 12When the Israelis heard that announcement, the entire community of the Israelis gathered together at Shiloh in preparation for war.
13Then the Israelis sent a delegation to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead. They sent Eleazarfs son Phinehas the priest, 14and ten officials with him (one for each of the tribal families of Israel, each one of them a family leader among the clans of Israel). 15They approached the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and told them: 16gThis is what the entire community of the Lord has to say: eWhat is this treacherous act by which you have acted deceitfully against the God of Israel by turning away from following the Lord today, and by building yourselves an altar today, so you can rebel against the Lord? 17Isnft the evil that happened at Peor enough for us, from which we have yet to be completely cleansed even to this point, and because of which a plague came upon the community of the Lord? 18Now then, are you turning away from following the Lord today? If you rebel against the Lord today, by tomorrow he will be angry with the entire community of Israel. 19If the land of your inheritance remains unclean, then cross back over into the land that the Lord possesses, and receive an inheritance among us. Donft rebel against the Lord and against us by constructing an altar for yourselves besides the altar of the Lord our God. 20Didnft Zerahfs son Achan act treacherously with respect to the things banned by God, and as a result God became angry at the entire community of Israel? And that man was not the only one to die because of his iniquity.fh
21The descendants of Reuben, descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the officials of the clans of Israel, 22gThe God of gods, the Lord, the God of gods, the Lord is the One who knows! And may Israel itself be aware that if this was an act of rebellion or an act of treachery against the Lord, may he not deliver us today! 23If we have built an altar for ourselves intended to turn us away from following the Lord, or to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself demand an accounting from us! 24But we did this because we were concerned for a reason, since we thought, eSometime in the future your descendants may say to our descendants, gWhat do you have in common with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25The Lord has established the Jordan River to be a territorial border between us and you. descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad have no allotment from the Lord.h So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing the Lord.f
26gThatfs why we said, eLetfs build an altar for ourselves, not for burnt offerings or sacrifice, 27but instead it will serve as a reminder between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to serve the Lord with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. That way your descendants will not say to our descendants in the future, gYou have no allotment from the Lord.hf
28gThatfs also why we said, eIt may be if they say these things to us and to our descendants in the future, so we will respond, gLook at this replica of the altar of the Lord that our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifice, but rather as a reminder between us and you. 29May we never rebel against the Lord today by building an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifice to replace the altar of the Lord our God which stands before his Tent.hfh
30When Phinehas the priest, the leaders of the community, and the heads of the families of Israel who were with him heard what the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the descendants of Manasseh said, they were pleased. 31So Eleazarfs son Phinehas the priest replied to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the descendants of Manasseh, gToday wefve demonstrated that the Lord is among us, because you have not acted treacherously against the Lord. Now you have delivered the Israelis from the anger of the Lord.h
32So Eleazarfs son Phinehas the priest and the leaders returned from the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan and to the people of Israel, bringing back word to them. 33What they said pleased the people of Israel, so they blessed God and said no more about going up to attack them in war and to destroy the land where the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad were living. 34The descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad named the altar gWitness,h because they claimed, gIt stands as a witness between us that the Lord is God.h
Chapter 23
1Many years later, after the Lord had given peace between Israel and all its surrounding enemies, and after Joshua had become very old, 2Joshua called together all Israel, including their leaders, officials, judges, and tribal officers. He told them, gI am old now after having lived many years. 3You have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to all of these nations on your behalf, because it has been the Lord your God who has been fighting on your behalf. 4Now look, I have allocated these nations that remain as an inheritance for your tribes, including all of the nations that I have eliminated, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea to the west. 5The Lord your God will expel them in front of you, driving them out of your sight. You will take possession of this land, just as the Lord your God promised you.
6gStand very strong, then, so you can obey and carry out everything written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning neither to the right nor to the left of it. 7That way, you will not mingle with those nations that remain among you, nor mention the name of their gods, nor make oaths by them, nor serve them, nor worship them. 8Instead, you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done today, 9because the Lord has expelled great and strong nations ahead of you. Now as for you, not a single man has been able to oppose you right to this day. 10A single man makes a thousand flee, because the Lord your God is the One who is fighting for you, just as he promised you.
11gSo be very diligent to love the Lord your God, 12because if you ever turn back and cling to those who remain of these nations by intermarrying with them and associating one with another, 13know for certain that the Lord your God will not continue to drive out these nations ahead of you. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap for you, a whip to your backs, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the Lord your God has given you.
14gLook here: today Ifm going down the path that everyone on earth takes, and you know with all your hearts and souls that not a single word of all of the good things that the Lord your God spoke about you has failed to happen. Everything has been fulfilled about you\not one of them has failed. 15However, just as all of the good things have come about that the Lord your God promised, so also the Lord will bring upon you all of the threats until he has destroyed you from possessing this good land that he has given you. 16When you break the covenant of the Lord your God that he commanded you to obey by going to serve other gods and worship them, then the anger of the Lord will blaze against you, and you will perish quickly from this good land that he gave you.h
Chapter 24
1Then Joshua assembled together all of the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He called for the leaders, officials, judges, and tribal officers of Israel. They assembled in formation before God, 2and Joshua told all of the people, gThis is what the Lord God of Israel has to say:
eLong ago your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River, including Terah, father of both Abraham and Nahor, where they served other gods. 3Then I took your ancestor Abraham from the other side of the Euphrates River and led him through the entire land of Canaan. I multiplied his descendants, and gave him his son Isaac.
4eI gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac. And I gave Mount Seir to Esau as his possession, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
5eLater I commissioned Moses and Aaron, and I inflicted plagues on Egypt by what I did among them. Afterwards, I brought all of you out.
6eThen I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and you came to the Sea, and the Egyptians followed your ancestors with chariots and horsemen to the Reed Sea. 7But when they cried out to the Lord, he placed darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon the Egyptians, and swallowed them up. Your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.
8eI brought you into the territory of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan River. They fought you, but I gave them into your control, and you took possession of their land. I destroyed them from your presence.
9eThen Zipporfs son, King Balak of Moab, showed up and fought against Israel. He sent word to Balaam, summoning Beorfs son to put a curse on you. 10But I wasnft willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I delivered you from his control.
11eNext, you crossed the Jordan River and arrived at Jericho. But the citizens of Jericho fought you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, so I gave them into your control.
 12eThen I sent hornets ahead of you to drive out two kings of the Amorites before you without your using either sword or bow. 13I gave you a land for which you never worked and cities that you didnft build but that you have lived in. Youfre eating from vineyards and olive groves that you didnft plant.f
14gNow you must fear the Lord and serve him in faithfulness and truth. Throw away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Instead, serve the Lord. 15If you think itfs the wrong thing for you to serve the Lord, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve\the gods whom your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose territories you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
16In response, the people said, gFar be it from us that we should abandon the Lord to serve other gods, 17since the Lord our God is the One who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, from a life of slavery. He did those great things right in front of us, preserving us along the way that we traveled and among all the peoples through whose territory we passed. 18The Lord expelled all the people before us, including the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore, we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.h
19So Joshua told the people, gYou will not be able to serve the Lord, because he is a God of Holiness. He is a jealous God, and he will forgive neither your transgressions nor your sins. 20If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign deities, then he will turn and do you harm, consuming you after all the good he has done for you.h
21gNo,h the people replied to Joshua. gWe will serve the Lord.h
22Joshua responded, gYou are giving testimony against yourselves, that you have chosen to serve the Lord.h
They replied, gWe are witnesses!h
23Joshua said, gTherefore abandon the foreign gods that are among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.h
24The people replied, gWe will serve the Lord our God and obey his voice.h
25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, making statutes and ordinances in Shechem. 26He wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God, took a large stone, moved it under the shade of the oak tree that was near the sanctuary of the Lord, 27and then told all of the people, gLook! This stone will testify for us, because it has heard everything that the Lord has spoken to us. So it will stand as a witness against you in the event that you deny your God.h 28Then Joshua dismissed the people, and each man returned to his territorial inheritance.
29Some time later, Joshua servant of the Lord died at the age of 110 years, and 30they buried him in his territorial inheritance at Timnath-serah in the mountainous region of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
31Israel served the Lord for the entire lifetimes of Joshua and of the officials who outlived Joshua, that is, the ones who had personally known everything that the Lord had done for Israel.
32They also buried the bones of Joseph, which the Israelis brought up from Egypt, in the parcel of ground at Shechem that Jacob had purchased from the descendants of Shechemfs father Hamor, for 100 pieces of silver. It became part of the inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.
33Later, Aaronfs son Eleazar also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which belonged to his son Phinehas, and which had been given to him in the mountainous region of Ephraim.
Judges
Chapter 1
1Sometime after Joshua had died, the Israelis asked the Lord, gWho is to lead us against the Canaanites in our opening attack against them?h
2The Lord replied, gThe tribe of Judah is to lead you. Look! Ifve given the land into their control.h
3But the tribe of Judah told the tribe of Simeon, the descendants of Judahfs brother, gCome with us into our territory, and wefll both fight the Canaanites. In return, wefll go with you when you fight in your territory.h So the army of the tribe of Simeon accompanied the army of the tribe of Judah.
4When the army of the tribe of Judah went into battle, the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their control, and they defeated 10,000 men at Bezek. 5They located Adoni-bezek in Bezek, fought him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6Adoni-bezek ran off, but they pursued him, caught him, and amputated his thumbs and big toes. 7Adoni-bezek used to brag, gSeventy kings without thumbs and big toes used to eat what was left under my table. God has repaid me for what Ifve done.h They brought him to Jerusalem, and he later died there.
8Then the army of Judah attacked Jerusalem, captured it, executed its inhabitants, and set fire to the city. 9Later, the army of Judah left Jerusalem to attack the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, the Negev, and the Shephelah. 10They attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba) and fought Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11The army of Judah then proceeded to attack the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be known as Kiriath-sepher. 12Caleb announced, gIfll give my daughter Achsah in marriage to whomever leads the attack against Kiriath-sepher and captures it.h 13Othniel, Calebfs nephew through his younger brother Kenaz, captured the city, so Caleb awarded him his daughter Achsah in marriage.
14Later on, after she had arrived, she urged Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, gWhat do you want for yourself?h
15gI want this blessing from you,h she replied. gSince youfve given me land in the Negev, give me water springs, too.h So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.
16The descendants of the Kenites, the tribe from which Mosesf father-in-law came, accompanied the descendants of Judah from the city of the palms to the Judean wilderness, which is in the desert area south of Arad, and lived with the people there. 17The army of Judah accompanied the army of Simeon, Judahfs brother, as they attacked the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and they completely destroyed it. Then they renamed the city Hormah. 18The army of Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. 19The Lord was with the army of Judah, and they captured the hill country, but did not expel the inhabitants of the valley because they were equipped with iron chariots.
20They gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised, and he drove out the three sons of Anak from there. 21However, the descendants of Benjamin did not expel the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the descendants of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22Then the army of the tribe of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23The army of the tribe of Joseph scouted out Bethel, which had been formerly named Luz. 24The scouts observed a man coming out of the city and they promised him, gPlease show us the entrance to the city and wefll deal kindly with you.h 25So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they attacked the city with swords, but they let the man and his entire family escape. 26So the man traveled to the land of the Hittites and built a city that he named gLuz,h and it is called by that name to this day.
27The army of the tribe of Manasseh did not conquer Beth-shean and its villages, Taanach and its villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages. Instead, the Canaanites continued to live in that land. 28When Israel had grown strong, they subjected the Canaanites to conscripted labor and never did expel them completely.
29The army of the tribe of Ephraim did not expel the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30The army of the tribe of Zebulun did not expel the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but were subjected to conscripted labor.
31The army of the tribe of Asher did not expel the inhabitants of Acco nor the inhabitants of Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. 32So the descendants of Asher lived among the Canaanites who continued to inhabit the land, because they did not expel them.
33The army of the tribe of Naphtali did not expel the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and the inhabitants of Beth-anath. Instead, they lived among the Canaanites who inhabited the land. However, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were subjected to conscripted labor.
34Later on, the Amorites forced the descendants of Dan into the hill country and did not permit them to come into the valleys of the hills. 35Furthermore, the Amorites continued to inhabit Mount Heres in Aijalon and Shaalbim. Eventually, however, after the tribe of Joseph had become strong, the Amorites were subjected to conscripted labor. 36The Amorite border extended upward from the Akrabbim Ascent, that is, from Sela.
Chapter 2
1Some time later, the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim and announced to Israel, gI brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land that I promised to your ancestors. I had told them, eIfll never breach my covenant with you. 2As for you, you must not make any treaties with the inhabitants of this land. Instead, tear down their altars.f But you havenft obeyed me. What have you done? 3Therefore Ifm now saying, eI wonft expel them before you. Instead, theyfll remain at your side, and their gods will ensnare you.fh
4Because the angel of the Lord said these things to all of the Israelis, the people wept out loud, 5which is why they named the place Bochim. And there they sacrificed to the Lord. 6After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelis returned to their respective inheritances to take possession of the land.
7The people served the Lord during the entire lifetime of Joshua as well as the lifetimes of all the elders who outlived Joshua and who had observed all the great deeds that the Lord had done for Israel. 8But then Nunfs son Joshua, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. 9They buried him in Timnath-heres, within the boundaries of his inheritance in the mountainous region of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10After that whole generation had died, another generation grew up after them that was not acquainted with the Lord or with what he had done for Israel.
11So the Israelis practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by worshiping Canaanite deities. 12They abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who surrounded them. They bowed down in worship of them, and by doing so angered the Lord. 13As a result, they abandoned the Lord by serving both Baal and Ashtaroth. 14So in his burning anger against Israel, the Lord gave them into the domination of marauders who plundered them. The enemies who surrounded the Israelis controlled them, and they were no longer able to withstand their adversaries. 15Wherever they went, the Lord worked against them to bring misfortune, just as the Lord had warned, and just as the Lord had promised them. As a result, they suffered greatly.
16Then the Lord raised up leaders, who delivered Israel from domination by their marauders. 17But they didnft listen to their leaders, because they were committing spiritual immorality by following other gods and worshiping them. They quickly turned away from the road on which their ancestors had walked in obedience to the commands of the Lord. They didnft follow their example. 18As a result, whenever the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord remained present with their leader, delivering Israel from the control of their enemies during the lifetime of that leader. The Lord was moved with compassion by their groaning that had been caused by those who were oppressing and persecuting them. 19However, after the leader had died, they would relapse to a condition more corrupt than their ancestors, following other gods, serving them, and worshiping them. They would not abandon their activities or their obstinate lifestyles.
20In his burning anger against Israel, the Lord said, gBecause the people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors to keep, and because they havenft obeyed me, 21Ifm also going to stop expelling any of the nations that remained after Joshua died. 22That way, Ifll use them to demonstrate whether or not Israel will keep the Lordfs lifestyle by walking on that road like their ancestors did.h 23So the Lord caused those nations to remain and did not expel them quickly. He did not give them into Joshuafs control.
Chapter 3
1Herefs a list of nations that the Lord caused to remain in order to test Israel (that is, everyone who had not gained any battle experience in Canaan) 2only so that successive Israeli generations, who had not known war previously, might come to know it by experience. 3These nations included the five lords of the Philistines, all of the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4They remained there to test Israel, to reveal if they would obey the commands of the Lord that he issued to their ancestors through Moses.
5The Israelis continued to live among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, 6taking their daughters as wives for themselves, giving their own daughters to their sons, and serving their gods. 7The Israelis kept on practicing evil in full view of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served Canaanite male and female deities. 8Then in his burning anger against Israel, the Lord delivered them to domination by King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. So the Israelis served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
9When the Israelis cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up Othniel son of Calebfs younger brother Kenaz, to deliver them, and he did. 10The Spirit of the Lord was on him, and he governed Israel. When Othniel went out to battle, the Lord handed king Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim into his control, and Othnielfs domination of Cushan-rishathaim was strong. 11As a result, the land was quiet for 40 years. Then Kenazf son Othniel died.
12The Israelis again practiced evil in full view of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab in his control over Israel, because they had practiced evil in full view of the Lord. 13Eglon assembled together the Ammonites and the Amalekites, proceeded to attack Israel, and captured the cities of palms. 14So the Israelis served king Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
15But when the Israelis cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up Gerafs son Ehud, a left-handed descendant of Benjamin, as a deliverer for them. The Israelis paid tribute through him to king Eglon of Moab. 16Ehud forged a double-edged sword that was one and a half feet long, tied it to his right thigh under his cloak, 17and went to present the tribute to King Eglon of Moab. Now Eglon happened to be a very obese man.
18As he finished presenting the tribute, Ehud sent away the people who had been carrying it. 19He had turned away from the idols that were at Gilgal. So he told Eglon, gI have a secret message for you, king.h
King Eglon responded gSilence!h and all of his attendants left him.
20Ehud approached him while he was sitting by himself in the cool roof chamber of his palace. He said, gI have a message from God for you!h So when Eglon got up from his seat, 21Ehud used his left hand to take the sword from his right thigh and then plunged it into Eglonfs abdomen. 22The hilt also penetrated along with the sword blade, and Eglonfs fat closed in over the blade. Because he did not withdraw the sword from Eglonfs abdomen, the sword point exited from Eglonfs entrails.
23Then Ehud left the cool chamber in the direction of the vestibule, shutting and locking the doors behind him. 24After he left, Eglonfs attendants came to look, but the doors to the cool chamber were locked! So they said, gHe must be relieving himself in the inner part of the cool chamber.h 25They waited until they were embarrassed, since he never opened the doors to the chamber. Eventually they took a key, opened the doors, and found their master dead on the ground.
26Meanwhile, Ehud escaped while they were delayed, passed by the idols, and escaped in the direction of Seirah. 27When he arrived there, he sounded a trumpet in the mountainous region of Ephraim. While the Israeli army accompanied Ehud from the mountainous regions, 28he told them, gAttack them, because the Lord has given your enemies\the Moabites\into your control.h So the Israeli army followed after him, seized the fords of the Jordan River opposite Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross. 29At that time they attacked about 10,000 Moabites, all of whom were strong and valiant men. Not one man escaped. 30As a result, Moab was subdued under the control of Israel, and the land remained quiet for 80 years.
31After Ehud, Anathfs son Shamgar attacked 600 Philistines with a cattle prod. He also delivered Israel.
Chapter 4
1After Ehud had died, while the Lord was watching, the Israelis made the evil they had been practicing even worse, 2so the Lord turned them over to domination by Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commanding officer of his army, lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. 3The Israelis cried out to the Lord, because of his 900 iron chariots. Jabin oppressed the Israelis forcefully for twenty years.
4Deborah, a woman, prophet, and wife of Lappidoth, was herself judging Israel during that time. 5She regularly took her seat under the Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountainous region of Ephraim, where the Israelis would approach her for decisions. 6She sent word to Abinoamfs son Barak from Kedesh-naphtali, summoning him. She asked him, gThe Lord God of Israel has commanded you, hasnft he? He told you, eGo out, march to Mount Tabor, and take 10,000 men with you from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. 7I will draw out Sisera, the commanding officer of Jabinfs army, along with his chariots and troops, to the Kishon River, where I will drop him right into your hands.fh
8gIf youfll go with me, Ifll go,h Barak replied. gBut if you wonft go with me, then Ifm not going.h
9She responded, gI will surely go with you, but the road that youfre about to take will not lead to honor for you. The Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.h Then Deborah got up and went with Barak toward Kedesh. 10Barak called out the army of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to march on Kedesh, and 10,000 men went out to war with him, along with Deborah.
11Meanwhile, Heber the Kenite had been separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Mosesf father-in-law Hobab. He had pitched his tents far away, near the Elon-bezaanannim. 12Furthermore, Sisera had been informed that Abinoamfs son Barak had marched on Mount Tabor. 13So Sisera gathered his iron chariots together from Harosheth-haggoyim\all 900 of them, along with all the people who were assigned to them\and they assembled at the Kishon River.
14gGet going!h Deborah told Barak. gBecause todayfs the day when the Lord has dropped Sisera into your hands! Look! The Lord has already gone out ahead of you!h So Barak left Mount Tabor, followed by 10,000 men, 15and the Lord threw Sisera, all the chariots, and his entire army into a panic right in front of Barak. Then Sisera abandoned his chariot and escaped on foot 16while Barak chased the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-haggoyim. Siserafs entire army died in the battle\not even one soldier remained.
17Meanwhile, Sisera had escaped on foot to a tent belonging to Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, since there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the household of Heber the Kenite. 18Jael went out to greet Sisera. gTurn aside, sir!h she told him. gTurn aside to me! Donft be afraid.h So he turned aside to her and entered her tent, where she concealed him behind a curtain.
19He asked her, gPlease give me some water to drink, because Ifm thirsty.h Instead, she opened a leather container of milk, gave him a drink, and then covered him up. 20He told her, gStand in the doorway of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks eIs anybody here?f say eNof.h
21But Heberfs wife Jael grabbed a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other, crept up to him quietly, and drove the tent peg right through his temple into the ground below after he had fallen sound asleep from exhaustion. Thatfs how he died.
22Meanwhile, as Barak continued chasing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. gCome with me,h she told him, gand Ifll show you the man youfre looking for!h So he went with her, and there was Sisera, lying dead with the tent peg still embedded in his temple!
23Thatfs how God subdued Jabin, king of Canaan right in front of the Israelis that day. 24And the Israelis gained greater control over King Jabin of Canaan until they had eliminated him.
Chapter 5
1Later that day, Deborah and Abinoamfs son Barak celebrated by singing this song:
2gWhen hair grows long in Israel,
when the people give themselves willingly,
bless the Lord!
3Listen, you kings!
Turn your ears to me, you rulers!
As for me, to the Lord I will sing!
I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
4Lord, when you left Seir,
when you marched out
from the grain field of Edom,
the earth quaked
and the heavens poured out rain;
indeed, the clouds poured out water.
5Mountains tremble at the presence of the Lord \
even Sinai!\at the presence of the Lord God of Israel.
6During the lifetime of Anathfs son Shamgar
and during the lifetime of Jael
highways remained deserted,
while travelers kept to back roads.
7Rural populations plummeted in Israel;
until I, Deborah, arose;
until I\an Israeli mother\arose.
8New gods were chosen,
then war came to the city gates,
but there wasnft a shield or spear to be seen
among 40,000 soldiers of Israel.
9My heart is for the commanders of Israel,
to those who work willingly among the people.
Bless the Lord!
10gSpeak up, you who ride white donkeys,
sitting on cloth saddles
while you travel on your way!
11From the sound of those who divide their work loads
at the watering troughs,
there they will retell the righteous deeds of the Lord,
the righteous victories for his rural people in Israel.h
Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.
12gWake up! Wake up, Deborah!
Wake up! Wake up, Deborah!
Get up, Barak, and dispose of your captives,
you son of Abinoam!
13Then the survivors approached the nobles;
the people of the Lord approached me in battle array.
14Some came from Ephraim
who had been harassed by Amalek,
followed by Benjamin with your people.
Some commanders came from Machir,
along with some from Zebulun
who carry a badge of office.
15The officials of Issachar were with Deborah,
as was the tribe of Issachar and Barak.
They rushed out into the valley at his heels
along with divisions from Reubenfs army.
Great was their resolve of heart!
16Why did you sit down among the sheepfolds?
To hear the bleating of the flocks?
Among the divisions of the army of Reuben
there was great searching of heart.
17The tribe of Gilead remained
on the other side of the Jordan River.
As for the tribe of Dan,
why did they stay on board their ships?
The tribe of Asher sat by the seashore
and remained near its harbors.
18The tribe of Zebulun did not worry about their lives
at the price of death;
neither did the tribe of Naphtali also
on high places of the field.
19gKings came to fight,
then battled the kings of Canaan
at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo.
They took no silver
as the spoils of war.
20The stars fought from heaven;
they fought against Sisera from their orbits.
21The current of the Kishon River swept them downstream,
that ancient current, the Kishonfs current!
March on strongly, my soul!
22Then loud was the beat of the horsesf hooves\
from the galloping, galloping war steeds!
23geMeroz is cursed!f declared the angel of the Lord.
eUtterly and totally cursed are its inhabitants,
because they never came to the aid of the Lord,
to the aid of the Lord against the valiant warriors!fh
24gBlessed above all women is Jael,
wife of Heber the Kenite;
most blessed is she among women who live in tents!
25Sisera asked for water\
she gave him milk.
In a magnificent bowl she brought him yogurt!
26She reached out one hand for the tent peg,
and her other for the workmanfs mallet.
Then she struck Sisera,
smashing his head,
shattering and piercing his temple.
27He crumpled to the ground between her feet,
where he fell down and collapsed.
Between her feet he crumpled,
Fallen dead!
28gBack at home, out the window Siserafs mother peered,
lamenting through the lattice.
eWhy is his chariot delayed in returning?
eWhy do the hoof beats of his chariots wait?f
29Her wise attendants find an answer for her;
in fact, she tells the same words to herself:
30eTheyfre busy finding and dividing the war booty, arenft they?
A girl or two for each valiant warrior,
and some dyed materials for Sisera\
perhaps dyed, embroidered war booty\
or some detailed embroidery for my neck
as the booty of war!
31gMay all of your enemies perish like this, Lord!
But may those who love him be
like the ascending sun in its strength!h
Then the land enjoyed quiet for 40 years.
Chapter 6
1Later on, the Israelis practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, so the Lord handed them over to the domination of Midian for seven years. 2Midianfs control predominated throughout Israel, and because of Midian the Israelis went out to find temporary hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and fortified places.
3Whenever the Israelis sowed their crops, the Midianites, the Amalekites, and certain groups from the east would come up and invade them. 4They set up their military encampments to fight them, destroyed the harvest of the land as far as Gaza, and left nothing in Israel, whether harvested grain, sheep, oxen, or donkeys. 5They would invade with their livestock and tents, swooping in as numerous as locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels\and they came into the land to destroy it. 6Because Israel was deeply impoverished due to the Midianites, they cried out to the Lord.
7When the Israelis cried out to him about Midian, 8the Lord sent a man who was a prophet to the Israelis and told them, gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eI was the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, delivering you from the house of servitude. 9I delivered you from the domination of Egypt and from the domination of all of your oppressors, expelling them right in front of you and giving their land to you. 10I told you, gI am the Lord your God. You are not to fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land youfll be living.hf But you havenft obeyed what I said.h
11After this, the angel of the Lord arrived and sat down in the shade of the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash, a descendant of Abiezer, while his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press in order to safeguard it from the Midianites. 12The angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him, gThe Lord is with you, you valiant warrior!h
13But Gideon replied, gRightc Sir, if the Lord is with us, then why has all of this happened to us? And where are all of his miraculous works that our ancestors recounted to us when they said, eThe Lord brought us up from Egypt, didnft he?f But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us over to Midian!h
14The Lord looked straight at him and replied, gGo with this determination of yours and deliver Israel from Midianfs domination. Ifve directed you, havenft I?h
15gRightc,h Gideon responded. gSir, how will I deliver Israel? Look\my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and Ifm the youngest in my fatherfs household.h
16The Lord told him, gBecause Ifll be with you, and youfll defeat Midian\every single one of them!h
17So Gideon asked him, gPlease, if I have received favor from you, then do a miracle for me that shows that youfre making this promise to me. 18And please donft leave here until Ifve come back to you, brought my offering, and set it down in front of you.h
The Lord replied, gIfll stay until you return.h
19Then Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and poured the broth into a pot, and brought them to the angel right under the oak tree. Then he made his offering. 20The angel, who was God, replied, gTake the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this boulder. Then pour out the broth.h So he did that. 21The angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened bread. Fire broke out from inside the boulder, consuming the meat and unleavened bread. Then the angel of the Lord vanished in front of him.
22When Gideon realized that he had seen the angel of the Lord himself, he cried out, gOh no! Lord God! Ifve been looking right at the angel of the Lord\and face-to-face at that!h
23gCalm down! Donft be afraid.h the Lord replied. gYoufre not going to die!h 24So Gideon built an altar right there to the Lord and called it gThe Lord is peace.h (To this very day it still stands in Ophrah, which belongs to the descendants of Abiezer.)
25Later that very night, the Lord told Gideon, gTake the bull that belongs to your father, along with a second bull thatfs seven years old. Then tear down the altar to Baal that your father owns, cut down the Asherah thatfs beside it, 26and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold in an orderly manner. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering using the wood from the Asherah that youfll be cutting down.h
27So Gideon went with ten men who were his servants and did just what the Lord had told him to do, though he did it at night because he was too afraid of his fatherfs family and the leading men of the city to do it during the day. 28When the leading men of the city got up early the next morning, the altar to Baal had been torn down, along with the Asherah that had stood beside it, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that had been erected.
29They asked each other, gWho did this thing?h When they looked into it and asked around, they concluded, gJoashfs son Gideon did it.h 30So the leading men of the city ordered Joash, gBring us that son of yours. Hefs going to die, because he tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah that stood beside it!h
31But Joash responded to everyone who was opposing him, gDo you really intend to fight on Baalfs behalf? Do you really intend to rescue him by ordering that whoever fights him will be executed by morning? If Baal is a god, let him fight for himself. After all, it was his altar that was torn down.h 32So that very day he named Gideon Jerubbaal, that is, gLet Baal fight,h since he had torn down his altar.
33Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and certain groups from the east gathered together, crossed the Jordan River, and set up camp in the Jezreel Valley. 34So the Spirit of the Lord took control of Gideon, who blew a trumpet, mustering the descendants of Abiezer to follow him into battle. 35He sent messengers to the entire tribe of Manasseh, calling them to follow him, and he also sent word to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, calling them to meet him.
36Then Gideon told God, gIf you intend to deliver Israel by my efforts as youfve said, 37then take a look at this wool fleece that Ifm placing on the threshing floor. If dew appears only on the fleece\and itfs dry on the ground all around it\then Ifll know that youfll deliver Israel by my efforts like youfve said.h 38And that is what happened: When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece to drain the dew from it and extracted a bowl full of water.
39Then Gideon told God, gDonft let yourself be angry with me! I want to ask you once again: please let me make a test with the fleece just once more. Cause it to be dry only on the fleece, but let there be dew all around on the ground.h 40And God did it just like that later that night. It was dry only on the fleece, but dew was all around on the ground.
Chapter 7
1Then Jerubbaal, also known as Gideon, got up early along with all of his soldiers. They encamped near the Harod Spring. The Midian encampment lay in the valley to their north, near the hill of Moreh. 2The Lord told Gideon, gYou have too many soldiers with you for me to drop Midian into their hands, because Israel would become arrogant and say, eIt was my own abilities that delivered me.f 3Thatfs why youfre to ask in full view of the soldiers, gWhoever is afraid or is trembling may go back from Mount Gilead and return home.h So 22,000 soldiers left and 10,000 remained.
4gThere are still too many soldiers,h the Lord told Gideon. gBring them down to the water and Ifll refine them for you there. Therefore when I say to you, eThis one will be going with you,f hefll go with you, but no one may go about whom I tell you, eThis one wonft be going with you.fh
5So he brought his soldiers down to the water, and the Lord told Gideon, gYou are to cull out everyone who laps up water with his tongue like a dog from everyone who kneels to drink.h 6The contingent of soldiers who lapped water with their hands to their mouths numbered 300 men, but everyone else kneeled to drink water.
7Then the Lord told Gideon, gIfm going to deliver you with the 300 soldiers who lapped by giving the Midianites into your control. Send everyone else back to their own homes.h
8So the soldiers took provisions with them, along with their trumpets, and Gideon sent all the rest of the soldiers of Israel back to their own tents, but he retained the 300 men. And the Midian encampment was below him in the valley.
9Later that same night, the Lord directed Gideon, gGet up and go down to the Midianite encampment, because Ifve given it into your control. 10But if youfre afraid to go down there, you may take your servant Purah with you to their encampment, 11where you will hear what theyfre talking about. That way, youfll be encouraged to attack the encampment.h So he and his servant Purah went down to the perimeter outposts of the encamped army.
12The Midianites, the Amalekites, and certain groups from the east lay encamped in the valley, as thick as locusts. The number of their camels couldnft be calculated\they seemed as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 13Gideon arrived just as a soldier was talking to a friend about a dream. gLook!h he was saying. gI had a dream that went like this: A loaf of barley bread rolled into the Midianite encampment, came to a tent, and collided with it. The loaf of bread fell down, turned upside down, and the tent collapsed!h
14Then his friend replied, gCan this be anything else than the sword of Joashfs son Gideon, that man from Israel? God must have given Midian and the entire encampment into his control!h
15When Gideon heard the tale of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down in worship and then returned to the Israeli encampment.
There he announced, gGet up! The Lord has given the Midianite army into your control!h 16Then he separated the 300 men into three companies, gave them each trumpets to carry, along with jars into which he placed lit torches.
17He instructed them, gWatch me, and do what I do. When we come to the outer perimeter of the encampment, do what I do. 18When I sound my trumpet, accompanied by everyone who is with me, you must blow your trumpets all around the entire encampment. Then shout out, eFor the Lord and for Gideon!fh
19So Gideon and the 100 men with him arrived at the outer perimeter of the encampment at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had posted sentries. They blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that they were carrying in their hands. 20When the three companies sounded their trumpets and broke the jars, they held the torches in their left hands and sounded their trumpets with their right hands. Then they cried out, gA sword for the Lord and for Gideon!h 21They stood up, each soldier in his assigned place surrounding the encampment, and the entire army ran away, sounding the alarm to retreat.
22As the 300 trumpets were being sounded, the Lord turned the swords of the Midianite soldiers against one another throughout the entire army, and the army ran away as far as Beth-shittah in the direction of Zererah. They got as far as the outskirts of Abel-meholah, near Tabbath. 23Israeli soldiers were called out from the territories of Naphtali, Asher, and throughout Manasseh, and they chased after the Midianites.
24Gideon dispatched messengers throughout the mountainous region of Ephraim, notifying them, gCome down to fight Midian. Capture the water crossings as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan River before they can get to them.h 25They captured two Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. While they were pursuing the Midianites, they executed Oreb at Orebfs Rock and Zeeb at Zeebfs Winepress, and then they carried the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from the east bank of the Jordan River.
Chapter 8
1Later on, the descendants of Ephraim spoke to Gideon. They argued vehemently, gWhat are you doing to us? You never called us! But you went out to fight Midian!h
2gWhat have I accomplished compared to you?h he responded. gIsnft whatfs left from Ephraimfs harvest better than the best vintage of Abiezer? 3God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the leaders of Midian, into your control. What was I able to do compared to you?h When he said this, their anger calmed down.
4Meanwhile, Gideon and the 300 soldiers with him came to the Jordan, exhausted but continuing their pursuit. 5He told the men of Succoth, gPlease give loaves of bread to the soldiers who are following behind me. Theyfre tired, and Ifm pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.h
6But the officials of Succoth replied, gDo you have Zebah and Zalmunna in custody already, so that we should give food to your army?h
7So Gideon responded, gOkay then, but when the Lord has turned over Zebah and Zalmunna into my control, Ifm going to whip you with thorns and briers from the desert!h
8Then he left there to go to Penuel and asked the same thing from them, but the men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth did. 9So he responded the same way to the men of Penuel, gWhen I come back safely, Ifm going to tear down this tower.h
10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, along with their armies, about 15,000 men who survived from the entire army of the group from the east, since 120,000 swordsmen had already fallen. 11Gideon went up by a caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked their encampment when they were off guard. 12When Zebah and Zalmunna escaped, he pursued them, captured those two kings of Midian, and threw the entire army into a panic.
13Then Joashfs son Gideon returned from the battle along the Heres Ascent. 14He caught a young man from Succoth and interrogated him. He wrote out for Gideon a list of the 77 officials of Succoth, including its elders. 15Then Gideon approached the men of Succoth and announced, gHere are Zebah and Zalmunna. You criticized me about them when you said, eDo you have Zebah and Zalmunna in custody already, so that we should give food to your weary army?fh 16So he took the elders of the city and disciplined the men of Succoth with thorns and briers from the desert. 17He also demolished the tower in Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18Afterwards, he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, gWhat were the men like whom you killed at Tabor?h
They answered, gLike you, each one like the son of a kingch
19Gideon replied, gThey were my brothers\sons from my own mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I wouldnft be killing you.h 20Then he told his firstborn son Jether, gGet up and kill them!h But he was afraid, since he was still only a youngster.
21Then Zebah and Zalmunna responded, gGet up and attack us yourself, since a manfs valor is only as good as the man himself.h So Gideon got up, killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the crescent-shaped necklaces that adorned the necks of their camels.
22Then the men of Israel asked Gideon, gRule over us\you, your son, and your grandsons\because you have delivered us from Midianfs domination.h
23But Gideon told them, gI wonft rule over you and my son wonft rule over you. The Lord will rule you.h
24But Gideon also added, gI would like to ask that each of you give me a ring from his war bootyh because, as Ishmaelites, the Midianites had been wearing gold rings.
25They responded, gWefll be happy to give them.h So they laid out a garment, and each of them contributed a ring from his war booty. 26The weight of the rings that he had asked for was 1,700 gold coins, not counting the crescent-shaped necklaces, pendants, and purple garments worn by the Midian kings, and also not counting the bands adorning the necks of their camels.
27Gideon crafted the booty into an ephod and enshrined it in his home town of Ophrah. Then all of Israel committed spiritual adultery with it there, and it became a snare for Gideon and his household.
28Midian remained subjugated to the Israelis, and they didnft so much as raise their heads anymore, so the land was peaceful for 40 years during the lifetime of Gideon. 29Afterwards, Joashfs son Jerubbaal went home and retired. 30Gideon raised 70 sons as his direct descendants, since he had many wives. 31His mistress in Shechem bore him a son whom he named Abimelech. 32Later, Joashfs son Gideon died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah, which belonged to the descendants of Abiezer.
33Later on, as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelis again committed spiritual adultery with various Canaanite deities and appointed Baal-berith to be their god. 34The Israelis did not remember the Lord their God, who continually delivered them from the domination of their enemies who surrounded them on every side. 35And they showed no gracious love to the household of Jerubbaal\also known as Gideon\despite all the good that he had done for Israel.
Chapter 9
1Then Jerubbaalfs son Abimelech went to his motherfs relatives in Shechem. He spoke to the entire family of his motherfs father, telling them, 2gAsk all the glordsh of Shechem, eWhatfs better for you? That 70 men, each of them Jerubbaalfs sons, rule over you? Or that one man rule over you?f Keep in mind that Ifm like your own close relative.h
3So his motherfs relatives spoke all of this on his behalf in the presence of all the glordsh of Shechem. Since they were inclined to follow Abimelech, they said, gHefs our relative!h 4and they gave him 70 silver coins from the temple that they had built to Baal-berith. Abimelech hired some worthless and useless men, who followed him 5to his fatherfs house in Ophrah. There he murdered his own brothers, Jerubbaalfs sons\all 70 of them\in one place. But Jerubbaalfs youngest son Jotham survived by hiding himself.
6All the men from Shechem and Beth-millo gathered together and set up Abimelech as king near the pillar erected in Shechem. 7When Jotham was informed about this, he went out, took his stand on top of Mount Gerizim, and cried out loudly, gListen to me, you glordsh of Shechem, and God will listen to you.
8gOnce upon a time the trees went out
to consecrate a king for themselves.
gSo they told the olive tree,
eReign over us!f
9But the olive tree asked them,
eShould I stop producing my rich oils
by which both God and men are honored
and go take dominion over trees?f
10gSo the trees told the fig tree,
eHey you! Come and reign over us!f
11But the fig tree asked them,
eShould I leave my sweet, good fruit
and go take dominion over trees?f
12gSo the trees told the grape vine,
eHey you! Come and reign over us!f
13But the grape vine asked them,
 eShould I leave my new wine,
which cheers God and man,
and go take dominion over trees?f
14gSo all the trees told the bramble bush,
eHey you! Come and reign over us!f
15Then the bramble bush replied to the trees,
eIf you really are consecrating me to rule you,
come and put your confidence in my shade;
but if not, may fire spring out from the bramble bush
and burn up the cedars of Lebanoncf
16gNow then, if you have been acting in good faith and integrity by making a king out of Abimelech, if you have treated Jerubbaal and his household appropriately by acting toward him as he deserved\ 17because my father fought on your behalf, throwing away all concern for his own life, and delivered you from Midianfs domination.
18gBut now as for you, youfve rebelled against my fatherfs house today. Youfve murdered his sons\70 men\in one place, and youfve installed Abimelech, the son of his mistress, as king to rule over the glordsh of Shechem, since hefs related to you. 19So if youfve acted in good faith and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his household today, then youfre welcome to Abimelech, and hefs welcome to youc 20But if not, may fire spring out from Abimelech and consume the glordsh of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire spring out from the glordsh of Shechem and Beth-millo to consume Abimelech.h 21Then Jotham escaped by running away. He went to Beer and remained there because of his brother Abimelech.
22Abimelech dominated Israel for three years. 23Then God sent an evil spirit to divide Abimelech and the glordsh of Shechem 24so that the violence committed against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come back on their brother Abimelech, who murdered them, and so it might come back on the glordsh of Shechem, who provoked him to murder his brothers. 25The glordsh of Shechem sent out men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who came by them along the roads, and this was reported to Abimelech.
26Meanwhile, Ebedfs son Gaal arrived with his relatives and crossed over into Shechem. The glordsh of Shechem put their faith in him. 27They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, made some wine, and threw a party. Then they went into the temple of their god, ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28Then Ebedfs son Gaal remarked, gWho is this Abimelech? And who is Shechem? Should we serve him? Isnft he Jerubbaalfs son? Isnft Zebul his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechemfs ancestor\but why are we serving him? 29If only authority over this people were given to me. Then I would remove Abimelech!h Then he challenged Abimelech: gBuild up your army and then come out and fight!h
30When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Ebedfs son Gaal had said, he flew into a rage. 31He sent messengers to Abimelech in secret and told him, gLook out! Ebedfs son Gaal and his family have arrived here in Shechem. Watch out! Theyfre stirring up the city against you. 32So get up at night, take your soldiers with you, and wait in ambush out in the field. 33Tomorrow morning when the sun is up, get up early and attack the city. When Gaal and his army come out to fight you, do whatever you can to them.h
34So Abimelech and his entire army got up that night and waited in ambush against Shechem in four separate companies.
35Ebedfs son Gaal went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate while Abimelech and his army were creeping out of their ambush. 36When Gaal saw the army, he observed to Zebul, gLook there! People are coming down from the top of the mountains.h
But Zebul replied to him, gYoufre looking at morning shadows cast by the mountains. They just look like men to you.h
37Gaal spoke up again to say, gLook! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and therefs a company approaching from the divinerfs oak tree.h
38So Zebul replied, gRight... So wherefs your boasting now? You said, eWho is Abimelech? Should we serve him?f Isnft this the army that you insulted? So go out right now and fight them!h
39So Gaal went out in full view of the glordsh of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many fell wounded right up to the entrance to the city gate. 41Afterwards, Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul expelled Gaal and his family so they couldnft remain in Shechem.
42The next day, the people went out to the field, and Abimelech learned about it. 43So he took his army, divided it into three separate companies, and laid in ambush out in the field. When Abimelech noticed the people coming out from the city, his army attacked them and killed them. 44Then Abimelech and the soldiers who were with him rushed forward and commandeered the entrance to the city gate while the other two companies ran out to kill everyone who was in the field. 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt.
46When all the glordsh at the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they retreated into the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. 47Abimilech was told that all of the glordsh of the Shechem Tower had assembled there. 48So he went up to Mount Zalmon, accompanied by his entire army. Abimelech had an axe in his hand, so he cut down a branch from a tree, lifted it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he told the army that had accompanied him, gYoufve seen what I just did. Hurry up! Do the same thing!h
49Then his entire army also cut down a branch for each soldier, followed Abimelech to the inner chamber, and set fire to it while they were inside. As a result, all the men of the tower of Shechem died, including about a thousand men and women.
50Later on, Abimelech went to Thebez, set up a siege encampment there, and captured it. 51But there was a fortified tower in the center of the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city escaped to it, shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52So Abimelech approached the tower, attacked it, and approached the towerfs gate, intending to burn it down. 53But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelechfs head, fracturing his skull.
54So he cried out to his young armor bearer and ordered him, gDraw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me that eA woman killed him.fh So the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55When the men of Israel noticed that Abimelech was dead, they each left for home. 56Thatfs how God repaid Abimelech for the evil thing he did to his father by killing his 70 brothers. 57God also repaid the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and the curse of Jerubbaalfs son Jotham came true for them.
Chapter 10
1A man from the tribe of Issachar, Puahfs son Tola, grandson of Dodo, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the mountainous region of Ephraim. 2He governed Israel for 23 years and then died. He was buried in Shamir.
3After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and governed Israel for 22 years. 4His 30 sons rode on 30 donkeys, controlling 30 cities in the territory of Gilead named Havvoth-jair to this day. 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
6Later on, the Israelis again practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by serving the Baals, the stars, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the descendants of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. In doing so, they ignored the Lord and wouldnft serve him. 7In his burning anger against Israel, he sold them into domination by the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8who trampled and troubled the Israelis during that year\eighteen years for the Israelis who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land occupied by the Amorites. 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan River to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. As a result, Israel was deeply distressed.
10Then the Israelis cried out to the Lord and told him, gWe have sinned against you because we have abandoned our God to serve the Baals.h
11The Lord replied to the Israelis, gArenft you away from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines? 12And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites harassed you, you cried out to me, and I delivered you from under their domination. 13But you have abandoned me and served other gods. Therefore I will no longer be delivering you. 14Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen for yourselves. Let them deliver you in your time of trouble.h
15The Israelis replied to the Lord, gWe have sinned, so do to us anything thatfs right to do in your opinion, just please deliver us right now.h 16When they put away their foreign gods and served the Lord, he brought Israelfs misery to an end. 17The Ammonites were summoned and they encamped in Gilead. The Israelis assembled together and encamped in Mizpah. 18The people and Gileadfs officials inquired among themselves, gWho will begin our attack against the Ammonites? Hefll become head over everyone who lives in Gilead.h
Chapter 11
1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant soldier, but he was also the son of a prostitute and Jephthahfs father Gilead. 2Gileadfs wife bore two sons through him, but when his wifefs sons grew up, they expelled Jephthah and declared to him, gYou wonft have an inheritance in this house, since youfre the son of a different woman.h 3So Jephthah escaped from his brothers and lived in the territory of Tob, where worthless men gathered themselves around him and went out on raiding parties with him.
4Later on, the Ammonites attacked Israel. 5When this happened, the elders of Gilead went to the territory of Tob to find Jephthah. 6They told him, gCome and be our commander so we can fight the Ammonites!h
7But Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, gWerenft you the ones who hated me and drove me out of my fatherfs house? And you come to me now that youfre in trouble?h
8So the elders of Gilead told Jephthah, gWell, wefre coming back to you now so you can accompany us, fight the Ammonites, and become the head of all the inhabitants of Gilead.h
9Then Jephthah asked the elders of Gilead, gIf you all send me to fight against the Ammonites and the Lord hands them over right in front of me, will I really become your head?h
10The elders of Gilead responded to Jephthah, gMay the Lord serve as a witness that wefre making this agreement between ourselves to do as wefve said.h 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people appointed him head and military commander over them. Jephthah uttered everything he had to say with the solemnity of an oath in the Lordfs presence at Mizpah.
12Afterwards, Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites to ask him, gWhatfs your dispute between us that prompted you to come and attack my land?h
13The king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, gWefre here because Israel took away my land from the Arnon River as far as the Jabbok River and as far as the Jordan River when they came up from Egypt! So restore it as a gesture of good will.h
14But Jephthah sent additional messengers again to the king of the Ammonites 15and they informed him, gThis is Jephthahfs response:
eIsrael didnft seize the land of Moab nor the land of the Ammonites. 16Herefs what happened: When Israel came up from Egypt, passed through the desert to the Red Sea, and arrived at Kadesh, 17Israel sent a delegation to the king of Edom and asked him, gPlease let us pass through your territory.h
eBut the king of Edom wouldnft listen. So they also sent word to the king of Moab, but he wouldnft consent, either. So Israel stayed at Kadesh. 18Then they went through the desert, circumventing the territory belonging to Edom and Moab. They encamped on the other side of the Arnon River, but never entered the territory of Moab because the Arnon River is the border of Moab.
19eThen Israel sent a delegation to Sihon, king of the Amorites and king of Heshbon. Israel requested of him, gPlease let us pass through your territory to our place.h 20But Sihon didnft trust Israel to pass through his territory, so he assembled his entire army, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
21eThe Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his entire army into the control of Israel, and defeated them. As a result, Israel took control over the entire land of the Amorites, who were living in that country. 22They took possession of the entire territory of the Amorites from the Arnon River as far as the Jabbok River and from the desert as far as the Jordan River.
23eNow then, since the Lord God of Israel expelled the Amorites right in front of his people Israel, are you going to control their territory? 24Donft you control what your god Chemosh gives you? In the same way, wefll take control of whomever the Lord our God has driven out in front of us. 25Also ask yourselves: do you have a better case than Zipporfs son Balak, king of Moab? Did he ever have a quarrel with Israel or ever win a fight against them? 26When Israel was living in Heshbon and its surrounding villages, in Aroer and its surrounding villages, and in all the cities that line the banks of the Arnon River these past three hundred years, why didnft you retake them during that time?
27eI havenft sinned against you, but you are acting wrongly against me by declaring war on me. May the Lord, the Judge, sit in judgment today between the Israelis and the Ammonites.f
28But the king of the Ammonites wouldnft heed the message that Jephthah had sent to him.
29The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, so he swept through Gilead and the territory of Manasseh, then swept through Mizpah in Gilead, and from Mizpah in Gilead he proceeded toward where the Ammonites were encamped. 30Jephthah made this solemn vow to the Lord: gIf you truly give the Ammonites into my control, 31then if I return from the Ammonites without incident, whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me will become the Lordfs, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.h
32Then Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites and attacked them. The Lord gave them into his control. 33He attacked them from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith\twenty cities in all\even as far as Abel-keramim. As a result, the Ammonites were subdued right in front of the Israelis. 34When Jephthah arrived at his home in Mizpah\surprise!\it was his daughter who came out to meet him, playing tambourines and dancing. She was his one and only child. Except for her, he had no other son or daughter.
35When he saw her, he ripped his clothes and cried out, gOh no! My daughter! You have terribly burdened me! Youfve joined those who are causing me trouble, because Ifve given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.
36She told him, gMy father, you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me according to what has come out of your own mouth, considering that the Lord has paid back your enemies, the Ammonites.h 37Then she continued talking with her father, gDo this for me: leave me alone by myself for two months. Ifll go up to the mountains and cry there because Ifll never marry. My friends and I will go.h
38So he said, gGo!h He sent her away for two months. She left with her friends and cried there on the mountains because she would never marry. 39Later, after the two months were concluded, she returned to her father, and he fulfilled what he had solemnly vowed\and she never married. Thatfs how the custom arose in Israel 40that for four days out of every year the Israeli women would go to mourn the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite in commemoration.
Chapter 12
1A little while later, the army of Ephraim was mustered, and they crossed to Zaphon. They confronted Jephthah and asked, gWhy did you cross over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to accompany you? Wefre going to burn your house down around you!h
2But Jephthah replied to them, gMy army and I were engaged in a serious fight with the Ammonites. I called for you, but you didnft deliver me from their control. 3When I saw that you wouldnft be delivering me, I took my own life in my hands, crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my control. So why have you come here today to fight me?h 4Then Jephthah mustered all the men of Gilead, fought the tribe of Ephraim, and defeated them, because they had been claiming, gYou descendants of Gilead are fugitives in the midst of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.h
5The descendants of Gilead seized control of the Jordan Riverfs fords along the border of Ephraimfs territory. Later on, when any fugitive from Ephraim asked them, gLet me cross over,h the men from Gilead would ask him, gAre you an Ephraimite?h If he said gNo,h 6they would order him, gPronounce the word eShibbolethf right now.h If he said gSibboleth,h not being able to pronounce it correctly, they would seize him and slaughter him there at the fords of the Jordan River. During those days 42,000 descendants of Ephraim died that way.
7Jephthah governed Israel for six years. Then Jephthah died and was buried somewhere in the cities of Gilead.
8After he died, Ibzan from Bethlehem governed Israel for ten years. 9He had 30 sons and 30 daughters, but he gave his daughters in marriage to outsiders and brought in 30 outsiders for his sons. He governed Israel for seven years, 10then he died and was buried in Bethlehem.
11Elon the Zebulunite governed Israel after him for ten years. 12Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon within the territory of Zebulun.
13Hillel the Pirathonitefs son Abdon governed Israel after him. 14He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. He governed Israel for eight years. 15Then he died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim, in the mountainous region of the Amalekites.
Chapter 13
1Some time later, the Israelis again practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, so the Lord handed them over into the domination of the Philistines for 40 years. 2There was one man from Zorah, from the family of the descendants of Dan, whose name was Manoah. Since his wife was infertile, she hadnft borne children.
3One day the angel of the Lord presented himself to the woman. gHello!h he greeted her. gThough you are infertile at this time and havenft borne a child, youfre about to conceive and give birth to a son. 4So be sure that you donft drink wine or anything intoxicating, and donft eat anything unclean 5because\surprise! \youfre going to conceive and give birth to a son! Donft put a razor to his head, because the young man will be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from inside the womb. He will begin to deliver Israel from domination by the Philistines.h
6Then the woman went to tell her husband. She said, gA man of God appeared to me. He looked like what an angel of God would look like\very frightening. I didnft ask him where he had come from and he didnft tell me his name. 7He told me, eSurprise!\youfre going to conceive and give birth to a son!f and as for you, eBe sure that you donft drink wine or anything intoxicating, and donft eat anything unclean,f ebecause the young man will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from inside the wombf until the day he dies.h
8So Manoah prayed to the Lord, gPlease, Lord, have the man of God whom you sent before come again so he can instruct us what to do on behalf of the child who is to be born.h
9God listened to Manoahfs request, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she was sitting out in the pasture. But her husband Manoah wasnft with her, 10so the woman ran quickly to tell her husband, gLook! The man who came the other day appeared to me!h
11So Manoah got up quickly and followed his wife, and when he came to the man he told him, gAre you the man who spoke to my wife?h
He replied, gI am.h
12Manoah asked, gNow, when what youfve said occurs, what is to be the young manfs way of life and work?h
13The angel of the Lord replied to Manoah, gJust have your wife be careful to carry out everything that I told her. 14She must not consume anything extracted from grape vines, including wine or anything intoxicating, and she must not eat anything unclean, doing everything that I commissioned her to do.h
15Manoah responded to the angel of the Lord, gPlease, let us detain you while we prepare a young goat for you.h
16The angel of the Lord answered Manoah, gIf you detain me, I wonft be eating your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, youfll be making a sacrifice to the Lord.h The angel of the Lord said this because Manoah didnft know that he was the angel of the Lord.
17Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, gWhatfs your name, because when what youfve said happens, wefll glorify you?h
18The angel of the Lord answered him, gWhy are you asking this about my name? Itfs eWonderful.fh
19So Manoah prepared a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a boulder to the Lord, who kept on performing miracles while Manoah and his wife watched continuously. 20When the burnt offering was engulfed in flames that sprang up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame that came from the altar. When Manoah and his wife observed this, they collapsed on their faces to the ground. 21The angel of the Lord did not appear again to Manoah or to his wife, and then Manoah knew confidently that the visitor had been the angel of the Lord.
22Then Manoah told his wife, gWefre going to die for sure, because wefve seen God!h
23But his wife replied to him, gIf the Lord had intended to kill us, he wouldnft have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from us, he wouldnft have shown us all these things, and he wouldnft have permitted us to hear things like this, now would he?h
24Later on, the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew strong and the Lord blessed him. 25Then the Spirit of the Lord began to rouse him where the tribe of Dan was encamped, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Chapter 14
1A while later, Samson went down to Timnah and observed a woman in Timnah who was of Philistine origin. 2Then he returned and told his father and mother, gIn Timnah I saw a woman of Philistine origin.h He ordered them, gGet her for me as a wife. Now!h
3His father and mother asked him, gIsnft there a woman suitable among the daughters of your relatives or among all of our people, since youfre going to get your wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?h
But Samson retorted to his father, gGet her for me, since she looks fine to me.h 4Meanwhile, his father and mother did not know that she was from the Lord, because he had been seeking a favorable opportunity concerning the Philistines, since the Philistines were dominating Israel at that time.
5Then Samson went down in the direction of Timnah with his father and mother and arrived as far as the vineyards of Timnah. And\surprise!\a young lion came roaring at him! 6The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he ripped the lion apart as one might dissect a young goat, even though he carried nothing in his hand. But he didnft tell his father and mother what he had done.
7Then he went down and talked to the woman, and she looked fine to Samson. 8When he came back later to marry her, he turned aside to observe the lionfs carcass. Amazingly, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, complete with honey. 9So he scraped some out into his hands and went on his way, eating all the while. When he met his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they ate it, too. But he didnft inform them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.
10Later on, when his father went down to visit the woman, Samson threw a party there, since young men customarily did this. 11When they saw him, they brought 30 companions to accompany him. 12gLet me tell you a riddle,h Samson told them. gIf you can solve it during this week-long festival, Ifll give you 30 linen garments and 30 formal garments. 13But if you donft solve it, then youfll give me 30 linen garments and 30 formal garments.h
 gTell us your riddle and wefll solve it,h they responded.
14So he told them:
From the eater came something edible;
from the strong something sweet.
For three days they couldnft solve the riddle.
15The next day, they told Samsonfs wife, gCoax your husband to explain the riddle or wefll set fire to your fatherfs house\with you in it! Youfve invited us here to make us paupers, havenft you?h
16So Samsonfs wife cried in front of him and accused him, gYou only hate me. You donft love me. Youfve told a riddle to my relatives, but you havenft told the solution to me.h
Samson responded, gLook, I havenft told my parents, either. Why should I tell you?h
17So she kept on crying in front of him for the entire seven days of the wedding party. On the seventh day he told the solution to her because she nagged him, and then she told the solution to the riddle to her relatives.
18Then the men of the city answered him just before sunset on the seventh day:
gWhatfs sweeter than honey?
Whatfs stronger than lions?h
Samson responded,
gIf you hadnft plowed with my heifer
you wouldnft have solved my riddle.h
19Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed 30 men, took their belongings, and gave the garments to those who had told him the solution to the riddle. He remained furious, left for his fatherfs house, 20and Samsonfs wife went to the best man at his wedding.
Chapter 15
1A while later during the wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife, bringing along a young goat, and told his father-in-law, gIfm going into my wifefs room.h But her father wouldnft give permission for him to go.
2Her father said, gBecause I honestly thought that you hated her deeply, I gave her in marriage to your best man. Isnft her younger sister better than she? Please then, let her be yours instead.h
3Samson replied to them, gThis time Ifll be blameless when I do something evil to the Philistines.h 4So Samson went out, caught 300 foxes, grabbed some torches, tied the foxes together in pairs at their tails, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails. 5Then he ignited the torches, set the foxes loose into the Philistinesf unharvested grain, and burned up both the harvested shocks and the standing grain, along with their vineyards and olive groves.
6Then the Philistines demanded, gWho did this?h
Someone said, gSamson, son-in-law of the Timnite, because his father-in-law took Samsonfs wife and gave her to the best man at Samsonfs wedding.h In retaliation, the Philistines came up and burned her and her father to death.
7Samson replied to them, gBecause you did this, Ifm not going to stop until I get my revenge against you!h 8So he attacked them ruthlessly in a massive slaughter, then left to live in the caves of Etam. 9In response, the Philistines went up, encamped in the territory of Judah, and raided Lehi.
10The leading men of Judah asked, gWhy have you invaded us?h
They replied, gWefre here to arrest Samson. Then wefre going to do to him what he did to us.h
11In response, 3,000 soldiers from the tribe of Judah went down to the caves of the rock of Etam and asked Samson, gDonft you know that the Philistines have us in their control? What have you done to us?h
gI did to them what they did to me,h he answered.
12They responded, gWefve come here to arrest you and transfer you to the custody of the Philistines.h
Samson told them, gPromise me that you wonft kill me.h
13So they said, gNo, we wonft. But wefre going to tie you up securely and transfer you to their custody. But we wonft kill you.h Then they bound him with two ropes and brought him up from the caves.
14When Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, so that the ropes that bound him were like flax thatfs been burned by fire, and his bonds dissolved. 15He happened upon a jawbone from a putrefying donkey, reached out to grab it, and killed 1,000 men with it. 16Then Samson declared,
gWith a jawbone from the donkey\
here a heap, there a pair of heaps\
with the jawbone of the donkey
Ifve killed 1,000 men.h
17When he finally finished bragging, he discarded the jawbone and named that place gJawbone Heights.h
18Aferward, he became thirsty, called out to the Lord, and told him, gSo, you provided this great deliverance at the hands of your servant, but now Ifm to die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?h 19So God split a hollow place thatfs in Lehi, and water sprang out of it. After he had taken a drink, his strength returned, and he revived. Thatfs why it was named gEn-hakkore,h which is in Lehi to this day. 20Samson governed Israel for twenty years during the Philistine domination.
Chapter 16
1Sometime later, Samson went to Gaza, saw a prostitute there, and went in to have sex with her. 2When the Gazites were informed, gSamson has come here!h they surrounded him, intending to lay in wait for him at the city gate throughout the entire night. They kept quiet all night, telling each other, gAt first light, letfs kill him!h
3Meanwhile, Samson had sex until midnight, then at midnight he got up, grabbed the doors, the two door posts, and the bars of the city gate, and uprooted them. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the mountain opposite Hebron.
4After this incident, he loved a woman in Sorek Valley whose name was Delilah. 5The Philistine officials approached her and told her, gEntice him to discover where his great strength is, and how we can overpower him. We intend to tie him up and torture him. Wefll each pay you 1,100 silver coins.h
6So Delilah asked Samson, gPlease tell me the secret to your great strength and how you may be tied up and tortured.h
7Samson replied, gIf Ifm tied up with seven green cords that have never been dried out, then Ifll become weak and just like any other human being.h
8Then the Philistine leaders brought her seven green cords that had never been dried, and she tied him up with them. 9Meanwhile, some kidnappers were hiding inside an inner room, waiting for her signal. So she told him, gThe Philistines are attacking you!h But he snapped the cords as one might break a burned candle wick. So his secret remained undiscovered.
10Some time later, Delilah told Samson, gLook here! Youfve been mocking me and lying to me. Now please tell me how you can be tied up.h
11He told her, gIf Ifm tied up securely with new ropes that have never been used, then Ifll become weak and just like any other human being.h
12So Delilah grabbed some new ropes and tied him up. Then she told him, gThe Philistines are attacking you, Samson!h because some kidnappers were hiding inside an inner room. But he snapped the ropes from his arms like thread.
13Later on, Delilah told Samson, gYoufre still mocking me and telling me lies! Tell me how to tie you up!h
He answered her, gIf you weave the seven locks of my hair into a loom and fasten it with a peg, then I will become weak and just like any other human being.h
14So Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the loom while he slept. She fastened his hair with a peg and then told him, gThe Philistines are attacking you, Samson!h But he woke up from his nap and pulled the pin from the loom and the weaving.
15Some time later, she asked him, gHow can you keep saying eI love you!f when your heart isnft with me? These three times youfve lied to me and havenft told me where your great strength lies.h 16She nagged him every day with this speech, pestering him until he was annoyed nearly to death.
17So he finally disclosed everything. He told her, gA razor has never touched my head, because Ifve been a Nazirite for God before I was born. If I am shaved, then my strength will abandon me and I will become weak like every human being.h
18When Delilah realized that he had disclosed everything to her, she sent for the Philistine officials and told them, gHurry up and come here at once, because he has told me everything.h So the Philistine officials went to her and brought their money with them. 19So she enticed him to fall asleep on her lap, called for a man to shave off his seven locks of hair from his head, and so began to humiliate him. Then his strength abandoned him.
20When she cried out, gThe Philistines are attacking you, Samson!h he woke from his sleep and told himself, gIfll go out like I did at other times like this and shake myself free.h But he didnft know that the Lord had abandoned him.
21Then the Philistines grabbed him, gouged out his eyes, brought him down to Gaza, tied him up in bronze chains, and made him grind grain in their prison. 22But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved off.
23Some time later, the Philistine officials got together to present a magnificent sacrifice to their god Dagon, and to throw a party, because they were claiming, gOur god has given Samson into our control!h
24When the people saw Samson, they praised their god, claiming:
Our god has given our enemy into our control;
the one who was destroying our land,
and who has killed many of us.
25Because they all got good and drunk, they ordered, gGo get Samson, so he can entertain us.h So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them while they made him stand between the pillars.
26Then Samson told the young man who had been leading him around by the hand, gLet me touch and feel the pillars on which this building rests, and Ifll support myself against them.h 27Now the building was full of men, women, and all the Philistine officials, with about 3,000 men and women on the roof watching Samson while he was entertaining them.
28Then Samson cried out to the Lord, gLord God, please remember me. And please strengthen me this one time, God, so that I can repay the Philistines right now for my two eyes.h 29Then Samson grabbed the two middle pillars upon which the house rested and braced himself against them with one pillar in his right hand and the other in his left.
30Then Samson said, gLet me die with the Philistines!h He strained with all his strength until the building collapsed on the officials and every person in it. As a result, the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime. 31Afterwards, his brothers and his fatherfs household servants came down, took him, brought him back, and buried him in his father Manoahfs tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol. He had governed Israel for 20 years.
Chapter 17
1A man named Micah lived in the mountainous region of the territory of Ephraim. 2He told his mother, gDo you remember those 1,100 silver coins that were stolen from you and about which you uttered a curse when I could hear it? Well, I have the silver. I took it.h
So she replied, gMay my son be blessed by the Lord.h
3Her son gave back the 1,100 silver coins to his mother, and she said, gIfm totally giving this silver\from my hand to the Lord\so my son can make a carved image and a cast image. So Ifm returning it to you.h
4When he had returned the silver to his mother, his mother took 200 of the silver coins and handed them over to a silversmith. He crafted them into a carved image and into a cast image, and they were set up in Micahfs house. 5This man Micah had his own shrine, had crafted his own ephod and some household idols, and had installed one of his sons as a priest.
6Back in those days, Israel didnft yet have a king, so each person did whatever seemed right in his own opinion.
7A young male descendant of Levi happened to be visiting there from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. 8The man had left his city Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could. As he traveled along, he eventually arrived at Micahfs house in the mountainous region of Ephraim, looking for work.
9Micah asked him, gWhere did you come from?h
He replied, gIfm a descendant of Levi from Bethlehem in Judah, and Ifm going to stay temporarily wherever I can find a place.h
10So Micah replied, gCome live with me! You can be a spiritual father to me, as well as a priest. Ifll pay you ten silver coins a year, plus a priestly uniform and an income.h So the descendant of Levi moved in. 11The descendant of Levi agreed to live with the man, and the young man became like one of the family. 12Micah set up the descendant of Levi in ministry, and the young man became his priest while he lived in Micahfs house. 13As for Micah, he kept saying, gNow I know the Lord will make me rich, because I have a descendant of Levi for a priest!h
Chapter 18
1Back in those days, Israel didnft have a king yet, and during that time the tribe of Dan had been seeking a territorial inheritance to live in, because up until that time no territory had been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel. 2So the tribe of Dan sent from their families five valiant men of their number from Zorah and Eshtaol to scout the land and search through it. Following their orders, which were gGo and scout the land,h they came to the mountainous region of Ephraim, arrived at Micahfs home, and stayed there.
3As they approached Micahfs home, they recognized the voice of the young male descendant of Levi. They turned aside from there and spoke to him, asking him, gWho brought you here? What work are you doing here? And whatfs your business here?h
4He answered, gMicah did such and such for me, and has hired me, so Ifve become his priest.h
5They replied, gGo ask God, please, about whether or not wefll be successful in this journey.h
6The priest responded to them, gTravel in peace. The mission that youfre to accomplish is from the Lord.h
7So the five men left and went to Laish, and observed the people who were living there carefree, as Sidonians tend to do, in peace and quiet. There was no ruler in the land oppressing them for any reason. They were living far away from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone. 8When they returned to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, gWhatfs your report?h
9They replied, gLetfs get going and attack them. Wefve scouted out the land\and look!\itfs a very good one. Why should we sit still? We canft wait to go back, invade, and take over the land. 10When you invade, youfll meet a carefree people living in a spacious territory. God has given it into your control\itfs a place that lacks nothing on this earth!h 11So 600 descendants of Dan from Zorah and Eshtaol set out for battle, armed with military weapons. 12They went out and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in the territory of Judah. (Thatfs why they call the place Mahaneh-dan to this day. It lies west of Kiriath-jearim.) 13They proceeded from there to the mountainous region of Ephraim and arrived at Micahfs house.
14Then the five men who had gone to scout out the territory of Laish told their relatives, gAre you aware that in these houses therefs an ephod, some household idols, a carved image, and a cast image? You know what you need to do.h 15So they turned aside from there, went to Micahfs house, and greeted him.
16While the 600 Danite soldiers, armed with military weapons, stood guard at the entrance to the gate, 17the five men who had gone to scout out the land arrived, entered Micahfs home and took possession of the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast image. Meanwhile, the priest stood outside by the entrance to the gate with the 600 men armed with military weapons.
18After they went into Micahfs home and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast image, the priest challenged them. gWhat are you doing?h he asked them.
19They told him, gShut up and keep quiet. Come with us and be our spiritual father and priest. Itfs better for you, isnft it, to be a priest to an entire tribe and family in Israel than to be priest to the home of one man?h 20The priest was happy to oblige, so he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image and went along with the army.
21Then they turned around and left, sending their little ones, their livestock, and their valuables on ahead. 22When they had been gone a short distance from Micahfs home, some of Micahfs neighbors assembled a search party and overtook the descendants of Dan. 23They yelled at the descendants of Dan, who turned around to face Micah and asked, gWhatfs wrong with you? Youfve assembled togetherc?h
24Micah replied, gYou took my gods that I crafted, along with the priest, and left! What do I have left? So whatfs with this eWhatfs wrong with you?fh
25The descendants of Dan answered him, gYou had better not talk to us about this, or else these bad guys here will attack you. You will lose your life, along with the lives of your whole household.h 26Then the descendants of Dan went on their way. Because Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back home. 27But the descendants of Dan took what Micah had made, along with the priest who had worked for him, and went to Laish, to a quiet and carefree people, and killed them with swords. Then they set fire to the city. 28They had no one else to deliver them, because they lived far from Sidon and had no dealings with anyone. It lay in the valley near Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it. 29They renamed the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who had been born in Israel. The former name of the city was Laish.
30The descendants of Dan set up the carved image, and Gershomfs son Jonathan, a descendant of Manasseh, served along with his descendants as priests to the tribe of Dan until the land was taken captive. 31Micahfs carved image, that he himself had crafted, was in place during the entire time that Godfs tent was set up at Shiloh.
Chapter 19
1Now it happened in those days, before there was a king in Israel, that a certain male descendant of Levi, who lived in a remote part of the mountainous region of Ephraim, took a mistress for himself from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. 2But his mistress was sexually unfaithful to him, and then she left him to live in her fatherfs home in Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. She had been living there for a period of about four months 3when her husband got up and went after her, intending to speak lovingly to her in order to win her back. He took with him his young man servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her fatherfs house to see him, her father was happy to have met him.
4The young womanfs father (that is, his father-in-law) made him stay there for three days while they ate and drank during his visit there. 5On the fourth day, they got up early that morning, and the descendant of Levi got ready to leave. Then the young womanfs father-in-law told him, gFortify yourself by eating some food before you go.h 6So both of them sat down for a bit, ate and drank together, and the young womanfs father invited the man, gPlease, enjoy yourself and spend another night.h 7The man got up, intending to leave, but his father-in-law urged him to spend the night there again.
8On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning, but the young womanfs father-in-law told him, gPlease, fortify yourself,h so they delayed until later that afternoon while both of them ate together. 9When the man got up to leave with his mistress and servant, his father-in-law, the young womanfs father, told him, gLook now, evening is coming, so please spend another night. See how the daylight is fading, so spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Then tomorrow get up early and leave on your journey home.h
10Because the man was unwilling to spend the night, he got up, left, and arrived opposite Jebus (now known as Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys, along with his mistress. 11As they approached Jebus, the daylight was almost gone, so the servant suggested to his master, gCome on, letfs spend the night in this Jebusite city.h
12But his master replied, gWefre not going to turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not part of the Israelis. Instead, wefll go on to Gibeah.h 13He also told his servant, gCome on, letfs go to one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.h 14So they continued on their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which is part of Benjaminfs territorial allotment. 15They turned aside there, intending to enter Gibeah and spend the night.
After they entered the city, they had to sit down in the public square because no one would take them into their home for the night. 16Just then, an old man was coming out of the fields that evening from work. The man was from the mountainous region of Ephraim and had been staying in Gibeah, even though the men of that place were descendants of Benjamin. 17As the old man looked up and saw the traveling man in the public square of the city, he asked, gNow then, where are you headed? And where are you from?h
18He replied, gWefre traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the mountainous region of Ephraim, because Ifm from there, and Ifve been visiting Bethlehem in Judah. Ifm going home now, but no one will take me into his home. 19Meanwhile, we also have straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, for this young woman servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. We donft need anything else.h
20The old man replied, gDonft be alarmed. Ifll take care of all your needs. Just donft spend the night in the public square.h 21So he took him into his home and fed the donkeys while they refreshed themselves and had dinner.h
22While they were enjoying themselves, all of a sudden certain ungodly men who lived in the city surrounded the house, pounded on the door, and ordered the old man who owned the home, gBring out the man who came to visit your home so we can have sex with him.h
23The man who owned the house went out to talk to them and pleaded with them, gNo, my brothers, please donft act so wickedly. This man is my guest! Donft try to do this stupid thing. 24Instead, herefs my virgin daughter and my visitorfs mistress. Please let me bring them out to you. Occupy yourselves with them, and do to them whatever you would like. But donft commit such a stupid thing against this man.h
25But the men were unwilling to listen to him. So the descendant of Levi grabbed his mistress, took her out to them, and they raped and tortured her all night until morning. Then they released her as the first daylight was beginning to appear. 26As dawn was breaking, the woman approached the door of the manfs home where her master was and collapsed. Eventually, full daylight came. 27When her master got up that morning and opened the doors of the house to leave on his way, there was his mistress, fallen dead at the door of the house with her hands grasping the threshold.
28He spoke to her, gGet up, and letfs go.h
But there was no response. So he placed her on the donkey, mounted his own animal, and went home. 29When he arrived home, he grabbed a knife, took hold of his mistress, cut her apart limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her remains throughout the land of Israel. 30All the witnesses said, gNothing has happened or has been seen like this from the day the Israelis came here from the land of Egypt to this day! Think about it, get some advice about it, and then speak up about it!h
Chapter 20
1Then the entire Israeli nation\from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the territory of Gilead\came out for war. The army assembled as one united force to God at Mizpah. 2The officials of the entire nation, including every tribe of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God: 400,000 foot soldiers, all of them expert swordsmen.
3While the descendants of Benjamin were learning that the Israelis had gone up to Mizpah, the Israelis asked, gSomebody tell us how this evil could happen?h
4So the descendant of Levi, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up and replied, gI came to spend the night at Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin, along with my mistress. 5But the officials of Gibeah attacked me and surrounded the house because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they tortured my mistress to death. 6So I grabbed my mistress, cut her in pieces, and sent her remains throughout the territory of Israelfs inheritance, because theyfve committed a vile, stupid outrage in Israel. 7So look, all you sons of Israel! Speak up and give us your advice!h
8Then the entire army stood up as a single unit and declared, gNobodyfs going back to his tent, and nobodyfs going home! 9This is what wefll do to Gibeah: wefre going to assemble an army by lottery. 10Wefll take ten men out of 100 from all of the tribes of Israel. Wefll appoint 100 out of 1,000 and 1,000 out of 10,000 to supply provisions for the army. And when we reach Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, wefll punish them for all of the stupid things that theyfve done in Israel.h 11Thatfs how the army of Israel came to be gathered together to attack the city, united as a single unit.
12The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the entire tribe of Benjamin to ask them, gWhat is this evil thing that has occurred among you? 13Now then, hand over the men\those ungodly men, and wefll execute them in order to remove this evil from Israel.h
But the descendants of Benjamin wouldnft obey the request of their own relatives, the Israelis, 14so the descendants of Benjamin assembled from the cities of Gibeah to fight the Israelis in battle. 15The day of the battle, the army from the descendants of Benjamin numbered 26,000 expert swordsmen from their cities, not including the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered 700 special forces soldiers. 16Out of all these soldiers, 700 of them were left-handed\and each one could sling a stone at a hair and never miss. 17But the Israeli army\not counting the tribe of Benjamin\numbered 400,000 expert swordsmen, all of them battle-hardened soldiers.
18The Israelis mounted up, traveled to Bethel, and asked God what to do. They said, gWho is to lead us in our opening attack against the descendants of Benjamin?h
The Lord replied, gJudah is to open the attack.h
19So the Israelis got up in the morning, encamped near Gibeah, 20and the army of Israel went out to fight the tribe of Benjamin, assembling in battle array against them at Gibeah. 21The descendants of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and 22,000 soldiers of Israel fell in battle that day.
22But the army\the men of Israel\encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again the next day in the same place where they had gathered the day before. 23From there the Israelis went up and wept in the Lordfs presence until evening. Then they asked the Lord, gShould we attack the descendants of Benjamin again?h
The Lord replied, gAttack them.h
24So the Israelis attacked the descendants of Benjamin for a second day, 25and the tribe of Benjamin went to war against them from Gibeah during that second day, and 18,000 soldiers from the Israelis\all of them expert swordsmen\fell to the ground. 26All the Israelis, including its army, went up from there to Bethel and wept, remaining there in the Lordfs presence, fasting throughout the day until dusk, when they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the Lordfs presence. 27The Israelis inquired of the Lord, since the Ark of the Covenant was there at that time 28while Eleazarfs son Phinehas, a descendant of Aaron, served before it in those days. They asked, gShould we go out to war again against the descendants of our relative Benjamin, or shall we cease?h
And the Lord answered, gGo out, and tomorrow I will deliver them into your control.h
29So Israel set soldiers in ambush around Gibeah. 30The Israelis went out against the descendants of Benjamin on the third day, arraying themselves against Gibeah as they had done previously. 31They attacked the army and were drawn away from the city as they began to inflict casualties on the soldiers along the roads to Bethel and Gibeah, just as they had done the other times. About 30 soldiers from Israel fell in battle there and in the fields.
32Then the descendants of Benjamin told themselves, gTheyfre falling right in front of us, just like before!h
But the army of Israel told themselves, gLetfs draw them away by escaping to the highways from the city.h 33So the entire army of Israel moved from their location and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamer while that part of their army moved from their ambush positions from Maareh-geba. 34As 10,000 of Israelfs best soldiers came to fight Gibeah, the battle became fierce, but the army of Benjamin didnft know that disaster was close at hand. 35The Lord struck Benjamin in the full view of Israel. As a result, the Israelis destroyed 25,100 soldiers of Benjamin that day, all expert swordsmen.
36Then the descendants of Benjamin realized that they had been defeated. The army of Israel pretended to retreat from the army of Benjamin, knowing that they had set some soldiers in ambush near Gibeah. 37The soldiers in ambush rushed out to attack Gibeah, deploying in force and executing the entire city with swords. 38Meanwhile, the army of Israel had arranged to signal their soldiers who had been hiding in ambush by sending up a cloud of smoke from the city. 39The army of Israel turned around in the battle, and the army of Benjamin began to attack and kill about 30 soldiers, thinking, gNow wefre really defeating them, just like before.h
40But then the smoke began to rise from the city in a column. The army of Benjamin observed behind them that the whole city was going up in flames straight into the sky! 41At that point, as the army of Israel turned back to face the army of Benjamin, the army of Benjamin was filled with terror, because they realized that disaster was about to overtake them. 42So they turned tail and ran away from the army of Israel toward the wilderness, but they were overtaken in battle when soldiers came out from the cities to destroy them. 43They surrounded the army of Benjamin, pursuing them ceaselessly until they defeated them near the east-facing border of Gibeah. 44Thatfs how 18,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin fell in battle, all of whom were valiant soldiers. 45The rest of them turned and ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, but 5,000 of them were killed on the highways while 2,000 of them were overtaken and killed near Gidom.
46To sum up, the soldiers from the tribe of Benjamin who died that day totaled 25,000 men, all of them expert swordsmen and valiant soldiers. 47However, 600 soldiers ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, where they remained as fugitives for four months. 48Meanwhile, the army of Israel went back to fight the surviving descendants of Benjamin. They attacked the entire city with swords, including its cattle and everyone they could find. Then they set fire to all of the cities that they could find.
Chapter 21
1Now the people of Israel had taken a vow in Mizpah that went like this: gNot even one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a descendant of Benjamin!h 2So the people went to Bethel, sat before God until dusk, where they cried out loud and wept bitterly. 3gWhy, Lord God of Israel,h they asked him, gis one tribe missing from Israel?h
4The next day, the people got up early, built an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5The Israelis asked themselves, gWho didnft come up in our assembly in the Lordfs presence from among all of the tribes of Israel?h They had taken a solemn oath concerning those who didnft come up to meet with the Lord at Mizpah that gThey will certainly be executed.h
6But the Israelis were mourning for their relatives in the tribe of Benjamin. They announced, gOne tribe has been eliminated from Israel today! 7What can we do to find wives for the survivors who remain, since wefve already taken an oath in the Lordfs presence not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?h
8They asked, gWhat one group of the tribes of Israel didnft come up to meet the Lord at Mizpah?h It turned out that no one had come to the encampment from Jabesh-gilead, 9since when they took a census of the assembly, not even one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was in attendance. 10So the congregation sent out 12,000 of their valiant soldiers, issuing these orders to them: gGo and attack the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with swords, including the women and little ones. 11Youfre to completely destroy every man and every married woman.h
12They discovered among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who hadnft had sex with a man, and they brought them to the encampment at Shiloh in the territory of Canaan. 13Then the entire congregation sent for the surviving descendants of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon and assured them that their intentions toward them were peaceful. 14So the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin returned at that time, and the Israelis gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the raid on Jabesh-gilead. Even so, there werenft enough for them.
15The people felt sorry for the tribe of Benjamin because the Lord had broken one of the tribes of Israel. 16So the elders of the congregation asked, gWhat will we do to obtain wives for the survivors, since the women of Benjamin have been devastated?h 17They continued, gLetfs make sure that therefs an inheritance for the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin, so that a tribe wonft be blotted out from Israel. 18But we canft give them wives from our own daughters, since wefve taken this vow: eMay the Lord curse anyone who gives his daughter as a wife to the tribe of Benjamin!fh
19So they concluded, gLook, therefs a festival to the Lord every year in Shiloh on the north side of Bethel, south of Lebonah and on the east side of the highway that runs from Bethel to Shechemch 20So they told the descendants of Benjamin, gGo and hide in the vineyards. 21Watch when the unmarried women from Shiloh come out to participate in the dances. Then come out of the vineyards and each of you grab a wife from the unmarried women from Shiloh. Then go back home to the territory of Benjamin. 22If their fathers or brothers come complaining to us, wefll tell them eBe generous! Give them to us voluntarily, because we didnft take anyone to be a wife for the men of the tribe of Benjamin as a result of the battle. And you havenft incurred guilt by giving your daughters to them.fh
23So the descendants of Benjamin did all of this: they chose and carried away just enough wives from those who danced to meet the number needed, then they left to return to their inheritance, to rebuild their cities, and to live there. 24The Israelis left there at that time, each man to his tribe and family, and each of them went down from there to his territorial allotment.
25Back in those days, Israel didnft yet have a king, so each person did whatever seemed right in his own opinion.
Ruth
Chapter 1
1Now there came a time of famine while judges were ruling in the land of Israel. A man from Bethlehem of Judah, his wife, and his two sons left to live in the country of Moab. 2The manfs name was Elimelech, his wifefs name was Naomi, and their two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion\Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They journeyed to the country of Moab and lived there for some time.
3Then Naomifs husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons. 4Each of her sons married Moabite women: one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After they lived there about ten years, 5both Mahlon and Chilion died, leaving Naomi alone with neither her husband nor her two sons.
6She and her daughters-in-law prepared to return from the country of Moab, because she had heard while living there how the Lord had come to the aid of his people, giving them relief. 7So she left the place where she had been, along with her two daughters-in-law, and they traveled along the return road to the land of Judah.
8But along the way, Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, gEach of you go back home. Return to your motherfs house. May the Lord show his gracious love to you, as you have shown me and our loved ones who have died. 9May the Lord grant each of you security in your new husbandsf households.h Then she kissed them good-bye, and they cried loudly.
10They both replied to her, gNo! We will go back with you to your people.h
11But Naomi responded, gGo back, my daughters. Why go with me? Are there still sons to be born to me as future husbands for you? 12So go on back, my daughters! Be on your way! Ifm too old to remarry. If I were to say that Ifm hoping for a husband tonight and then also bore sons this very night, 13would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you refrain from marriage for them? No, my daughters! Ifm more deeply grieved than you, because the Lord is working against me!h
14They began to cry loudly again. So Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth remained with her. 15Naomi told Ruth, gLook, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law!h
16But Ruth answered, gStop urging me to abandon you and to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, Ifll go. Wherever you live, Ifll live. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. 17Where you die, Ifll die and be buried. May the Lord do this to me\and more\if anything except death comes between you and me.h
18When Naomi observed Ruthfs determination to travel with her, she ended the conversation. 19So they continued on until they reached Bethlehem.
Now when the two of them arrived in Bethlehem, the entire town got excited at the news of their arrival and they asked one another, gCan this be Naomi?h
20But Naomi replied, gDonft call me eNaomif! Call me eMaraf! Thatfs because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. 21I left here full, but the Lord brought me back empty. So why call me eNaomif? After all, the Lord is against me, and the Almighty has broken me.h
22So Naomi returned to Bethlehem from the country of Moab, along with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabite woman. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Chapter 2
1Naomi had a close relative of her late husband, a man of considerable wealth from the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
2Ruth the Moabite told Naomi, gPlease allow me to go out to the fields and glean grain behind anyone who shows me kindness.h
So Naomi replied, gGo ahead, my daughter.h
3So she went out, proceeded to the field, and gleaned behind the harvesters. And it happened that she came to the portion of land belonging to Boaz, of the family of Elimelech.
4Now when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he told the harvesters, gThe Lord be with you.h
gMay the Lord bless you!h they replied.
5At this point, Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, gTo whom does this young woman belong?h
6The foreman of the harvesters answered, gShe is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7She asked us, ePlease allow me to glean whatfs left of the grain behind the harvesters.f So she came out and has continued working from dawn until now, except for a short time in a shelter.h
8Boaz then addressed Ruth: gListen, my daughter! Donft glean in any other field. Donft even leave this one, and be sure to stay close to my women servants. 9Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow them. I have ordered my young men not to bother you, have I not? And when you are thirsty, drink from the water vessels that the young men have filled.h
10At this she fell prostrate, bowing low to the ground, and asked him, gWhy is it that youfre showing me kindness by noticing me, since Ifm a foreigner?h
11Boaz answered her, gIt has been clearly disclosed to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband\how you abandoned your father, your mother, and your own land, and came to a people you did not previously know. 12May the Lord repay you for your work, and may a full reward be given you from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.h
13She responded, gMay I continue to find favor in your sight, sir, since youfve been comforting me and you have spoken graciously to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.h
14At lunchtime, Boaz invited her, gCome on over, have some food, and dip your bread in our oil and vinegar.h So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he handed her some roasted grain, which she ate until she was satisfied. She kept what was left over.
15After she had left to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, gAllow her to glean also among the cut sheaves, and donft taunt her. 16One other thing\drop some handfuls deliberately, leaving them for her so she can gather it. And donft bother her.h 17So Ruth gathered grain out in the field until dusk, and then threshed what she had gathered\about a weekfs supply of barley. 18She picked up her grain and went back to town.
Her mother-in-law noticed how much Ruth had gleaned and had brought back from what was left over from her lunch. 19So her mother-in-law quizzed her, gWhere did you glean today? Where, precisely, did you work? May the one who took notice of you be blessed.h
So Ruth told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, gThe manfs name with whom I worked today is Boaz.h
20Naomi replied, gMay the one who hasnft abandoned his gracious love to the living or to the dead be blessed by the Lord.h Naomi added, gThis man is closely related to us, our related redeemer, as a matter of fact!h
21Then Ruth the Moabite woman added, gHe also told me eStay close to my young men until they have completed my entire harvest.fh
22Naomi responded to her daughter-in-law Ruth, gIt is prudent, my daughter, for you to go out with his women servants, so someone wonft attack you in another field.h 23So Ruth continued to stay close to the young women who worked for Boaz, gathering grain until both the barley and wheat harvests were complete, all the while living with her mother-in-law.
Chapter 3
1Ruthfs mother-in-law Naomi, told her, gMy daughter, should I not make inquiries about your financial security, so youfll be better off in life? 2Isnft Boaz one of our close relatives? Youfve been associating with his women servants lately. Look, hefll be winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3So get cleaned up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go to the threshing floor, but donft let him see you until after hefs finished eating and drinking. 4When he lies down, be sure to notice where he is resting. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down. Hefll tell you what to do.h
5Ruth replied, gIfll do everything youfve said.h 6So she went out to the threshing floor and did precisely what her mother-in-law had advised.
7After Boaz had finished eating and drinking to his heartfs content, he went over and lay down next to the pile of threshed grain. Ruth came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8In the middle of the night, Boaz was startled awake and turned over in surprise to see a woman lying at his feet.
9He asked her, gWho are you?h
She answered, gIfm only Ruth, your servant. Spread the edge of your garment over your servant, because you are my related redeemer.h
10He replied, gMay you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. Youfve added to the gracious love youfve already demonstrated by not pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor. 11Donft be afraid, my daughter. Ifll do for you everything that you have asked, since all of my people in town are aware that youfre a virtuous woman. 12Itfs true that Ifm your related redeemer, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I. 13Stay the night, and if he fulfills his duty as your related redeemer in the morning, that will be acceptable. But if he isnft inclined to do so, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as your related redeemer myself. So lie down until morning.h
14So she lay down at his feet until dawn approached, then got up while it was still difficult for anyone to be recognized. Then he told her, gIt shouldnft be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor.h 15So he said, gTake your cloak and hold it out.h She did so, and he measured out six units of barley and placed them in a sack on her. Then she left for town.
16When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, gHow did it go, my daughter?h
Then she related everything that the man had done for her. 17Ruth also said, gHe gave me these six units of barley and told me, eDonft go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.fh
18Naomi replied, gBe patient, my daughter, until you learn how this works out, because the man wonft rest until he finishes everything today.h
Chapter 4
1Meanwhile, Boaz approached the city gate and sat down there. Just then, the very same related redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, gCome over and sit down here, my friend!h So the man came over and sat down.
2Boaz selected ten of the town elders and spoke to them, gSit down here.h So they sat down 3and Boaz addressed the related redeemer directly: gA portion of a field belonging to our relative Elimelech is up for sale by Naomi, who recently returned from the country of Moab. 4So I thought to myself I ought to tell you that you must make a public purchase of this before the town residents and the elders of my people. So if you intend to act as the related redeemer, then do so. But if not, let me know, because except for you\and I after you\there is no one to fulfill the duties of a related redeemer.h
The man responded, gI will act as related redeemer.h
5Boaz continued, gOn the very day you buy the field from Naomi, youfre also gbuyingh Ruth the Moabite woman, the wife of her dead husband, so the family name may be continued as an inheritance.h
6At this, the nearer related redeemer replied, gThen I am unable to act as related redeemer, because that would complicate my own inheritance. You act instead as the related redeemer, because I cannot do so.h
7During Israelfs earlier history, all things concerning redeeming or changing inheritances were confirmed by a man taking off his sandal and giving it to the other party, thereby creating a public record in Israel.
8So when the nearer related redeemer told Boaz, gMake the purchase yourself,h he then took off his sandal.
9At this, Boaz addressed the elders and all of the people: gYou all are witnesses today that I hereby redeem everything from Naomi that belonged to Elimelech, including what belonged to Chilion and Mahlon, 10along with Mahlonfs wife Ruth the Moabite woman. I will marry her to continue the family name as an inheritance, so that the name of the deceased does not disappear from among his relatives, nor from the public record. You are all witnesses today!h
11Then all of the assembled people\along with the elders who were there\said, gWe are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who enters your house like Rachel and Leah, who together established the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah, and may you excel in Bethlehem! 12Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore for Judah, from the offspring that the Lord gives you from this young woman.h
13So Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, and when he had marital relations with her, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. 14Then the women of Bethlehem told Naomi, gMay the Lord be blessed, who has not left you today without a related redeemer. May his name become famous throughout Israel! 15And he will restore your life for you and will support you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who has borne him, is better for you than seven sons!h
16Naomi took care of the child, taking him to her breast and becoming his nurse. 17So her women neighbors gave the child a nickname, which is gNaomi has a son!h They named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.
18This is the genealogy of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab. 20Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. 21Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed. 22Then Obed fathered Jesse, who fathered David.
First Samuel
Chapter 1
1A certain man lived in Ramathaim-zophim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim. He was Jerohamfs son Elkanah, the grandson of Elihu and grandson of Tohu, who was the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3That man would go up from his town each year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies at Shiloh, where Elifs two sons Hophni and Phineas served as priests of the Lord. 4On the day when Elkanah offered sacrifices, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 5but he would give twice as much to Hannah because he loved her.
 Now the Lord had closed her womb. 6Her rival would provoke her severely so that she complained loudly because the Lord had closed her womb. 7Elkanah would do this year after year, as often as Hannah went up to the house of the Lord. Likewise, Peninnah would provoke her, and Hannah would cry and would not eat. 8Elkanah her husband told her, gHannah, why are you crying and why donft you eat? Why are you upset? Am I not better to you than ten sons?h
9Hannah got up after she had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the chair by the doorpost of the tent of the Lord. 10Deeply distressed, she prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11Hannah made a vow: gLord of the Heavenly Armies, if you just look at the misery of your maid servant, remember me, and donft forget your maid servant. If you give your maid servant a son, then Ifll give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and a razor is never to touch his head.h
12As she continued to pray in the Lordfs presence, Eli was watching her mouth. 13Hannah was praying inwardly. Her lips were quivering, and her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14Eli told her, gHow long will you stay drunk? Put away your wine!h
15gNo, sir!h Hannah replied. gIfm a deeply troubled woman. Ifve drunk neither wine nor beer. Ifve been pouring out my soul in the Lordfs presence. 16Donft consider your maid servant a worthless woman. Rather, all this time Ifve been speaking because Ifm very anxious and distressed.h
17gGo in peace,h Eli answered. gMay the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.h
18She said, gLet your servant find favor in your eyes.h Then she went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19They got up early the next morning and worshipped in the Lordfs presence, and then they returned and came to their house at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20By the time of the next yearfs sacrifice, Hannah had become pregnant and had borne a son. She named him Samuel because she said, gI asked the Lord for him.h
21Then Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the yearly sacrifice to the Lord and pay his vow. 22Hannah did not go up because she had told her husband, gAs soon as the child is weaned, Ifll take him to appear in the Lordfs presence and remain there forever.
23gDo what you want,h Elkanah told her. gStay until you have weaned him, only may the Lord bring about what you have said.h So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. 24Then, when she had weaned him, she brought him up with her to Shiloh, along with a three-year-old bull, a half-bushel of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, and the boy was young. 25They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
26Hannah said, gSir, as surely as you are alive, Ifm the woman who stood before you here praying to the Lord. 27I prayed for this boy, and the Lord granted me the request I asked of him. 28Now Ifm dedicating him to the Lord, and as long as he lives, he will be dedicated to the Lord.h Then they worshipped the Lord there.
Chapter 2
1Then Hannah prayed:
gMy heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is increased by the Lord.
I will open my mouth to speak against my enemies,
because I rejoice in your deliverance.
2There is no one holy like the Lord,
indeed there is no one besides you,
there is no rock like our God.
3Donft continue to talk proudly,
and donft speak arrogantly,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4The bows of warriors are shattered,
but those who stumble are equipped with strength.
5Those who had an abundance of bread
now hire themselves out,
and those who were hungry
hunger no more.
While the barren woman gives birth to seven children,
she who had many children languishes.
6The Lord kills and gives life,
he brings people down to where the dead are
and he raises them up.
7The Lord makes people poor
and he makes people rich,
he brings them low,
and he also exalts them.
8He raises the poor up from the dust,
he lifts up the needy from the trash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
Indeed the pillars of the earth belong to the Lord,
and he has set the world on them.
9He guards the steps of his faithful ones,
while the wicked are made silent in darkness.
Indeed itfs not by strength that a person prevails.
10The Lord will shatter those who contend against him,
he will thunder against them in the heavens.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth,
he will give strength to his king,
and he will increase the strength of His anointed one.h
11Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah, while the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men who did not know the Lord. 13The custom of the priests with the people was that whenever a person offered a sacrifice, a servant of the priest would come with a three pronged fork in his hand while the meat was boiling. 14He would stick it into the basin or pot or kettle or pan, and whatever the fork brought up, the priest would take for himself. This is what they were supposed to do with all the Israelis who came there to Shiloh. 15But even before they burned the fat, the servant of the priest would come and say to the person offering the sacrifice, gGive me meat to roast for the priest. He wonft accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.h
16If the man told him, gThey must surely burn up the fat first, and then take for yourself whatever you desire,h the servant would say, gNo, give it now, and if you donft, Ifll take it by force!h 17By doing this, the sin of the young men was very serious in the Lordfs sight because the men despised the Lordfs offering.
18Now Samuel was ministering in the Lordfs presence, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19His mother would make a small robe for him, and she would bring it each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, gMay the Lord give you descendants from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the Lord.h Then they would return to their home.
21The Lord took note of Hannah, and she became pregnant and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was constantly with him.
22Now Eli was very old, and he had heard everything that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 23gWhy are you doing these things that Ifm hearing about?h he asked his sons, gThese reports about your evil deeds are coming from all these people! 24No, my sons, Ifm not hearing good news being circulated by the Lordfs people. 25If a person sins against another, God will mediate for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?h
But they would not listen to their father; for the Lord wanted to put them to death. 26But the boy Samuel continued to grow both physically and in favor with the Lord and the people.
27A man of God came to Eli, saying to him, gThis is what the Lord says: eWhen they were in Egypt and slaves to the house of Pharaoh, did I not reveal to the family of your ancestor Aaron 28that I had chosen him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer up burnt offerings on my altar, burn incense, and carry the ephod in my presence? And did I not give to your ancestorsf family all the Israeli fire-offerings? 29Why then do all of you show contempt for my sacrifice and offering that Ifve commanded for my dwelling? And you honor your sons more than me in order to fatten yourselves from the best of all the offerings of my people Israel.f
30gTherefore, the Lord God of Israel has declared, eI did, in fact, say that your family and your ancestorfs family would walk before me forever,f but now the Lord declares, eFar be it from me! The one who honors me Ifll honor, and the one who despises me is to be treated with contempt. 31The time is coming when Ifll cut away at your family and your ancestorfs family until there are no old men left in your family. 32Distress will settle down to live in your household, and despite all the good that I do for Israel, there will never be an old man in your family forever. 33Any of you whom I donft eliminate from serving at my altar will grow tired from weeping, and their souls will grieve. All the increase of your family will die by violence. 34Herefs a sign for you\your two sons Hophni and Phineas will both die on the same day! 35And Ifll raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and according to my desire. Ifll build for him an enduring house and he will walk before my anointed one forever. 36Anyone who remains in your family will come and prostrate themselves before him for a small wage or a loaf of bread and will say, ePlease put me in one of the priestfs offices so I can eat a piece of bread.fhfh
Chapter 3
1Meanwhile the boy Samuel was serving the Lord before Eli. A word from the Lord was rare in those days, and visions were infrequent. 2At that time Eli, whose vision was growing dim, was lying down in his bedroom. 3The lamp of God had not yet been extinguished, and Samuel was lying down in the tent of the Lord where the Ark of God was. 4The Lord called out to Samuel, who answered, gHere I am.h
5He ran to Eli and said, gHere I am! You called me.h
gI didnft call you,h Eli said. gGo back and lie down.h So he went and lay down.
6Then the Lord again called out, gSamuel!h
So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, gHere I am! You called me.h
He said, gI didnft call you, my son. Go back and lie down.h 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord and had not yet had the word of the Lord revealed to him.
8Then the Lord called out to Samuel again a third time, and he got up, went to Eli, and said, gHere I am! You called me.h
Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy, 9so Eli told Samuel, gGo lie down, and then if he calls you, answer, eSpeak, Lord, because your servant is listening.fh Then Samuel went and lay down.
10Later, the Lord came and stood there, calling out, gSamuel! Samuel!h as he had before.
Samuel said, gSpeak, because your servant is listening.h
11gLook,h the Lord told Samuel. gIfm about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears it tingle. 12Ifll fulfill every promise that Ifve spoken concerning Elifs family, from beginning to end. 13Ifve told him that Ifm about to judge his family forever because of the iniquity that he knew about. His sons committed blasphemy and he did not rebuke them. 14Therefore Ifve sworn concerning Elifs family that the iniquity of his family is not to be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.h
15Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord, but he was afraid to report the vision to Eli. 16Then Eli called Samuel: gSamuel, my son.h
He said, gHere I am.h
17Eli said, gWhat did the Lord say to you? Please donft conceal anything from me. May God do this to you and even more if you conceal from me one word of all that he spoke to you.h 18Samuel told him everything\he did not conceal anything from him. Eli said, gHe is the Lord. May he do what seems good to him.h
19As Samuel grew, the Lord was with him and did not let any of Samuelfs predictions fail. 20All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as the Lordfs prophet. 21The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, because he revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by means of messages from the Lord.
Chapter 4
1What Samuel had to say was directed to all Israel, and Israel went out to engage the Philistines in battle. The Israelis were camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines were camped at Aphek. 2The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.
3When the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, gWhy did the Lord defeat us today when we fought the Philistines? Letfs take the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh, so it may go with us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.h 4So the people sent word to Shiloh and took away from there the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, who sits above the cherubim.
Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5When the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a great shout and the earth reverberated! 6When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they asked, gWhat is this noise coming from shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?h Then they realized that the Ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7and the Philistines were terrified. gGod has come into the camp,h they said. gHow terrible for us, because nothing like this has ever happened before! 8How terrible for us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. 9Philistines, be strong and be men, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews just as they have been slaves to you! Be men and fight!h
10The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; each of them fled to his own tent. It was a very great slaughter, and 30,000 soldiers of Israel died. 11The Ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, died.
12That very same day, a man who was a descendant of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh, with his garments torn and dirt on his head. 13When he arrived, Eli was sitting there on a seat beside the road, watching because his heart trembled for the Ark of God. The man went into the town to give the report, and the whole town cried out. 14Eli heard the sound of the cry and asked, gWhat is the meaning of this commotion?h Then the man quickly came and told Eli. 15Now Eli was 98 years old, and his vision had failed.
16The man told Eli, gIfve just come from the battle line, and I escaped from the battle today.h
He asked, gWhat happened, my son?h
17The messenger answered, gIsrael fled from the Philistines and the people suffered a great defeat as well. Moreover, your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, are dead, and the Ark of God was captured.h
18When he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backwards by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, since he was old and heavy. Eli had judged Israel for 40 years.
19Elifs daughter-in-law, the wife of Phineas, was pregnant and ready to give birth. When she heard the report about the capture of the Ark of God and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she crouched down and gave birth, because her labor pains suddenly began. 20As she was about to die, the women standing around her said, gDonft be afraid! Youfve given birth to a son.h But she did not respond or pay attention. 21She had named the boy Ichabod, saying, gGlory has departed from Israel,h because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead. 22She said, gGlory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God has been captured.h
Chapter 5
1The Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the Ark of God, brought it to the temple of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon. 3When the people of Ashdod got up the next morning, there was Dagon, lying on the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord. They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But when they got up the next morning, there was Dagon, lying on the ground again in front of the Ark of the Lord. Dagonfs head and both of his arms were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left intact. 5This is why neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6The Lord heavily oppressed the people of Ashdod, devastating and afflicting Ashdod and its territories with tumors of the groin. 7When the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, gDonft let the Ark of the God of Israel stay with us, because he is severely attacking us and our god Dagon.h 8They sent messengers and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and asked, gWhat are we to do with the Ark of the God of Israel?h
They said, gLet the Ark of the God of Israel move to Gath.h So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel.
9After they moved it, the Lord moved against the town, causing a very great panic. He struck the men of the town, from young to old with tumors of the groin. 10Then they sent the Ark of God to Ekron. When the Ark of God arrived in Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, gThey have brought the Ark of the God of Israel to us to kill us and our people!h
11They sent messengers and gathered together all the Philistine lords: gSend away the Ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to where it belongs so that it does not kill us and our people.h Meanwhile, a deadly panic had spread all over the town, and God kept on pressuring them there. 12The people who did not die were afflicted with tumors of the groin, and the cry of the town went up to heaven.
Chapter 6
1The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory for seven months. 2The Philistines summoned the priests and diviners and asked, gWhat should we do about the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.h
3They said, gIf you send the Ark of the God of Israel back, donft send it empty, but rather be sure to send back to him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and will know why his oppression has not been removed from you.h
4They asked, gWhat is the guilt offering that we should send back to him?h
gFive gold tumors and five gold mice,h they answered, gaccording to the number of the lords of the Philistines, since the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5Make images of your tumors and images of the mice that are destroying your land, and you are to give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will remove his pressure from you, your gods, and your land. 6Why should you harden your hearts just as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? Isnft it true that after God toyed with them, they let Israel go, and off they went?
7gSo make a new cart, and take two milk cows that have never had a yoke on them. Hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves away from them and back to the house. 8Take the Ark of the Lord, put it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you are returning to him as a guilt offering in a box beside it. Then send it away and let it go. 9Keep watching it. If it goes up along the road to its own territory to Beth-shemesh, itfs the Lord who has done this great evil to us. But if it does not, then we will know that he wasnft pressuring us. It happened to us as a natural event.h
10The men did this. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves in the house. 11They put the Ark of the Lord, the box, the gold mice, and the images of their tumors on the cart. 12The cows took a straight path along the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn to the right or the left. The Philistine lords followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.
13Now the people of Beth-shemesh were gathering their wheat harvest in the valley. They looked up, saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh, and stopped there. In that place there was a large stone. They broke up the wood from the cart, and offered up the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15The descendants of Levi took down the Ark of the Lord, along with the box that was with it, containing the objects of gold, and they put them on the large stone. The men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord that day. 16When the five Philistine lords saw this, they returned to Ekron that very day.
17These are the gold tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron. 18The gold mice represented the number of all the Philistine towns belonging to the five lords, both fortified towns and unwalled villages. The large stone, beside which they put the Ark of the Lord, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
19God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the Ark of the Lord. He struck down 50,070 men among the people, and the people mourned because the Lord struck down the people with a great slaughter. 20The men of Beth-shemesh asked themselves, gWho can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? And to whom will the Ark go from here?h
21They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, who told them, gThe Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up with you.h
Chapter 7
1The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord. They brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to care for the Ark of the Lord.
2A long time passed\it was twenty years\from the time the Ark came to reside in Kiriath-jearim, and all the house of Israel mourned because of the Lord.
3Then Samuel told the whole house of Israel, gIf youfre returning to the Lord with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, direct your hearts back to the Lord, and serve him only. Then he will deliver you from the control of the Philistines.h 4So the Israelis removed the Baals and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.
5Samuel said, gBring all Israel together at Mizpah, and Ifll pray to the Lord on your behalf.h 6So they came together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out in the Lordfs presence.
On that day they fasted there and said, gWe have sinned against the Lord.h Then Samuel judged the Israelis at Mizpah. 7When the Philistines heard that the Israelis had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine lords came up against Israel. When the Israelis heard this, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8The Israelis told Samuel, gDonft stop crying out to the Lord our God for us that he may deliver us from the hand of the Philistines.h 9Then Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But that day the Lord thundered against the Philistines and threw them into panic, and they were defeated before Israel. 11The men of Israel went out from Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as a point below Beth-car. 12Then Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer. He said, gThe Lord has helped us this far.h 13The Philistines were subdued, and they did not continue to enter the territory of Israel.
The Lord continued to oppose the Philistines all during Samuelfs life time. 14The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16He went on a circuit each year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those places. 17He would return to Ramah because his house was there, and judged Israel from there. He also built an altar to the Lord there.
Chapter 8
1When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. 3His sons did not follow Samuelfs example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4All the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5They told him, gLook, youfre old, and your sons donft follow your example. So appoint a king to govern us like all the other nations.h 6Samuel was displeased when they said, gGive us a king to govern us.h So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7The Lord told Samuel, gListen to the people in all that they say to you. In fact, itfs not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. 8Like all the things they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this very day, they have forsaken me and followed other gods. Theyfre also doing the same thing to you. 9Now, listen to them, but you are to clearly warn them and inform them about how the king who rules over them will operate.h
10Samuel reported everything the Lord told him to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, gThis is how the king who rules over you will operate: He will conscript your sons and assign them to his chariots. He will conscript them as his horsemen, and theyfll run in front of his chariots. 12He will appoint his officers over thousands and officers over fifties\some will plow his fields, reap his harvest, and craft his war implements and equipment for his chariots. 13He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officers and servants. 16He will take your male and female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys to do his work. 17He will take a tenth of your flock, and you will become his servants. 18When all of this comes about, you will cry out because of your king whom you chose for yourselves, but the Lord wonft answer you at that time.h
19The people refused to listen to Samuel. Instead, they insisted, gNo! Let a king rule over us instead! 20We, too, will be like all the nations! Our king will govern us and go out before us to fight our battles.h
21So Samuel listened to all the words of the people, and he repeated them directly to the Lord. 22The Lord told Samuel, gListen to them, and appoint a king for them.h
Then Samuel told the men of Israel, gEach of you go to his own town.h
Chapter 9
1There was a man from Benjamin named Kish, Abielfs son, the grandson of Zeror and great-grandson of Aphiahfs son Becorath. A prominent man from Benjamin, 2he had a son named Saul, who was a choice and handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelis as handsome as he, and he was a head taller than any of the other people.
3The donkeys belonging to Kish, Saulfs father, were lost, and Kish told his son Saul, gTake one of the young men with you, get up, and go look for the donkeys.h 4He went through the hill country of Ephraim and through the region of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. They also went through the territory of the descendants of Benjamin, but they did not find them.
5When they entered the region of Zuph, Saul told the young man with him, gCome on, letfs go back so my father does not stop worrying about the donkeys and become anxious about us.h
6The young man said, gLook, therefs a man of God in this town. The man is respected, and everything he predicts happens. Now, letfs go there. Perhaps he can tell us about the journey on which we have set out.h
7Saul told the young man, gLook, we could go, but what could we bring the man? The bread is gone from our bags, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have with us?h
8The young man answered Saul again, gLook here! I have in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. Ifll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us about our journey.h
9(Previously in Israel, a person would say when he went to inquire of God, gCome on! Letfs go to the seer!h because the person known as a prophet today was formerly called a seer.)
10Saul told his young man, gThatfs a good suggestion! Come on, letfs go!h Then they entered the town where the man of God was.
11As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women going out to draw water, and they told them, gIs the seer here?h
12They answered them: gYes, hefs right there ahead of you. Hurry, for he came to town just today because there is a sacrifice for the people on the high place today. 13When you come into town you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people donft eat until he arrives, because he must bless the sacrifice and then after that those who are invited will eat. So go up right now because you can find him now.h 14They went up to the town, and as they were coming to the center of the town, Samuel was coming out to meet them, on his way up to the high place.
15Now one day before Saulfs arrival, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16gAbout this time tomorrow Ifll send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him as Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel. Hefll deliver my people from the control of the Philistines, because Ifve seen the suffering of my people and because their cry has come up to me.h 17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, gHere is the man I told you about. This man will rule over my people.h
18As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, gPlease tell me where the seerfs house is.h
19Samuel answered Saul: gIfm the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, and eat with me today. In the morning Ifll send you away and tell you everything that is on your mind. 20Now as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, donft give any thought to them, because theyfve been found. Meanwhile, to whom is all Israel looking, if not to you and all of your fatherfs household?h
21Saul answered: gAm I not a descendant of Benjamin from the least of the tribes of Israel? Isnft my family the least important of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why have you spoken to me like this?h
22Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them to a room where he gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, of whom there were about 30 men. 23Then Samuel told the cook, gBring the portion that I gave you, the one I told you to set aside.h 24The cook picked up the thigh and what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Then Samuel said, gHere is what is left! Set it before you and eat, for it has been kept for you until the appointed time, about which I said, eIfve invited the people.fh So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25When they had come down from the high place into town, Samuel spoke to Saul on the roof. 26They got up early in the morning, and about daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, gGet up and Ifll send you off.h Saul got up and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside. 27As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel told Saul, gTell your young man to go ahead of us and when he has gone ahead, stop for a while so I may declare Godfs word to you.h
Chapter 10
1Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saulfs head, kissed him, and said, gThe Lord has anointed you Commander-in-Chief over his inheritance, has he not? 2When you leave me today, you will find two men by Rachelfs tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. Theyfll tell you, eThe donkeys you went to look for have been found. Now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and hefs anxious about you. Hefs asking, eWhat will I do about my son?f 3Then youfll go on further from there and come to the oak at Tabor. There three men going up to the Lord at Bethel will meet you. One will be herding three young goats, one will be carrying three loaves of bread, and one will be carrying a bottle of wine. 4Theyfll greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which youfre to accept from them.
5gAfter that you will come to Gibeath-elohim where the Philistine garrison is. As you arrive there at the town, youfll meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre being played in front of them, and theyfll be prophesying. 6The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and youfll prophesy with them and be changed into a different person. 7When these signs occur, do whatever you want to do, because the Lord is with you. 8You are to go down ahead of me to Gilgal, and then Ifll come down to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. You are to wait seven days until I come to you to let you know what you are to do.h
9Now it happened as Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, that God gave him another heart, and all these signs occurred on that day. 10When they arrived there at Gibeah, a band of prophets was right there to meet them. The Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he prophesied along with them. 11When all those who had known Saul previously saw that he was there among the prophets prophesying, the people told one another, gWhat has happened to Kishfs son? Is Saul also among the prophets?h
12A man from there answered: gNow who is their father?h Therefore it became a proverb, gIs Saul also among the prophets?h 13When he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.
14Saulfs uncle told him and to his young man, gWhere did you go?h
He said, gTo look for the donkeys, and when we saw that they couldnft be found, we went to Samuel.h
15Then Saulfs uncle said, gPlease tell me what Samuel told you.h
16Saul told his uncle, gHe actually told us that the donkeys had been found,h but he did not tell him about the matter of kingship about which Samuel had spoken.
17Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah. 18He told the Israelis, gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eI brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.f 19But today you have rejected your God who delivers you from all your troubles and difficulties. You have said, eNo! Instead, appoint a king over us.f Now present yourselves in the Lordfs presence by your tribes and clans.h
20Samuel brought forward all the tribes of Israel, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, and the family of Matri was chosen. Finally, Kishfs son Saul was chosen, but when they looked for him, they couldnft find him. 22So they inquired further of the Lord, gHas the man come here yet?h
The Lord said, gHe is here, hiding among the baggage.h
23They ran and brought him from there. When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the others by a head. 24Then Samuel told all the people, gDo you see the man whom the Lord has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people.h
Then all the people shouted, gLong live the king!h
25Samuel explained to the people the regulations concerning kingship. He wrote them in a scroll and placed it in the Lordfs presence. Then Samuel sent all the people to their own houses. 26Saul also went to his house in Gibeah, and the soldiers whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27But some troublemakers said, gHow can this man deliver us?h They despised him and did not bring him a gift. But Saul remained silent.
[Meanwhile, Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been severely oppressing the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben, gouging out their right eyes and not allowing Israel to have a deliverer. No one was left among the Israelis across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. However, 7,000 men had escaped from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh-gilead.]
Chapter 11
1So after a month, Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh told Nahash, gMake a covenant with us, and we will serve you.h
2Nahash the Ammonite told them, gIfll make a covenant with you on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.h
3The elders of Jabesh told him, gLeave us alone for seven days so that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if no one delivers us, we will come out to you and surrender.h 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported the terms to the people, all the people cried loudly.
5Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen and he said, gWhatfs with the people? Why are they crying?h They reported to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
6When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came on him, and he was very angry. 7He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers through all the territory of Israel: gThis is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out and join Saul and Samuel!h The fear of the Lord fell on the people and they came out as one man.
8Saul mustered them at Bezek, and there were 300,000 Israelis and 30,000 men of Judah. 9They told the messengers who had come, gYou are to say this to the men of Jabesh-gilead, eTomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be delivered.fh The messengers went and reported to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
10The men of Jabesh said, gTomorrow we will come out to you and surrender. Then you can do whatever you want to us.h
11The next day Saul separated the people into three companies. They came into the camp during the morning watch, and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered so that no two of them remained together.
12The people told Samuel, gWho said, eWill Saul reign over us?f Bring them to us and we will put them to death!h
13But Saul said, gLet no one be put to death this day, because today the Lord has delivered Israel.h
14Then Samuel told the people, gCome, letfs go to Gilgal and reaffirm the kingship there.h 15So all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king in the Lordfs presence in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings in the Lordfs presence, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Chapter 12
1Then Samuel told all Israel, gTake note! Ifve listened to you, to everything you have told me, and Ifve appointed a king over you. 2Now here is the king walking before you, while Ifm old and gray, and my sons are with you. Ifve walked before you from my youth until this day. 3Here I am. Testify against me in the Lordfs presence and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken? Who have I cheated? Who have I oppressed? Who bribed me to look the other way? Ifll restore it to you.h
4They said, gYou havenft cheated us or oppressed us, and you havenft taken anything from anyonefs hand.h
5He told them, gToday the Lord is testifying, along with his anointed, that you havenft found any bribes in my possession.h
They said, gHefs a witness.h
6Then Samuel told the people, gIt is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. 7Now stand up and Ifll pass judgment on you in light of the Lordfs righteous acts that he did for you and your ancestors. 8After Jacob went to Egypt, and your ancestors cried out to the Lord, he sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9But they forgot the Lord their God, so he handed them over to the domination of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into domination by the Philistines and by the king of Moab, and Israel fought against them.
10gThen they cried out to the Lord: eWe have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.f 11Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel and he delivered you from the hand of your enemies on every side, so that you lived securely. 12But when you saw that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was coming to fight you, you told me, eNo, let a king rule over us instead,f even though the Lord your God was your king.
13gNow, here is the king you have chosen, the one whom you asked for. See, the Lord has appointed a king over you. 14If you fear the Lord, serve him, obey him, and donft rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who rules over you will truly follow the Lord your God. 15But if you donft obey the Lord and rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the Lord will turn against you as he did against your ancestors.
16gNow then, stand up and see this great thing that the Lord is about to do before your eyes. 17Is it not the wheat harvest today? Ifll call upon the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and understand that you have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.h 18Samuel called upon the Lord that same day, and the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19Then all the people told Samuel, gPray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we donft die, because we made all our sins worse by asking for a king for ourselves.h
20Samuel told all the people, gDonft be afraid. You have done all this evil. Yet donft turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21Donft turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or deliver because theyfre useless. 22Indeed, the Lord wonft abandon His people for the sake of His great name, for the Lord desires to make you a people for himself. 23Now as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. Ifll also instruct you in the way that is good and right. 24Only, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Indeed, consider what great things he has done for you. 25But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.h
Chapter 13
1Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he ruled for 42 years over Israel. 2Saul chose for himself 3,000 men from Israel. There were 2,000 with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He had sent the rest of the people home.
3Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land: gListen, Hebrews!h 4All Israel heard the report, gSaul has attacked the Philistine garrison and Israel has also become repulsive to the Philistines.h Then the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
5The Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And they advanced and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 6When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress (for the people were in a tight spot), the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in crags, in tombs, and in pits. 7Hebrews went across the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8Saul waited seven days for the appointment set by Samuel. When Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, as the people began to scatter from Saul, 9Saul said, gBring the burnt offering and the peace offering to me,h and he offered the burnt offering. 10Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet and greet him.
11Samuel said, gWhat have you done?h
Saul replied, gWhen? I saw that the people were scattering from me, that you didnft come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash. 12I thought, eThe Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal but Ifve not sought the favor of the Lord,f so I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.h
13Then Samuel told Saul, gYou have acted foolishly. You havenft obeyed the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, 14but now your kingdom wonft be established. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as Commander-in-Chief over his people because you didnft obey that which the Lord commanded you.h
15Then Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul mustered the people present with him, about 600 men. 16Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people present with them remained in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Michmash. 17Raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three companies. One company turned in the direction of Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18one company turned in the direction of Beth-horon, while the one company turned toward the border that overlooks the valley of Zeboiim toward the desert.
19No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines thought, gThis will keep the Hebrews from making swords or spears.h 20All Israel would have to go to the Philistines so each person could sharpen his plow, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle. 21The charge was two thirds of a shekel for plows, mattocks, three pronged forks, and axes, or for setting the goads. 22On the day of battle no sword or spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and his son Jonathan did have them.
23Now a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash.
Chapter 14
1One day Jonathan told his armor bearer, gCome, letfs go over to the Philistine garrison which is on the other side,h but he did not tell his father. 2Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Geba under the pomegranate tree which was at Migron, and with him were about 600 men. 3Along with him were Ahitubfs son Ahijah, Ichabodfs brother, who was Phineasf son and a grandson of Eli the priest of the Lord at Shiloh, who was carrying the ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
4Now in the pass through which Jonathan planned to get across to the Philistine garrison, there was a sharp crag on one side and a sharp crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh. 5One crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.
6Jonathan told his armor bearer, gCome, letfs go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. Perhaps the Lord will work for us, since nothing prevents the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few.h
7His armor bearer told him, gDo whatever you want. Letfs move out! Ifm right here with you, as you wish.h
8Jonathan said, gLook, wefre going over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9If they say to us, eStay there until we come to you,f then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10But if they say, eCome up and fight us,f then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands, and this will be the sign for us.h
11When the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, gLook, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding.h
12The men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer: gCome up and fight us, and we will show you something.h
Jonathan then told his armor bearer, gFollow me, for the Lord has given them into Israelfs control.h
13Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer who was behind him also killed some. 14In the initial attack, Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area of about half an acre of land. 15There was terror in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders were terrified. The earth shook, and there was even greater terror.
16Saulfs sentries in Gibeah of Benjamin watched as the camp was in disarray, going this way and that. 17Saul told the people who were with him, gDo a roll call and see who has left us.h They did a roll call, and Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18Saul told Ahijah, gBring the Ark of God here.h For at that time the Ark of God was with the Israelis.
19While Saul was still speaking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp increased more and more, and Saul told the priest, gRemove your hand.h
20Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went into battle. Now the swords of all the Philistines were against each other, and there was very great confusion. 21The Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines, who had gone up with them from the surrounding areas to the camp, even they joined Israel and those who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22All the Israelis who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, and even they pursued the Philistines in the battle. 23On that day the Lord delivered Israel, and the battle moved past Beth-aven.
24The men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, and Saul required the army to take an oath: gCursed is the person who eats food before evening and before Ifve been avenged of my enemies.h So no one tasted food.
25Later on, all the soldiers entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26The people came into the woods and there was flowing honey, but no one put his hand to his mouth to eat it because the people were afraid due to the oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard that his father had required the army to swear an oath, so he stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. He brought it back to his mouth and his eyes brightened. 28Then one of the people responded: gYour father strictly ordered the army to take an oath. Thatfs why he said, eCursed is the person who eats food today,f and so the army is exhausted.h
29Jonathan said, gMy father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much better if the army had eaten freely today of their enemyfs spoil that they found, because the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.h
31That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the army was very weary. 32The army grabbed the spoil, took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground, and then the army ate them with the blood. 33Someone reported this to Saul: gRight now the army is sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.h He said, gYou have acted treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today.h
34Then Saul said, gDisperse yourselves among the soldiers and say to them, eLet each man bring his ox and his sheep to me, and you are to slaughter them here and eat. But donft sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.fh So every soldier brought his ox with him that night, and they slaughtered them there. 35Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36Saul said, gLetfs go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until dawn, and letfs not leave a single one of them alive.h
They said, gDo whatever seems good to you!h
But the priest said, gLetfs draw near to God here.h
37Saul inquired of God, gShall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?h But God did not answer him that day.
38Saul said, gAll you army officers are to come here to find out what constitutes this sin today. 39Indeed, as the Lord who delivers Israel lives, even if the sin is with my son Jonathan, he will surely die!h Not a single one of the soldiers answered him. 40Then he told all Israel, gYou will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.h
The people told Saul, gDo what seems good to you.h
41Then Saul told the Lord God of Israel, gJudge us properly.h Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the army was cleared. 42Saul said, gCast lots between me and my son Jonathan,h and Jonathan was selected. 43Saul told Jonathan, gTell me what youfve done.h
So Jonathan spoke to him: gI did taste a little honey from the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; Ifm ready to die!h
44Saul said, gMay God do this to me and even more, if you donft surely die, Jonathan!h
45Then the army told Saul, gShall Jonathan die, who brought about this great deliverance in Israel? As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, because today he did this with Godfs help.h
46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their territory.
47When Saul became king over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side\against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere he turned he was victorious. 48He acted valiantly, defeated Amalek, and delivered Israel from those who had been plundering them.
49Saulfs sons included Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. Of his two daughters, the firstborn was named Merab, and the younger one was named Michal. 50Saulfs wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz, while the commander of his army was Saulfs uncle Nerfs son Abner. 51Saulfs father Kish and Abnerfs father Ner were sons of Abiel. 52There was intense fighting against the Philistines during Saulfs entire reign, and whenever Saul discovered a strong or valiant warrior, he would enlist him for service.
Chapter 15
1Samuel told Saul, gThe Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people, Israel. Now listen to the words of the Lord. 2This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIfll punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, when he set himself against Israel in the way, as they were going up from Egypt. 3Now, go and attack Amalek. Completely destroy all that they have. Donft spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, both ox and sheep, camel and donkey.fh
4Saul summoned the people and mustered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6Saul told the Kenites, gWithdraw from the Amalekites so that I donft destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelis when they departed from Egypt.h So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites. 7Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8He captured alive Agag king of Amalek, but he completely destroyed all the people, executing them with swords. 9Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle\the fattened animals and lambs\along with all that was good. They were not willing to completely destroy them, but they did completely destroy everything that was worthless and inferior.
10This message from the Lord came to Samuel: 11gI regret that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands.h Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all night.
12Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, but Samuel was told, gSaul went up to Carmel to set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and traveled on to Gilgal.h
13Samuel approached Saul. gMay the Lord bless you,h Saul said. gIfve carried out the Lordfs command.h
14Samuel said, gThen what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of cattle that I hear?h
15Saul replied, gThey brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God, and the rest they completely destroyed.h
16gBe quiet!h Samuel said. gIfll tell you what the Lord told me last night.h
Saul told him, gSpeak.h
17So Samuel replied, gIs it not true that though you were small in your own eyes you became head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? 18The Lord sent you on a mission: eGo and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until theyfre destroyed.f 19Why didnft you obey the Lord, but grabbed the spoil and did evil in the Lordfs sight?h
20Saul told Samuel, gI did obey the Lord. I went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21The people took some of the spoil\sheep, cattle, and the best of what was to be completely destroyed\to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.h
22Samuel said,
gDoes the Lord delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obeying the Lord?
Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
23Indeed, rebellion is the sin of divination,
and arrogance is iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected this message from the Lord,
he has rejected you from being king.h
24gIfve sinned,h Saul replied to Samuel. gIfve broken the Lordfs command and your word, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them. 25Now, please forgive my sin and return with me so I may worship the Lord.h
26Samuel told Saul, gI wonft return with you because you have rejected the message from the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.h
27As Samuel turned to go Saul seized him by the corner of his robe, and it tore. 28Samuel told him, gThe Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for hefs not a man that he should change his mind.h
30gIfve sinned,h Saul said. gBut please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the Lord your God.h 31Samuel returned, following Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord.
32Then Samuel said, gBring Agag king of Amalek to me.h
Agag came to him in fetters, saying to himself, gSurely the bitterness of death is past.h
33Samuel said, gJust as your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.h Then Samuel cut Agag into pieces in the Lordfs presence in Gilgal.
34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul, and the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Chapter 16
1The Lord told Samuel, gHow long will you grieve over Saul, since Ifve rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. Ifm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because Ifve chosen for myself one of his sons as king.h
2Samuel said, gHow can I go? Saul will hear about this and kill me!h
The Lord said, gTake a heifer with you and say, eIfve come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.f 3You are to invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and Ifll show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I tell you.h
4Samuel did what the Lord said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came out to meet him trembling, and said, gMay your coming be in peace.h
5He said, gPeace, Ifve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.h Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and said, gSurely hefs the Lordfs anointed.h
7The Lord told Samuel, gDonft look at his appearance or his height, for Ifve rejected him. Truly, God does not see what man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart.h
8Then Jesse summoned Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, and he said, gNeither has the Lord chosen this one.h 9Then Jesse brought Shammah, and he said, gNeither has the Lord chosen this one.h 10Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, gThe Lord has not chosen these.h
11Then Samuel told Jesse, gAre these all the young men?h He said, gThere yet remains the youngest one, and right now hefs tending the sheep.h Samuel told Jesse, gSend someone to get him, for we wonft do anything else until he arrives here.h 12So he sent and brought him. He had a dark, healthy complexion, with beautiful eyes, and he was handsome. The Lord said, gGet up and anoint him, for this is the one.h
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.
14The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15Saulfs servants told him, gLook, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16Let our lord order his servants who attend you to look for a man who is skilled in playing the lyre. And then when an evil spirit from God comes on you, he will play and you will be better.h
17Saul told his servants, gFind a man for me who can play well and bring him to me.h
18One of the young men answered: gLook, Ifve seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in playing. The man is a valiant soldier, gifted in speech, and handsome. And the Lord is with him.h
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, gSend me your son David, who is with the sheep.h
20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David. 21David went to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much, and he became his armor bearer. 22Saul sent a messenger to Jesse to tell him, gAllow David to serve me, because Ifm pleased with him.h 23Whenever an evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. Relief would come to Saul and he would be better, because the evil spirit would leave him.
Chapter 17
1The Philistines assembled their army for battle. They were assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2Saul and the Israelis assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they set up their forces to meet the Philistines. 3The Philistines were standing on the hill on one side while the Israelis were standing on the hill on the other side, with the valley between them.
4A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He was six and a half feet tall, 5wore a bronze helmet on his head, and wore bronze scale armor that weighed about 125 pounds. 6He had bronze armor on his legs and carried a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaverfs beam and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. A man carrying his shield walked in front of him.
8He stood still and called out to the ranks of Israel, gWhy should you move into position for battle? Am I not a Philistine and you Saulfs servants? Choose a man for yourselves to come down against me. 9If hefs able to fight me and strike me down, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and strike him down, then you will become our servants and serve us.h 10The Philistine said, gI defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me one man and letfs fight together.h 11When Saul and all the Israelis heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and very frightened.
12David was the son of that Ephrathite man named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons; at the time when Saul was king he was old, having lived to an advanced age. 13The three oldest sons of Jesse followed Saul into battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab, his second son, and Shammah, the third. 14David was the youngest, while the three oldest had followed Saul. 15And David would go back and forth from Saul to tend his fatherfs sheep in Bethlehem. 16For 40 days the Philistine would come forward, morning and evening, to take his position.
17Jesse told his son David, gTake for your brothers this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread and quickly take them to your brothers in the camp. 18Take these ten pieces of cheese to the commander of the unit, check on the well-being of your brothers, and bring something back from them. 19Saul, your brothers, and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.h 20David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the supplies, and went as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the encampment as the army was going out to the battle line, shouting the battle cry.
21Israel and the Philistines moved into position for battle, battle line facing battle line. 22David left the supplies he had with him in the care of the supply keeper and ran to the battle line. When he arrived there, he asked his brothers about their well-being. 23As he was speaking with them, the Philistine champion named Goliath from Gath came up from the Philistine battle lines and spoke his usual words, as David listened. 24When all the Israelis saw the man, they fled from him and were very frightened.
25gDid all of you see this man coming up?h one Israeli asked. gHe comes up to defy Israel, and the king will richly reward the man who kills him. He will give his daughter to him and will make his fatherfs house tax free in Israel.h
26David asked the men who were standing by him, gWhat will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? Indeed, who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?h
27The people also told him the same thing, saying, gThis is what will be done for the man who kills him.h
28Eliab his oldest brother heard him talking to the men. Eliab was angry with David and said, gWhy did you come down here? And who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your insolence and wicked intentions. You came down just to see the battle!h
29gWhat have I done now?h David asked. gIt was just a question, wasnft it?h 30Then he turned from him toward another person and asked the same thing. The people replied to him the same way as the first one had.
31When the words that David had spoken were heard, they were reported to Saul, and he sent for him. 32David told Saul, gLet no onefs courage fail because of him; your servant will go fight this Philistine.h
33Saul told David, gYou canft go against this Philistine and fight him. You are only a young man, but he has been a warrior since his youth.h
34David told Saul, gYour servant has been a shepherd for his father. When a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, 35I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the lamb from its mouth. Then when it rose up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he defied the armies of the living God.h 37David continued, gThe Lord who delivered me from the power of the lion and the power of the bear will also deliver me from the power of this Philistine.h
Saul told David, gGo, and may the Lord be with you.h
38Saul put his garments on David, set a bronze helmet on his head, and put armor on him. 39David strapped Saulfs sword over his garments and tried to walk, but he was not used to the armor. David told Saul, gI canft walk in these because Ifm not used to them,h and then took them off. 40He took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook and put them in the pouch in his shepherdfs bag. He approached the Philistine with his sling in his hand.
41With a man carrying his shield in front of him, the Philistine kept coming closer to David. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he had contempt for him, because he was only a young man. David had a dark, healthy complexion and was handsome. 43The Philistine asked David, gAm I a dog that you come at me with sticks?h Then the Philistine cursed David by his own gods and 44told David, gCome to me! Ifll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and to the beasts of the field.h
45Then David told the Philistine, gYou come at me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. 46This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and Ifll strike you down and remove your head from you. And this very day Ifll give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the earth, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel, 47and this whole congregation will know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or spear. Indeed, the battle is the Lordfs and he will give you into our hands.h
48When the Philistine got up and came closer to meet David, David quickly ran to the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49David reached his hand into the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone; he struck down the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in Davidfs hand. 51David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took the Philistinefs sword, pulled it from its sheath, killed him, and then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52The men of Israel and Judah got up with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance to the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Wounded Philistines fell along the way to Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 53The Israelis returned from pursuing the Philistines and plundered their camp. 54David took the Philistinefs head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliathfs weapons in his tent.
55When Saul saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, gWhose son is this young man, Abner?h
Abner said, gAs surely as you live, your majesty, I donft know.h
56The king replied, gGo find out whose son the young man is.h
57When David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him to Saul with the Philistinefs head in his hand. 58Saul told him, gWhose son are you, young man?h
David said, gThe son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.h
Chapter 18
1When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his fatherfs house. 3Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself. 4Jonathan took off the robe that he had on and gave it to David, along with his coat, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5David went out and was successful everywhere Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of the troops. This pleased the entire army, as well as Saulfs officials.
6When David returned from defeating the Philistine, as they were entering the city, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing as they joyously played tambourines and lyres. 7As the women sang and played, they said,
gSaul has struck down his thousands
but David his ten thousands.h
8Saul was very angry and he did not like what the women sang. He told himself, gThey have attributed tens of thousands to David, but to me they have attributed thousands. What else can he have but the kingdom?h 9From then on Saul kept his eye on David.
10The next day, while David was playing the lyre as he had before, the evil spirit from the Lord attacked Saul, and he began to rave inside the house with a spear in his hand. 11Saul hurled it, thinking, gIfll pin David to the wall.h But David escaped from him twice.
12Now Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and had departed from Saul. 13Saul removed David from his presence and made him an officer over a division of soldiers. So David led the troops in battle. 14David was successful in all that he did, for the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that David was highly successful, he feared him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in battle.
17Saul told David, gHere is my older daughter Merab. Ifll give her to you as a wife. Just be an excellent soldier for me and fight the Lordfs battles.h Now Saul told himself, gI wonft harm him myself. Instead, Ifll let the Philistines harm him.h
18David told Saul, gWho am I and what is my life or my fatherfs family in Israel that I should be the kingfs son-in-law?h 19And when the time came to give Saulfs daughter Merab to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel of Meholah.
20Saulfs daughter Michal loved David. Saul was informed of this and he liked the idea. 21Saul told himself, gIfll give her to him and she can be a snare to him and the Philistines will harm him.h So Saul told David, gFor a second time you can be my son-in-law today.h
22Saul commanded his officials, gSpeak with David privately and say, eLook, the king delights in you, and all his officials love you. Now become the kingfs son-in-law.fh
23Saulfs officials delivered this message to David, and he asked, gIs becoming the kingfs son-in-law an unimportant thing to you? Ifm a poor and unimportant man.h
24Saulfs officials reported to him: gThis is what David said.h
25Saul said, gThis is what you are to tell David, eThe king desires no bride price except 100 Philistine foreskins to take vengeance on the kingfs enemies.fh Now Saul thought he would cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines. 26When his officials delivered this message to David, David decided it would be a good thing to become the kingfs son-in-law. Before the time was up, 27David got up, went out with his men, and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and gave them all to the king so he could become the kingfs son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28As Saul continued to observe, he realized that the Lord was with David and that Saulfs daughter Michal loved him. 29Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was Davidfs enemy from that time on.
30The Philistine commanders would go out to fight and whenever they did, David was more successful than any of Saulfs other leaders. His name was held in high esteem.
Chapter 19
1Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials to kill David, but Saulfs son Jonathan was very fond of David. 2So Jonathan told David, gMy father Saul is trying to kill you. In the morning be careful and stay hidden in a secret place. 3Ifll go out and stand by my father in the field where you are. Ifll speak to my father about you. If I find out what he intends to do, Ifll tell you.h
4Jonathan spoke to his father Saul favorably about David. gThe king shouldnft wrong his servant David because he has not wronged you and because what he has done has been very beneficial for you. 5He risked his life and struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a spectacular deliverance for all Israel. You saw that and rejoiced, so why would you do wrong and shed innocent blood by killing David without cause?h 6Saul listened to Jonathan, and swore by the life of the Lord that David would not be killed. 7Jonathan summoned David and told him all this. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.
8The war continued and David went out to fight against the Philistines. He thoroughly defeated them, and they fled before David. 9The evil spirit from the Lord attacked Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing the lyre. 10Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he jumped away from Saul and the spear stuck in the wall. That night David escaped and fled.
11Saul sent messengers to Davidfs house to watch him so they could kill him in the morning. Davidfs wife, Michal, told him, gIf you donft escape with your life tonight, tomorrow youfll be put to death.h 12So Michal let David down through the window, and he escaped and fled. 13Then Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed with a cover of goat hair placed at its head. Then she covered it with clothes.
14When Saul sent the messengers to take David, Michal said, gHefs sick.h
15Then Saul sent messengers to check on David. He told them, gBring him to me on the bed so I may kill him.h 16The messengers went in, and there was the household idol in the bed with the cover of goat hair at its head!
17Then Saul told Michal, gWhy did you deceive me like this and let my enemy go so he could escape?h
Michal told Saul, gHe told me, eLet me go or Ifll kill you!fh
18David escaped and fled. He came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth. 19It was reported to Saul saying, gDavid is at Naioth in Ramah right now.h 20Saul sent messengers to take David, and they saw a group of prophets caught up in prophetic ecstasy, with Samuel standing beside them leading them. Then the Spirit of God came on Saulfs messengers, and they also were caught up in prophetic ecstasy.
21They reported this to Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also were caught up in prophetic ecstasy. 22Then Saul himself went to Ramah, and he arrived at the large well that is in Secu. He asked, gWhere are Samuel and David?h
Someone replied, gTheyfre at Naioth in Ramah.h 23Saul went to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God came on him also. He continued in prophetic ecstasy until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24He also removed his clothes and was caught up in prophetic ecstasy right in front of Samuel! He fell down naked and remained there all that day and all night. That is why people say, gIs Saul also among the prophets?h
Chapter 20
1David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and said, gWhat have I done? What is my crime, and how have I wronged your father so that hefs determined to kill me?
2Jonathan told him, gFar from it! You wonft die. Look, my father never does anything, great or small, without telling me; so why should my father hide this thing from me? Itfs not like that!h
3David again took an oath: gYour father certainly knows that Ifve found favor with you, and so he told himself, eJonathan must not know this so he wonft be upset.f But as certainly as the Lord is alive and living, and as certainly as Ifm alive and living, too, there is only a step between me and death.h
4Jonathan told David, gWhatever you say, Ifll do.h
5David told Jonathan, gLook, the New Moon is tomorrow, and Ifm expected to sit down with the king to eat. Let me go so I can hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6If your father actually notices that Ifm not there, then you are to say, eDavid urgently requested that I allow him to run to his hometown of Bethlehem because the yearly sacrifice for the entire family was taking place there.f 7If he says, eGood,f then your servant will be safe. But if he actually gets angry, you will know that his intentions are evil. 8Now, show gracious kindness to your servant because you have entered into a sacred covenant with your servant. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself\why should you bring me to your father?h
9gNonsense!h Jonathan replied. gIf I actually knew that my father intended evil against you, wouldnft I tell you about it?h
10Then David told Jonathan, gWho will tell me if your father answers you harshly?h
11Then Jonathan told David, gCome, letfs go into the field.h So the two of them went into the field. 12Jonathan told David, gThe Lord God of Israel is my witness that Ifll carefully question my father by tomorrow or the next day. And if the response is favorable for David, will I not then send word to you and let you know? 13But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord strike me dead if I donft let you know and send you away so you may go safely. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 14If I remain alive, donft fail to show me the Lordfs gracious love so that I donft die. 15And donft stop showing your gracious love to my family forever, not even when the Lord eliminates each of Davidfs enemies from the surface of the earth.h 16Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: gMay the Lord punish any violation of this covenant by the hand of Davidfs enemies.h 17Jonathan made David vow again out of his love for him, because he loved him as himself.
18Jonathan told him, gTomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed because your seat is empty. 19On the third day go down quickly and come to the place where you hid earlier. Remain beside the rock at Ezel. 20Ifll shoot three arrows to the side of the rock as though I were shooting at a target. 21Then Ifll send a servant, saying, eGo, find the arrows.f If I specifically say to the servant, eLook, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,f then come out because itfs safe for you, and, as surely as the Lord lives, there is no danger. 22But if I say this to the young man: eLook, the arrows are beyond you,f then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23As for the matter about which you and I spoke, remember that the Lord is a witness between us forever.h
24David hid in the field. When the New Moon arrived, the king sat down to eat. 25The king sat down at his place as before, in the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood while Abner sat next to Saul, but Davidfs place was empty. 26Saul didnft say anything that day because he told himself, gSomething has happened; hefs unclean; surely hefs not clean.h
27But the next day, on the second day of the New Moon, Davidfs place was empty, and so Saul told his son Jonathan, gWhy didnft Jessefs son come to the festival, either yesterday or today?h
28Jonathan answered Saul, gDavid urgently requested that I let him go to Bethlehem. 29He said, ePlease let me go because our family has a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to come. Now, if itfs acceptable to you, please let me get away so I can see my brothers.f Thatfs the reason he didnft come to the kingfs table.h
30Saul flew into a rage and told Jonathan, gYou son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Donft I know that you have chosen Jessefs son to your shame and to the shame of your mother who bore you? 31As long as Jessefs son lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established! Now send someone and bring David to me. Hefs a dead man!h
32Jonathan asked his father Saul, gWhy should he be killed? What did he do?h 33Then Saul threw the spear that was beside him to strike Jonathan down. So Jonathan realized that his father was determined to kill David. 34So on the second day of the New Moon Jonathan angrily got up from the table without eating because he was upset about David, and because his father had humiliated him.
35In the morning Jonathan, accompanied by a servant, went out to the field for the appointment with David. 36Jonathan told his servant, gRun, find the arrows that Ifm shooting.h As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him. 37The servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot it, and Jonathan called out to him, gThe arrow is beyond you, isnft it?h 38Jonathan called out to the servant, gHurry, be quick, donft stand around.h Jonathanfs servant picked up the arrow and brought it to his master. 39The servant was not aware of anything. Only Jonathan and David understood what had happened.
40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him and told him, gGo, take these things to the city.h 41The servant went. Then David came out from the south side of the rock, fell on his face, and bowed down three times. The men kissed each other, and both of them cried, but David even more. 42Jonathan told David, gGo in peace since both of us swore in the name of the Lord: eMay the Lord be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.fh
Then David got up and left, while Jonathan went to the city.
Chapter 21
1David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was trembling as he came to meet David. Ahimelech told him, gWhy are you alone, and no one with you?h
2David told Ahimelech the priest, gThe king commanded me about a matter, saying to me, eDonft let anyone know anything about the matter Ifm sending you to do and about which Ifve commanded you. Ifve directed the young men to a certain place.f 3Now, what do you have available? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you have.h
4The priest answered David: gThere is no ordinary bread available; only consecrated bread, provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.h
5David answered the priest, saying to him, gIndeed, women were kept from us as is usual whenever I go out on a mission, and the equipment of the young men is consecrated even when itfs an ordinary journey, so how much more is their equipment consecrated today?h 6So the priest gave him consecrated bread because no bread was there except the Bread of the Presence that had been removed from the Lordfs presence and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.
7Now, Doeg the Edomite, one of Saulfs officials, was there that day, detained in the Lordfs presence. He was the chief of Saulfs shepherds.
8David told Ahimelech, gIs there no spear or sword available here? I took neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the kingfs mission is urgent.h
9The priest said, gThe sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah is wrapped up in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it because there is no other except it here.h
So David said, gThere is none like it. Give it to me.h
10David got up that day and fled from Saul, and he went to King Achish of Gath. 11The officials of Achish told him, gIsnft this David, king of the land? Isnft this the one about whom they sang as they danced,
eSaul has struck down his thousands,
but David his ten thousandsf?h
12David took these words seriously, and he was very frightened of King Achish of Gath. 13So David changed his behavior before them and acted like he was crazy in their presence. He scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down his beard. 14Achish told his officials, gLook, you see a person acting like a madman. Whyfd you bring him to me? 15Am I lacking madmen that you bring me this one to act like a madman around me? Shall this one come into my house?h
Chapter 22
1David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his fatherfs family heard about this and went down to him there. 2Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.
3David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, gPlease let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me.h 4David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold.
5The prophet Gad told David, gDonft remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the territory of Judah.h So David left and went into the forest of Hereth.
6When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been found, he was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand. All his officials were standing around him. 7Saul told his officials who were standing around him, gListen, men of Benjamin! Will Jessefs son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? 8But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me about my sonfs covenant with Jessefs son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as hefs doing this day.h
9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saulfs servants answered: gI saw Jessefs son coming to Nob to Ahitubfs son Ahimelech. 10Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.h
11The king sent for Ahitubfs son Ahimelech the priest and for all his fatherfs family who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. 12Saul said, gListen, son of Ahitub!h
And he said, gHere I am, your majesty.h
13Then Saul asked him, gWhy have you conspired against me\you and Jessefs son\by giving him food and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so he can rise up against me to lie in wait, as hefs doing today?h
14Ahimelech answered the king, gWho among all your officials is as faithful as David? He is the kingfs son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard, and hefs honored in your household. 15Is today the first time I inquired of God for him? Absolutely not! The king shouldnft accuse his servant, or any of my fatherfs family of anything, because your servant didnft know anything at all about this.h
16The king said, gAhimelech, you will surely die, you and all your fatherfs family!h 17The king told the guards, who were standing beside him, gTurn and kill the priests of the Lord because they supported David, and because they knew he was fleeing, but didnft inform me.h But the officials of the king did not want to lift their hands to attack the priests of the Lord.
18Then the king told Doeg, gYou turn and attack the priests.h Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who carry the linen ephod. 19He attacked the priestly town of Nob with the sword. Men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep were put to the sword.
20One man, Ahimelechfs son Abiathar, a grandson of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David. 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22David told Abiathar, gI knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! Ifm responsible for the deaths of your fatherfs whole family. 23Stay with me, and donft be afraid because the one who seeks my life, seeks your life. Indeed, you will be safe with me.h
Chapter 23
1Someone told David, gLook, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.h
2David inquired of the Lord: gShall I go and strike down these Philistines?h
The Lord told David, gGo strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah.h
3Davidfs men told him, gLook, wefre afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?h
4David inquired of the Lord again, and the Lord answered him: gGet up, go down to Keilah. Ifll give the Philistines into your control.h 5David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. 6Now when Ahimelechfs son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.
7It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, gThe Lord has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars.h 8Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, gBring the ephod.h
10David said, gLord God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me. 11Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please inform your servant.h
The Lord said, gHe will come down.h
12Then David said, gWill the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?h
The Lord said, gTheyfll hand you over.h 13David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign.
14David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David slip into Saulfs control. 15David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16Saulfs son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust in God. 17Jonathan told him, gDonft be afraid. My father Saul wonft find you, and you will be king over Israel. Ifll be your second-in-command. My father Saul also knows this.h 18The two of them made a covenant in the Lordfs presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home.
19People from Ziph came up to Saul at Gibeah and informed him, gDavid is hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh and on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon, isnft he? 20Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king.h
21Saul said, gMay you be blessed by the Lord, because you have been gracious to me. 22Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is and who has seen him there, for people tell me that hefs very clever. 23Investigate and find out all the hiding places there where he hides, and return to me with reliable information. Then Ifll go down with you, and if hefs in the land, Ifll search him out among all the thousands of Judah.h 24The people from Ziph got up and left Saul, while David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.
25When Saul and his men went to search for David, some people told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. 26Saul went on one side of the mountain while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
27Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: gCome quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!h 28So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape. 29David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.
Chapter 24
1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, gLook, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.h 2Saul took 3,000 of his best troops from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.
4Davidfs men told him, gLook, today is the day about which the Lord spoke to you when he said, eIfll give your enemy into your hand.f Do to him whatever you want!h
David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saulfs robe. 5Afterwards, Davidfs conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saulfs robe. 6He told his men, gGod forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the Lordfs anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since hefs the Lordfs anointed.h 7David restrained his men with his words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off.
8Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: gYour majesty!h Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9Then David told Saul, gWhy do you listen to the words of those who say, eLook, David is trying to harm you?f 10Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes that the Lord gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men told kill you, but I had pity on you and responded, eI wonft lift my hand against his majesty because hefs the Lordfs anointed.f 11See, my father, see! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression\I havenft wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. 12May the Lord judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I wonft be attacking you. 13Just like the ancient proverb says, eFrom wicked people comes wickedness,f but Ifm not against you. 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? 15May the Lord act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you.h
16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, gIs this your voice, my son David?h Then Saul cried loudly 17to David, gYou are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though Ifve treated you poorly. 18You have explained how you treated me well, in that the Lord delivered me into your hand but you didnft kill me. 19For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely? May the Lord repay you for what you have done for me today. 20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. 21Now swear to me by the Lord that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you wonft erase my name from my fatherfs family.h 22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Chapter 25
1Samuel died and all Israel assembled to mourn for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah.
David got up and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. 2Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel of Judah, and the man was very rich. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3The manfs name was Nabal and his wifefs name was Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, while the man was harsh and wicked in his dealings. He was a descendant of Caleb.
4While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5David sent ten young men, saying to the young men, gGo up to Carmel, find Nabal, and greet him in my name. 6Then say, eMay you live long. Peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that you have. 7Now, Ifve heard that the sheep shearers are with you. Now, your shepherds have been with us. We didnft harm them, and they didnft miss anything all the time they were in Carmel. 8Ask your young men and theyfll tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor with you since we came on a special day. Please give whatever you have available to your servants and to your son David.fh
9Davidfs young men came to Nabal and told him all this in Davidfs name, and then they waited. 10Nabal answered Davidfs servants: gWho is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters. 11Should I take my food, my water, and my meat that Ifve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to men who came from who knows where?h
12Davidfs men turned and went on their way. They came back and told David everything. 13David told his men, gPut on your swords.h They put on their swords, and David put on his sword. Then about 400 men followed David, while 200 stayed with the supplies.
14Now, one of the young men told Nabalfs wife Abigail: gLook, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our lord, but he screamed insults at them. 15The men were very good to us. They didnft harm us, and we didnft miss anything all the time we moved around with them when we were in the field. 16They were a wall around us both day and night, all the time we were with them taking care of the sheep. 17Now, be aware of this and consider what you should do. Calamity is being planned against our master and against his entire household. Hefs such a worthless person that no one can talk to him.h
18Abigail quickly took 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five measures of roasted grain, 100 bunches of raisins, and 200 fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys. 19She told her young men, gGo ahead of me, Ifll be coming right behind you.h But she said nothing to her husband Nabal. 20She was riding on the donkey and as she went down a protected part of the mountain, David was there with his men, coming down to meet her, and she went toward them.
21Now David had said, gSurely it was for nothing that I protected everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness, and nothing was missing of all that belonged to him. But he has repaid me with evil for good! 22May the Lord do this to the enemies of David\and more also\if by the morning Ifve left alive a single male of all those who belong to him.h
23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from the donkey and fell on her face before David, prostrating herself on the ground. 24She fell at his feet and pleaded, gYour majesty, let the guilt be on me alone, and please let your servant speak to you. Listen to the words of your servant. 25Please, your majesty, donft pay attention to this worthless man Nabal, for hefs just like his name. Nabal is his name and folly is his constant companion. But I, your servant, didnft see your majestyfs young men whom you sent. 26Now, your majesty, as the Lord lives and as you live, the Lord has kept you from shedding blood and from delivering yourself by your own actions. Now, may your enemies and those seeking to do evil to your majesty be like Nabal. 27Now let this present that your servant has brought to your majesty be given to the young men who follow your majesty. 28Please forgive the offense of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make a strong dynasty for your majesty, for your majesty is fighting the Lordfs battles. May evil not be found in you for all of your life. 29If anyone should arise to pursue you and seek your life, may the life of your majesty be bound up with the Lord your God in a bundle of the living, and may he sling out the lives of your enemies from the pocket of a sling. 30When the Lord does for your majesty all the good that he promised concerning you and appoints you Commander-in-Chief over Israel, 31this shouldnft be an obstacle or stumbling block for your majestyfs conscience, that he poured out blood without cause or that your majesty delivered himself. When the Lord does good things for your majesty, remember your servant.h
32David told Abigail, gBlessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today. 33Blessed be your good judgment, and blessed be you, who today stopped me from shedding blood and delivering myself by my own actions. 34For as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, the one who restrained me from harming you\indeed, had you not quickly come to meet me, by dawn there wouldnft be a single male left to Nabal.h
35David took from her what she had brought him and told her, gGo up to your house in peace. Look, Ifve heard your request and will grant it.h
36Abigail returned to Nabal, and he was there in his house holding a festival like the festival of a king. Nabalfs heart was glad, and he was very drunk, so she didnft tell him anything at all until morning. 37After Nabal became sober the next morning, his wife told him all that had happened. Nabalfs heart failed and he became paralyzed. 38About ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
39When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, gBlessed be the Lord who has judged the dispute over my insult at the hand of Nabal, and has held back his servant from evil. The Lord has repaid Nabalfs wickedness.h
Then David sent word to Abigail that he would take her as his wife. 40Davidfs servants went to Abigail at Carmel and told her, gDavid sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.h
41She got up, prostrated herself face down on the ground, and replied, gYour servant would be a slave to wash the feet of your majestyfs servants.h 42Then Abigail quickly got up and got on a donkey, with five young women walking behind her. She followed Davidfs messengers, and she became his wife. 43David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. 44Meanwhile, Saul had given his daughter Michal, Davidfs wife, to Laishfs son Palti from Gallim.
Chapter 26
1People from Ziph came to Saul in Gibeah and informed him, gDavid is hiding on the hill of Hachilah which is across from Jeshimon, isnft he?h 2So Saul rose and went down with 3,000 select men of Israel to the Wilderness of Ziph, to look for David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 3Saul camped by the road on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon, while David was staying in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had come after him in the wilderness, 4David sent out spies and found out for certain that Saul had arrived. 5David rose and went to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul and Abner, his Commander-in-Chief, lay down. Saul was lying down within the encampment, and the army was camped all around him.
6David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joabfs brother Abishai, Zeruiahfs son, gWho will go down with me to Saul in the camp?h
Abishai said, gIfll go down with you.h
7David and Abishai went to the army at night, and Saul was lying there asleep in the encampment. His spear was stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army were lying all around him. 8Abishai told David, gToday God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Let me run the spear through him into the ground with a single blow. I wonft need to strike him twice!h
9David told Abishai, gDonft destroy him. Who can raise his hand to strike the Lordfs anointed and remain innocent? 10As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him down, or his time will come to die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11The Lord forbid that I should raise my hand against the Lordfs anointed. Now take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and letfs go.h 12So David took the spear and the jug of water at Saulfs head, and they left. No one saw, and no one knew, because no one was awake. They were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen over them.
13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away with a large distance between them. 14David called out to the army and to Nerfs son Abner, gAbner, wonft you answer me?h
Abner answered: gWho are you who calls out to the king?h
15David told Abner, gAre you not a man, and who is like you in Israel? Why didnft you guard your lord, the king? Indeed, a soldier came to destroy the king, your lord. 16This thing that you did is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, you who didnft guard your lord, the Lordfs anointed. Where is the kingfs spear and where is the jug of water that was at his head?h
17Saul recognized Davidfs voice and said, gIs this your voice, my son David?h
David replied, gIt is my voice, your majesty.h 18David said, gWhy is your majesty pursuing his servant? For what have I done, and what evil do I bear toward you? 19Now let your majesty listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the Lordfs presence, because they have driven me out today from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord by saying, eGo serve other gods.f 20Now, donft let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lordfs presence. Indeed, the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, like someone hunts a partridge in the mountains.h
21Then Saul said, gIfve wronged you. Return, my son David, for I wonft harm you again because my life was precious to you today. Look, Ifve acted foolishly and have made a very great mistake.h
22David replied, gHerefs the kingfs spear. Have one of the young men come over and get it. 23The Lord repays a person for his righteousness and his faithfulness. The Lord gave you into my control today, but I refused to raise my hand against the Lordfs anointed. 24Look, just as your life was valuable in my eyes today, so may my life be valuable in the Lordfs eyes, and may he deliver me from all trouble.h
25Saul told David, gBlessed are you, my son David. In whatever you do you will surely succeed.h So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Chapter 27
1David told himself, gOne of these days Ifll perish by Saulfs hand. There is nothing better for me to do than to escape to Philistine territory. Saul will give up searching for me anymore within the borders of Israel, so Ifll escape from him.h 2So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maochfs son Achish, the king of Gath. 3David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. 4Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not continue to search for him.
5David told Achish, gIf it pleases you, give me a place in one of the outlying towns, so I may live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?h 6So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until the present time. 7David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months.
8David and his men went up and raided the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Girzi, and the Amalekites, for they had been living in the land since ancient times, from the entrance of Shur all the way to the land of Egypt. 9David struck the land and did not leave a man or woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, and then came back and went to Achish.
10Achish said, gWhere did you raid today?h
David answered, gAgainst the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.h 11David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath. He told himself, gOtherwise, theyfll say, eThis is what David is doing, and this has been his practice all the time he has lived in Philistine territory.fh
12Achish believed David, telling himself, gHe has certainly made himself repulsive to his people in Israel. He will be my servant forever.h
Chapter 28
1At that time the Philistines assembled their army for war to fight against Israel. Achish told David, gYou know, of course, that you and your men will go out with me into the battle.h
2David told Achish, gVery well, you will now see what your servant will do.h
Achish told David, gVery well, Ifll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.h
3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4The Philistines assembled, moved out, and camped at Shunem, while Saul assembled all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him, either through dreams or Urim or through prophets. 7Saul told his servants, gFind me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and make my inquiry through her.h
His servants told him, gLook, therefs a woman at Endor who is a medium.h
8Saul disguised himself, putting on different clothes. He went along with two men to the woman at night. He said, gConsult a familiar spirit for me and bring up for me the one whom I tell you.h
9The woman told him, gLook, you know what Saul has done. He has removed mediums and spiritists from the land, so why are you trying to entrap me, so as to cause my death?h
10Saul swore to her by the Lord: gAs surely as the Lord lives, no punishment will come on you for this thing.h
11The woman said, gWhom shall I bring up for you?h
Saul said, gBring up Samuel for me.h
12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman told Saul, gWhy have you deceived me? You are Saul!h
13The king told her, gDonft be afraid; but what do you see?h
The woman told Saul, gI see a divine being coming up out of the ground.h
14Saul told her, gWhat does he look like?h
She said, gAn old man is coming up, and hefs wrapped in a robe.h Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground and prostrated himself.
15Samuel told Saul, gWhy did you disturb me by bringing me up?h
Saul said, gIfm in great distress. The Philistines are waging war against me. God has departed from me and wonft answer me anymore, either by messages written by the hand of the prophets or by dreams. So Ifve summoned you to tell me what I should do.h
16Samuel said, gWhy do you ask me, since the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17The Lord has done to you exactly as he spoke through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom away from you and has given it to your colleague David. 18Because you didnft obey the Lord and didnft display his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore, the Lord will do this thing to you today. 19The Lord is giving both you, and Israel with you, into Philistine control. Tomorrow, the Lord will give you, your sons with you, and also the army of Israel into the control of the Philistines.h
20Saul immediately fell down full-length on the ground. He was terrified because of Samuelfs words, and he had no strength because he had not eaten food all day and all night. 21Then the woman came to Saul and saw that he was very disturbed. She told him, gLook, your servant obeyed you. I put my life into your hands, and I listened to your words that you spoke to me. 22Now, please listen to your servant. Ifll put a piece of bread before you so you can eat and have strength to go on your way.h
23Saul refused, saying, gI wonft eat!h
Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. 24The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 25She brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night.
Chapter 29
1The Philistines gathered all their troops at Aphek, while Israel was camped at the spring in Jezreel. 2The Philistine leaders were passing in review among the military units, and David and his men were among them in the rear with Achish.
3The Philistine leaders said, gWhat are these Hebrews doing here?h
Achish asked the Philistine leaders, gIsnft this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years? Ifve found no fault in him from the day he deserted until now.h
4But the Philistine leaders were angry with him, so they pleaded with him, gSend the man back! Let him return to the place you assigned him. He mustnft go into battle with us. Otherwise, he may become our adversary in the battle! How could there be a better way for this fellow to reconcile himself with his lord? Wouldnft it be with the heads of these men? 5Isnft this the same David about whom the maidens sang when they were dancing,
eSaul has struck down his thousands,
but David his ten thousandsf?h
6Then Achish summoned David and told him, gAs surely as the Lord lives, you are trustworthy, and it seems good to me for you to campaign with me as part of the army. Indeed, Ifve not found any evil in you from the time you came to me until now. But the leaders donft approve of you. 7Now return and go in peace, so you do nothing to displease the Philistine leaders.h
8David told Achish, gWhat have I done, and what have you found in your servant from the time I came before you until this very moment, that I shouldnft go out and fight the enemies of your majesty?h
9Achish answered David, gI know that Ifm pleased with you. Youfre like an angel of God. But the Philistine leaders have said, eHe mustnft go into battle with us.f 10Now, get up early in the morning along with your lordfs servants who came with you. Get up early in the morning, and go as soon as you have light.h 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to Philistine territory, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Chapter 30
1When David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and set it on fire. 2They took the women in it captive, from young to old. They did not kill anyone. Instead, they carried them off and went on their way. 3David and his men came to the town, and it had been burned down. Their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and cried until they had no more strength left to cry. 5Davidfs two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabalfs former wife, had been captured. 6David was in great danger because all the people were bitter because of their sons and daughters, and they were talking about stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
7David told Ahimelechfs son Abiathar the priest, gBring me the ephod.h So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8David inquired of the Lord: gShall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?h
The Lord told David, gPursue them! You will definitely overtake them and rescue the captives.h 9So David and 600 men who were with him set out. They came to the Wadi Besor where those who were left behind stayed. 10David and 400 men continued the pursuit, while the 200 men who were too exhausted to cross over the Wadi Besor remained there.
11They found an Egyptian man in the field, and they took him to David. They gave him food to eat and provided water for him. 12They gave him part of a fig cake and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, he revived, since he had neither eaten food nor had he drunk water for three days and three nights. 13David told him, gTo whom do you belong and where are you from?h
The Egyptian replied, gIfm a young Egyptian man, the slave of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me, because I got sick three days ago. 14We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory that belongs to Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we set Ziklag on fire.h
15David asked him, gWill you take me to this raiding party?h
He said, gSwear to me by God that you wonft kill me or turn me over to my master, and Ifll take you to the raiding party.h
16The Egyptian led him to the camp, and there the Amalekites were spread out over the whole area, eating, drinking, and celebrating with the great amount of spoil they had taken from the territory belonging to the Philistines and to Judah. 17David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not one of them escaped except for 400 young men who mounted camels and fled. 18David rescued everyone whom the Amalekites had captured, including his two wives. 19Nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or large, sons or daughters, spoil, or anything that they had taken for themselves\David brought back everything. 20David took all the rest of the sheep and cattle, driving them ahead of their rescued livestock. People said about all this, gThis is Davidfs spoil.h
21David came to the 200 men who were too exhausted to follow him and who had been left at the Wadi Besor. They came out to meet David and the people who were with him. As David approached the people, he asked them how they were doing. 22 At this point, all the wicked and worthless men of the group who had gone with David answered, gBecause they didnft go with us, we wonft give them any of the spoil that we recovered, except that each person may take his wife and his children and go.h
23David said, gNo, you wonft do this, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He guarded us and gave the raiding party that came against us into our hand. 24Who will listen to you in this matter? Indeed, the share of those who went down into battle and the share of those who stayed with the supplies will be the same. Theyfll share alike.h 25From that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel, and it remains to this present day.
26David came to Ziklag, and he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, and to his friends, telling them, gLook, this is a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord 27in Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, 28Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 29Rachal, in the Jerahmeelite towns, in the Kenite towns, 30in Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, 31Hebron, and for all those places where David and his men had frequented.h
Chapter 31
1The Philistines fought against Israel, and the army of Israel fled before the Philistines. They fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saulfs sons. 3The heaviest fighting was directed toward Saul, and when the bowmen who were shooting located Saul, he was severely wounded by them.
4Saul told his armor bearer, gDraw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised people will come and run me through and make sport of me.h But his armor bearer did not want to do it because he was very frightened, so Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. 6As a result, Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that day. 7When the men of Israel who were across the valley and who were across the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled, and the Philistines came and occupied them.
8The next day, the Philistines came to strip the dead, and they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They cut off his head and stripped him of his weapons. They sent people throughout the territory of the Philistines to report the good news in the temples of their idols and to the people. 10They put Saulfs weapons in the temple of Asherah and fastened his corpse to the wall of Beth-shan.
11When the residents of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12every valiant soldier got up, traveled all night, and removed Saulfs body and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. Then they went to Jabesh and cremated the bodies there. 13They took their bones, buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.
Second Samuel
Chapter 1
1Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. 2The next day, a man escaped from Saulfs camp! With torn clothes and dirty hair, he approached David, fell to the ground, and bowed down to him.
3David asked him, gWhere did you come from?
He answered him, gI just escaped from Israelfs encampment.h
4David continued questioning him, gHow did things go? Please tell me!h
He replied, gThe army has fled the battlefield, many of the army are wounded or have died, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.h
5David asked the young man who related the story, gHow do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?h
6The young man who had been relating the story answered, gI happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul, leaning on his spear! Meanwhile, the chariots and horsemen were rapidly drawing near. 7Saul glanced behind him, saw me, and called out to me, so I replied, eHere I am!f 8He asked me, eWho are you?f So I answered him, eIfm an Amalekite!f 9He begged me, ePlease\come stand here next to me and kill me, because Ifm still alive.f 10So I stood next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldnft live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty.h
11On hearing this, David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. 12They mourned and wept, and then decided to fast until dusk for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the army of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen in battle.
13Meanwhile, David asked the young man who had told him the story, gWhere are you from?h
He answered, gIfm an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man.h
14At this David asked him, gHow is it that you werenft afraid to raise your hand to strike the Lordfs anointed?h
15Then David called out to one of his young men and ordered him, gGo up to him and cut him down!h So he attacked him and killed him.
16David told him, gYour blood is on your own head, because your own words testified against you! After all, you said, eI myself have killed the Lordfs anointed!fh
17So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and he gave orders to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare, as is recorded in the Book of Jashar:
19gYour beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places!
O, how the valiant have fallen!
20Donft make it known in Gath!
Donft declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon!
Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice;
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph.
21Mountains of Gilboa,
let no dew or rain fall on you,
and may none of your fields be filled with plenty,
because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled,
the shield of Saul without an anointing with oil.
22From the blood of the slain,
from the blood of the valiant,
Jonathanfs bow would not retreat
nor would Saulfs sword return empty.
23Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life,
in death were not separated.
Swifter than eagles they were,
and more valiant than lions.
24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul!
He clothed you in scarlet luxury
and decorated your garments with gold.
25How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan.
You have been most kind to me.
Your love for me was extraordinary\
beyond love from women.
27How the valiant have fallen!
How the weapons of war are destroyed!h
Chapter 2
1Some time later, David inquired of the Lord to ask, gAm I to move to any one of the cities of Judah?h
The Lord told him, gGo.h
So David asked, gTo which one?h
He replied, gTo Hebron.h
2So David went there, along with his two wives Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel. 3David brought his army with him, each soldier accompanied by his household, and they settled in the cities of Hebron. 4After this, the army of Judah arrived, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
There they informed David, gThe men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.h
5So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead and told them, gMay the Lord bless you, because you showed gracious love like this to your lord Saul by burying him. 6Now may the Lord reward you with gracious love, as well as faithfulness, to you, too! And I will also reward you because you did this good thing. 7So strengthen yourselves, and be valiant in heart, because your lord Saul has died, and the household of Judah has anointed me to be king over them.h
8Meanwhile, Nerfs son Abner, the commander of Saulfs army, had taken Saulfs son Ish-bosheth and brought him to Mahanaim. 9He installed him as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of the rest of Israel. 10Ish-bosheth began to reign over Israel at the age of 40 years, and he reigned for two years, even though Judahfs lineage followed David. 11The period of Davidfs kingship in Hebron lasted seven years and six months.
12 Nerfs son Abner and the servants of Saulfs son Ish-bosheth set out from Mahanaim for Gibeon. 13Zeruiahfs son Joab and some of Davidfs staff went out to meet them at the pool of Gibeon. One side encamped on one side of the pool while the other encamped on the other side of the pool.
14Abner told Joab, gLetfs have the young men get up and fight in our presence.h
Joab replied, gLet them come.h
15So they got up and twelve were counted to represent Benjamin and Saulfs son Ish-bosheth and twelve to represent members of Davidfs staff. 16Each man grabbed his opponent by the head, plunged his sword into his opponentfs side, and then they both fell together. Thatfs why the place at Gibeon was named The Field of Swords. 17The battle was very violent that day, with Abner and the men of Israel being defeated in the presence of Davidfs servants.
18Zeruiahfs three sons Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there. As a runner, Asahel was fast, like one of the wild gazelles. 19So Asahel ran straight after Abner, following him. 20When Abner looked behind him, he said, gIs that you, Asahel?h
He answered, gI am.h
21Abner told him, gGo off to your right or left after one of the young men and grab some war spoils.h But Asahel would not stop following him, 22so Abner told Asahel again, gStop following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?h
23But Asahel refused to turn away, so Abner struck Asahel in the abdomen with the butt end of his spear, and the spear protruded through his back. He collapsed to the ground and died where he fell. Everyone gathered round the place where Asahel had collapsed and died, and stood still there.
24Meanwhile, Joab and Abishai continued to chase Abner. At dusk, as they approached the hill of Ammah that is located near Giah on the way to the Gibeon desert, 25the descendants of Benjamin rallied around Abner, forming a single military force. They took their stand on top of the hill.
26Then Abner called out to Joab, gMust the battle sword keep on devouring forever? Donft you realize that the end result is bitterness? How long will it take for you to order your army to stop pursuing their own relatives?h
27Joab answered, gAs God lives, if you hadnft spoken up, by morning my army would have broken off their pursuit of their own relatives.h 28So Joab sounded his battle trumpet, his entire army stopped pursuing Israel any longer, and they quit fighting.
29Abner and his army traveled through the Arabah by night, crossed the Jordan, and arrived at Mahanaim after marching all morning. 30Joab returned from his pursuit of Abner, and when he had mustered his entire army, nineteen of Davidfs soldiers were missing besides Asahel. 31Meanwhile, other soldiers of David had killed 360 of Abnerfs men from the tribe of Benjamin. 32They retrieved Asahelfs body and buried him in his fatherfs tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night until daybreak and arrived back in Hebron.
Chapter 3
1After this, a state of protracted war existed between Saulfs dynasty and Davidfs dynasty, and the dynasty of David continued to grow and become strong while the dynasty of Saul continued to grow weaker. 2During this time, sons were born to David while he was living in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam from Jezreel, 3his second was Chileab by Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel, his third was Absalom by Maacah, daughter of King Talmai from Geshur, 4his fourth was Adonijah by Haggith, his fifth was Shephatiah by Abital, 5and his sixth was Ithream by Davidfs wife Eglah. They were all born to David in Hebron.
6While war continued between the dynasties of Saul and David, Abner was growing in influence within the dynasty of Saul. 7Meanwhile, Saul had a mistress named Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth asked Abner, gWhy did you have sex with my fatherfs mistress?h
8What Ish-bosheth said made Abner furious, so he replied, gA dogfs head for Judah\is that what I am? Up until today Ifve kept on showing loyalty to your father Saulfs dynasty, to his relatives and friends, and I havenft turned you over to David, but youfre charging me today with moral guilt regarding this woman! 9Therefore may God do to me\and more also!\just as the Lord has promised to David, since Ifm doing this for him: 10I will take away the kingdom from the dynasty of Saul by making the throne of David firm over Israel and Judah\from Dan to Beer-sheba!h
11Ish-bosheth couldnft say another word in response to Abner, because he was terrified of him. 12So Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron to ask him, gWho owns this land? Cut a deal with me, and look!\Ifll lend my hand in bringing all of Israel over to you!h
13David replied, gSounds good to me! Ifll cut a deal with you under one condition: youfre not to show yourself in my presence unless you bring Saulfs daughter with you when you come to see me.h 14Then David sent a delegation to Saulfs son Ish-bosheth to say, gGive me my wife Michal, to whom I was engaged with a dowry of 100 Philistine foreskins.h
15So Ish-bosheth ordered that she be taken away from her husband, Laishfs son Paltiel. 16Her husband accompanied her, crying as he followed after her all the way to Bahurim, where Abner told him, gLeave! Go back!h So he went back.
17Later, Abner had a talk with the elders of Israel. He said, gIn the past you were looking to see David made king over you. 18So do it, then! Because the Lord has said this about David:
eThrough my servant David I will save my people Israel
from the control of the Philistines
and from all of their enemies.fh
19Abner also addressed the tribe of Benjamin. Furthermore, with Davidfs permission, Abner said anything that seemed like it would be good for Israel and for the entire tribe of Benjamin.
20Afterwards, Abner brought 20 soldiers to David at Hebron, and David threw a party for Abner and the men who were with him. 21So Abner told David, gGive me permission to go out and rally all of Israel to your majesty the king so they can enter into a formal agreement with you to reign over everything that your heart desires.h So David sent Abner off, and he went away in peace.
22Right about then, Davidfs servants returned from a raid, bringing plenty of war booty with them, but Abner wasnft in Hebron with David, since David had sent him away and Abner had left in peace. 23When Joab returned with his entire army, Joab was informed, gNerfs son Abner visited the king, and he has dismissed him. He has left in peace.h
24So Joab approached the king and asked him, gWhat have you done? Look, Abner came to you! Whatfs this? You sent him away? Hefs long gone now! 25You know Nerfs son Abner came to mislead you, to learn your troop movements, and to learn everything youfre doing!h
26As soon as Joab left David, Joab sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah, but David was not aware of this. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab brought him aside within the gateway to talk to him alone and then stabbed him in the abdomen. So he died for shedding the blood of Joabfs brother Asahel.
28Later on, David found out about it and proclaimed, gLet me and my kingdom remain guiltless forever in the Lordfs presence for the death of Nerfs son Abner. 29May judgment rest on Joabfs head and on his fatherfs entire household. May Joabfs dynasty never be without one who has a discharge, who is a leper, who walks with a cane, who commits suicide, or who lacks food!h 30He said this because Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner after he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31David ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, gTear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.h King David walked behind the funeral procession, 32and they buried Abner at Hebron. The king wept loudly at Abnerfs grave, and all the people wept, too. 33The king composed this mourning song for Abner:
gShould Abnerfs death be like a foolfs?
34Your hands were not bound,
nor were your feet in irons.
As one falls before the wicked,
you have fallen.h
Then all the people cried again because of him. 35Everyone tried to persuade David to have a meal while there was still daylight, but David took an oath by saying, gMay God to do like this to me and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!h
36Everybody took note of this and was very pleased, just as everything else the king did pleased everyone. 37As a result, the entire army and all of Israel understood that day that the king had nothing to do with the murder of Nerfs son Abner.
38The king reminded his staff, gDonft you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? 39Today, even though Ifm anointed as king, Ifm weak. These men, sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the one who acts wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!h
Chapter 4
1When Saulfs son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed and all of Israel was disturbed. 2Now Saulfs son had two officers in charge of some raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other was named Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon, a descendant of Benjamin from Beeroth, which was considered to belong to the tribe of Benjamin. 3(The residents of Beeroth had evacuated to Gittaim and live there as resident aliens to this day.)
4Meanwhile, Saulfs son Jonathan had a son whose feet were crippled. When he was five years old, news had arrived about Saul and Jonathan from Jezreel, and his nurse picked him up to flee, but in her hurry to leave, he happened to fall and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
5Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, left and arrived during the hottest part of the day at the home of Ish-bosheth while he was taking a noon day nap. 6They entered the house as though they intended to obtain some grain and stabbed him in the abdomen. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7While they were in the house, they struck him, killed him, and cut off his head while he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. They took his head, and traveled all night along the Arabah road.
8They brought Ish-boshethfs head to David at Hebron and told the king, gLook! Herefs the head of your enemy Ish-bosheth, Saulfs son, who sought your life. Today the Lord has given your majesty the king vengeance on Saul and his descendants.h
9David responded to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite: gAs the Lord lives, who has saved my life in every adversity, 10when the man who told me eLook! Saul is dead!f thought he was bringing me good news, I arrested him and had him killed at Ziklag as the reward I gave him for his news. 11How much worse will it be, then, when evil men kill an innocent man on his own bed in his own house! Shouldnft I avenge his blood\which you are responsible for shedding\by removing you from the earth?h 12So David commanded his personal guards, and they killed Rechab and Baanah, cut off their hands and feet, and hung up their bodies beside the pool at Hebron. They took Ish-boshethfs head and buried it in Abnerfs tomb at Hebron.
Chapter 5
1After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, gLook, wefre your own flesh and blood! 2Even back when Saul was our king, it was you who kept on leading Israel out to battle and bringing them back again. The Lord told you, eYou yourself will shepherd my people Israel and serve as Commander-in-Chief over Israel.fh 3So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where King David entered into a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel.
4David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. 5He reigned over Judah for seven years and six months in Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel including Judah for 33 years in Jerusalem. 6Later, the king and his army marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who were inhabiting the territory at that time and who had told David, gYoufre not coming in here! Even the blind and the lame could turn you away!h because they were thinking gDavid canft come here.h 7Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as the City of David.
8At that time, David had said, gWhoever intends to attack the Jebusites will have to climb up the water shaft to attack the lame and blind, who hate David.h
Therefore they say, gThe blind and lame are never to come into the house.h 9David occupied the fortress, naming it the City of David. He built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts inward. 10David became more and more esteemed because the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies was with him.
11Later, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar logs, carpenters, and stone masons. They built a palace for David. 12So David concluded that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom in order to benefit his people Israel. 13But after arriving in Jerusalem after leaving Hebron, David took more wives and mistresses, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines eventually learned that Israel had anointed David to be king over Israel, they marched out in search of him. But David heard about it and retreated to his stronghold. 18Meanwhile, the Philistines arrived and encamped in the Rephaim Valley, 19so David asked the Lord, gAm I to go attack the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?h
gGo get them,h the Lord replied to David, gbecause Ifm going to put the Philistines right into your hand!h
20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He called the place Baal-perazim, because he said, gLike a bursting flood, the Lord has jumped out in front of me to fight my enemies.h 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his army carried them off.
22Later, the Philistines once again marched out and encamped in the Rephaim Valley. 23When David asked the Lord about it, he said, gDonft attack them directly. Instead, go around to the rear and attack them opposite those balsam trees. 24When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then be sure to act quickly, since the Lord will have gone out ahead of you to cut down the Philistine army.h 25So David did exactly what the Lord ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
Chapter 6
1After this, David gathered together again 30,000 men from all of the choicest men of Israel. 2Then David and all the people with him set out from Baal-judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, who is called the Name, the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, and who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadabfs home in Gibeah, with Abinadabfs sons Uzzah and Ahio driving the new cart. 4As they left Abinadabfs house in Gibeah accompanied by the Ark of God, Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5David and the entire assembly of Israel were dancing in the presence of the Lord with all of their strength, accompanied by all sorts of wood instruments, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6When they arrived at Naconfs threshing floor, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. 7Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down right there because of his failure, and he died there beside the Ark of God.
8David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed Uzzah. Thatfs why that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. 9But David feared the Lord that day, and asked, gHow can the Ark of God come to me?h 10As a result, David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David. Instead, David left it at the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11So the ark of the Lord remained for three months in the household of Obed-edom the Gittite while the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12Later on, David was informed, gThe Lord has blessed the home of Obed-edom and everything he has since hefs in possession of the Ark of God.h So David went out joyfully and brought up the Ark of God to the City of David from Obed-edomfs home. 13After those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fattened animals, 14dancing in front of the Lord with all of his strength and wearing a linen ephod. 15So David and the entire assembly of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and trumpet blasts.
16As the ark of the Lord was coming into the City of David, Saulfs daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David jumping and dancing in the Lordfs presence, and she despised him in her heart. 17They brought in the ark of the Lord, set it in place inside the tent that David had erected for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of the Lord.
18After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies 19and distributed to all the people\the entire multitude of Israel, including both men and women\a cake made of bread, one made of dates, and one made of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each headed for home.
20When David returned to bless his household, Saulfs daughter Michal came out to meet him and called out, gHow the king of Israel honored himself today by undressing himself right in front of his women staff members, just like any pervert would dare to expose himself!h
21But David replied to Michal, gIt was in front of the Lord, who appointed me to replace your father and his entire household by selecting me as Commander-in-Chief over Israel, the people of the Lord, that I danced in front of the Lord. 22Ifm going to act more shamelessly than this, even to humbling myself in my own eyes. Now as to the women staff members about whom you have spoken, they are to hold me in honor!h 23And Saulfs daughter Michal bore no children from that day on until the day she died.
Chapter 7
1After the king had settled down in his palace and the Lord had given him respite from all of his surrounding enemies, 2he told the prophet Nathan, gLook now, Ifm living in a cedar palace, but the Ark of God resides behind a tent curtain.h
3Nathan replied to the king, gGo do everything you have in mind, because the Lord is with you.h
4But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from the Lord:
5gGo tell my servant David, eThis is what the Lord says:
gegAre you going to build a house for me to inhabit? 6After all, I havenft lived in a house since the day I brought up the Israelis from Egypt until now. Instead, Ifve moved around in a tent that served as my dwelling place. 7Wherever I moved among the Israelis, did I ever ask even one tribal leader of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, eWhy havenft you built me a cedar house?f
8gegNow therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gI took you from the pasture myself\from tending sheep\to become Commander-in-Chief over my people, that is, over Israel.
9gegFurthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make a great reputation for you, like the reputation of great ones who have lived on earth. 10I will establish a homeland for my people\for Israel\planting them so they may live in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will no longer afflict them, as happened in the past 11when I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. Ifll also grant you relief from all your enemies.hf
geThe Lord also announces to you: gThe Lord will himself build a house for you. 12When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom. 13He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. 14I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 15But Ifll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. 16Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence\your throne will be secure forever.hfh
17Nathan communicated this complete oracle to David with precisely these words.
18Then King David went in to the presence of the Lord, sat down, and said:
gWho am I, Lord God, and what is my household, since you have brought me to this? 19And this is still a small thing to you, Lord God, and yet you have spoken to your servantfs household for a great while to come, and this is the charter of mankind, Lord God.
20gWhat more can David say to you, and you surely know your servant, Lord God. 21For the sake of your word and consistent with your desire, you have done all of these great things, informing your servant. 22And therefore you are great, Lord God, there is no one like you, there is no God except for you, just as wefve heard with our own ears.
23gAnd who is like your people, like Israel, the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to carry out for them great and awe-inspiring accomplishments, driving out nations and their gods in front of your people, whom you redeemed to yourself from Egypt? 24You have prepared your people Israel to be your very own people for ever, and you, Lord, have become their God!
25gAnd now, Lord God, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and his household be done\and let it be done just as youfve promised. 26May your name be made great forever with the result that it is said that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is God over Israel, and that the household of your servant David may be established before you. 27For you, Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant, telling him, eI will build a dynasty for you,f so that your servant has found fortitude to pray this prayer to you.
28gNow therefore, Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have spoken to your servant these good things. 29So may it please you to bless the household of your servant, so that it might remain forever in your presence, because you, Lord God, have spoken, and from your blessing may the household of your servant be blessed forever.h
Chapter 8
1Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 2David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengthsf measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.
3David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehobfs son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony over the Euphrates River. 4David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply 100 chariots. 5When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him, and they paid tribute to him. 7David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezerfs officers and took them to Jerusalem. 8He also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezerfs control.
9When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11and King David dedicated them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehobfs son from Zobah.
13David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
15David reigned over all of Israel, administering justice and equity to every one of his people. 16Zeruiahfs son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahiludfs son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist, 17Ahitubfs son Zadok and Abiatharfs son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah was his personal secretary, 18Jehoidafs son Benaiah supervised the special forces and mercenaries, and Davidfs sons were priests.
Chapter 9
1Later on, David asked, gIs there anyone left alive from Saulfs household to whom I can show gracious love in memory of Jonathan?h
2A household servant of Saul named Ziba was called to appear before David, and the king asked him, gAre you Ziba?h
 gI am your servant,h Ziba replied.
3At this the king asked, gIsnft there still someone left from Saulfs household to whom I may show Godfs gracious love?h
gTherefs Jonathanfs son. He has maimed feet, h Ziba answered.
4So David asked, gWhere is he?h
Ziba responded, gHefs in Lo-debar at the home of Ammielfs son Makir.h
5At this, King David sent for him and brought him from the home of Ammielfs son Makir in Lo-debar. 6When Mephibosheth, Jonathanfs son and a grandson of Saul, approached David, he threw himself on his face out of respect.
 gMephibosheth!h David said as he greeted him.
gHello! I am your servant,h he replied.
7gDonft be afraid,h David reassured him, gbecause Ifm going to show gracious love to you in memory of your father Jonathan. Ifm going to restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and youfll always have a place at my table!h
8Mephibosheth bowed low again and asked, gWho am I, your servant, that you would pay attention to a dead dog like me?h
9At this, the king called for Saulfs servant Ziba and told him, gIfm restoring to your masterfs grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10You and your servants are to farm the land on his behalf and bring in the crops in order to provide for your masterfs grandson. Meanwhile, Mephibosheth, your masterfs grandson, will always have a place at my table.h (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and 20 servants.)
11Later, Ziba told the king, gYour servant will do everything that your majesty the king commands him.h So Mephibosheth ate at Davidfs table like one of the kingfs sons. 12Mephibosheth fathered a son named Mica, and everyone who lived in Zibafs house became Mephiboshethfs servants. 13Mephibosheth continued to live in Jerusalem, always eating at the kingfs table, since he was maimed in both feet.
Chapter 10
1Sometime later, the Ammonite king died and his son Hanun succeeded him as king, 2so David told himself, gI will be loyal to Nahashfs son Hanun, since in his loyalty his father showed gracious love to me.h So David sent a delegation to Hanun to console him about his loss of his father.
But when Davidfs delegation arrived in Ammonite territory, 3the Ammonite officials asked their lord Hanun, gDo you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived intending to search, scout the land, and then overthrow it, hasnft it?h 4So Hanun arrested Davidfs delegation, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace.
5When David had been informed about the incident, he sent word to them, since the men had been deeply humiliated. The king told them, gStay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.h
6When the Ammonites realized that they had created quite a stink with David, they hired 20,000 Aramean mercenaries from Beth-rehob and Zobah, along with the king of Maacah and 1,000 men, and 12,000 men from Tob. 7In response, David sent out Joab and his entire army of elite soldiers. 8The Ammonites went out in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob, along with the army from Tob and Maacah, were out by themselves in the open fields.
9When Joab observed that the battle lines were set up to oppose him both in front and behind, he appointed the best troops in Israel and arrayed them to oppose the Arameans, 10putting the rest of his forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them to oppose the Ammonites. 11He said, gIf the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you are to help me. If the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will come help you. 12Be strong, be courageous on behalf of our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what he thinks is best.h
13So Joab and the soldiers who were with him attacked the Arameans in battle formation, and the Arameans retreated in front of him. 14When the Ammonites saw the Arameans retreating, they also retreated from Abishai back to the city. Then Joab broke off his attack against the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem. 15After the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. 16Hadadezer sent for the Arameans who lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they set out for Helam, with Shobach leading them as commander of Hadadezerfs army.
17When David learned this, he mustered all of Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and approached Helam. The Arameans assembled in battle array to attack David, and started their assault. 18But the Arameans retreated from Israel, and Davidfs forces killed 700 of their charioteers, 40,000 soldiers, and mortally wounded Shobach, the commander of their army. As a result, Shobach died there. 19When all the kings who were allied with Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sought terms of peace with the Israelis and became subservient to them. Furthermore, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
Chapter 11
1One spring day, during the time of year when kings go off to war, David sent out Joab, along with his personal staff and all of Israelfs army. They utterly destroyed the Ammonites and then attacked Rabbah while David remained in Jerusalem. 2Late one afternoon about dusk, David got up from his couch and was walking around on the roof of the royal palace. From there he watched a woman taking a bath, and she was very beautiful to look at.
3David sent word to inquire about her, and someone told him, gThis is Eliamfs daughter Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, isnft it?h 4So David sent some messengers, took her from her home, and she went to him, and he had sex with her. (She had been consecrating herself following her menstrual separation.) Then she returned to her home.
5The woman conceived, and she sent this message to David: gIfm pregnant.h
6So David summoned Joab, and told him, gSend me Uriah the Hittite.h So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7When Uriah arrived, David inquired about how Joab was doing, how the army was doing, and how the war was progressing.
8Then David told Uriah, gGo on down to your house and relax a while.h So Uriah left the kingfs palace, and the king sent a gift along after him. 9But Uriah spent the night sleeping in the alcove of the kingfs palace in the company of all his masterfs staff members. He refused to go down to his own home.
10When David was told that Uriah hadnft gone home the previous night, he quizzed him, gYou just arrived from a long journey, so why didnft you go down to your own house?h
11Uriah replied, gThe ark, along with Israel and Judah, are encamped in tents, while my commanding officer Joab and my masterfs staff members are camping out in the open fields. Should I go home, eat, drink, and have sex with my wife? Not on your life! I wonft do something like this, will I?h
12Then David invited Uriah, gStay here today, and tomorrow Ifll send you back.h So Uriah remained in Jerusalem all that day and the next. 13Then at Davidfs invitation, he and Uriah dined and drank wine together, and David got him drunk. Later that evening, Uriah went out to lie on a couch in the company of his lordfs servants, and he did not go down to his house.
14The next morning, David sent a message to Joab that Uriah took with him in his hand. 15In the message, he wrote: gAssign Uriah to the most difficult fighting at the battle front, and then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and killed.h 16So as Joab began to attack the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew valiant men would be stationed. 17When the men of the city came out to fight Joab, some of Davidfs army staff members fell, and Uriah the Hittite died, too.
18Then Joab sent word to David about everything that had happened at the battle. 19He instructed the courier, gWhen you have finished conveying all the news about the battle to the king, 20if the king starts to get angry and asks you, eWhy did you get so near the city to fight? Didnft you know they would shoot from the wall? 21Who killed Jerubbeshethfs son Abimelech? Didnft a woman kill him by throwing an upper millstone on him from the wall at Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?f then tell him, eYour servant Uriah the Hittite also died.fh
22So the messenger left Joab, set out for Jerusalem, and disclosed to David everything that Joab had sent him to say. 23The messenger told David, gThe men surprised us and attacked us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the kingfs staff members are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite has died as well.h
25David responded to the messenger, gHerefs what youfre to tell Joab: eDonft be troubled by this incident, because the battle sword consumes one or another from time to time. Consolidate your attack against the city and conquer it.f Be sure to encourage him.h
26When Uriahfs wife heard about the death of her husband Uriah, she went into mourning for the head of her household. 27When her mourning period was completed, David sent for her, brought her to his palace, and she became his wife. Later on, she bore him a son.
Meanwhile, what David had done grieved the Lord, 
Chapter 12
1so the Lord sent Nathan to David. Nathan approached David and said, gThere are two men in the city. One is rich and one is poor. 2The rich man has many flocks and herds, 3but the poor man had nothing except for one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It used to share his food and drink from his own cup. It even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4A traveler arrived to visit the rich man. Because he was unwilling to take an animal from one of his own flocks or herds to prepare for the guest who had come to visit him, he took the poor manfs lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to visit him.h
5David flew into a rage at the man and told Nathan, gAs the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6He will restore the lamb four times its value, because he did this thing, and because he did it without compassion.h
7But Nathan replied to David, gYou are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says:
geI anointed you king\and you became king over Israel.
geI delivered you from Saulfs control.
8geI gave you your former masterfs household.
geI placed your former masterfs wives right in your arms.
geI gave you Israel and Judah.
geAnd if this had been too little, I would have added much more than that to you!
9geWhy did you despise what the Lord has promised by doing what is detestable in his sight?
geYou struck down Uriah the Hittite with a battle sword.
geYou took his wife to be your own.
geYou killed him with the sword of the Ammonite army.
10geTherefore the sword will never leave your household, because you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.f
11gThis is what the Lord says:
geListen very carefully!
geIfm raising up evil against you right out of your own household.
geIfm going to take your wives away from you right before your eyes.
geThen Ifll give them to your neighbor.
geAnd then hefs going to have sex with your wives in broad daylight!
12geWhat you did in secret Ifm going to do right in front of all Israel and in broad daylight as well!fh
13At this point, David told Nathan, gI have sinned against the Lord.h
Nathan responded to David, gTherefs one other thing: the Lord has forgiven your sin. You wonft die. 14Nevertheless, because you have despised the Lordfs enemies with utter contempt, the son born to you will most certainly die.h 15Then Nathan went home.
After this, the Lord afflicted the child that Uriahfs wife had born to David, and the child became very ill. 16David begged God on behalf of the youngster. He fasted, went inside, and spent the night lying on the ground. 17His closest advisors at the palace got up, remained with him, and tried to help him get up from the ground, but he would not do so. He also wouldnft eat with them.
18A week later, the child died, and Davidfs staff was afraid to tell him that the child had died. They were telling themselves, gLook, when the child was still alive, we talked to him but he wouldnft listen to what we said. Now what kind of trouble will he bring on himself if we tell him that the child has died?h
19But as David observed his staff whispering together, he perceived that the child had died, so he asked his staff, gIs the child dead?h
They replied, gHe has died.h
20At this, David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the Lordfs tent to worship. Then he went back to his palace where, at his request, they served him food and he ate.
21His staff asked him, gWhatfs this about? When the child was alive, you fasted and cried. Now that the child has died, you get up and eat!h
22He answered, gWhen the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I asked myself, eWho knows? Maybe the Lord will show grace to me and the child will live.f 23But now that he has died, whatfs the point of fasting? Can I bring him back again? Ifll be going to be with him, but he wonft be returning to me.h
24Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba. He went in and had sex with her, and she bore a son whom he named Solomon. The Lord loved him, 25and sent a message written by Nathan the prophet to call his name Jedidiah, for the Lordfs sake.
26Meanwhile, Joab attacked the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its stronghold. 27Then Joab sent messengers to David to tell him, gI just attacked Rabbah and captured its municipal water supply, 28so call out the rest of the army, attack the city, and capture it. Otherwise, Ifll take the city myself and name it after me.h 29So David mustered his entire army and marched on Rabbah, attacked it, and captured it. 30He confiscated the crown of their king from his head\it weighed 75 pounds in gold and was set with precious stones\and it was placed on Davidfs head. He confiscated a great amount of war booty that had been plundered from the city, 31brought back the people who had lived in it, placing them under conscripted labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. He did this to every Ammonite city, and then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.
Chapter 13
1Sometime after this, Davidfs son Amnon fell in love with Davidfs other son Absalomfs beautiful sister Tamar. 2Amnon became so emotionally distressed that he fell sick over his half-sister Tamar. She was a virgin, and Amnon found it difficult to do anything to her.
3Meanwhile, Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of Davidfs brother Shimeah. Now Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4gWhy are you so depressed these past few mornings,h Jonadab asked Amnon, gsince youfre a son of the king? Why not tell me?h
Amnon replied, gIfm in love with my brother Absalomfs sister Tamar.h
5Jonadab advised him, gLie down and fake being sick. When your father visits you, ask him, ePlease let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat that she prepares especially for me, and after she makes dinner for me, let her feed it to me personally.fh
6So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to visit him, Amnon asked the king, gPlease let my sister Tamar come and make some of her bread especially for me, so she can feed it to me personally.h
7So David sent for Tamar back at the palace, telling her, gPlease go to your brother Amnonfs home and prepare some food for him.h 8Tamar went to her brother Amnonfs home, where he was lying down. She brought along some dough, kneaded it, prepared some cakes especially for him, baked them, 9and emptied the baking skillet just for him, but he refused to eat.
gSend everybody out of here,h Amnon said. So everyone left the room. 10Amnon told Tamar, gBring the food into my private bedroom, so I can eat it with you personally.h So Tamar took the cakes she had prepared and brought them into the private bedroom for her brother Amnon.
11But as soon as she brought them near him to eat, he overpowered her and told her, gCome here and have sex with me, my sister!h
12gNo, my brother!h she kept telling him. gDonft humiliate me like this! This just isnft done in Israel! Donft do this utterly foolish thing! 13And what about me? Where will I go to escape this disgrace? And as for you, youfll be known as one of Israelfs greatest fools! So please talk to the king, because he wonft withhold me from you!h
14But he was unwilling to listen to what she was saying. Since he was stronger than she was, he forced her into having sex with him. 15Afterwards, though, Amnon hated her very intensely. As a result, his hatred for her exceeded the love that he had previously for her. So Amnon told her, gGet up! Leave!h
16Even so, she tried to tell him, gNo! After all, itfs more wrong to send me away than what you just did to me!h
But he was unwilling to listen to her. 17So he called out to a young man who was serving him, and told him: gSend this woman away from me and lock the door after her.h
18Now she was clothed in a long sleeved, multi-colored ornamental tunic, commonly worn by the kingfs virgin daughters. When Amnonfs servant threw her out and locked the door after her, 19Tamar rubbed her head with ashes, tore her tunic that she was wearing, put her hand to her head, and ran off, crying aloud as she went away.
20Later, her brother Absalom asked her, gHas Amnon, that brother of yours, raped you? Then keep quiet about your half-brother for now, my sister. Stop taking this so personally.h From that time on, Tamar lived in continual desolation within her brother Absalomfs house. 21When King David heard all about these developments, he flew into a rage over it. 22But Absalom never said a word, either good or bad, to Amnon. Nevertheless, he hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.
23Two full years later, Absalom took some men to Baal-hazor near Ephraim to shear his sheep. He also invited all of the kingfs sons to come. 24Absalom had gone to the king to ask him, gIfve brought some men to shear the sheep. Wonft you please come and join me, along with your senior staff?h
25But King David declined, saying to Absalom, gNo, my son, we wonft all go, since that would be too much trouble for you.h Although Absalom begged David, he would not go, even though he did give his blessing.
26So Absalom responded, gIf you arenft coming, please allow my brother Amnon to accompany us.h
The king asked, gWhy should he go with you?h
27But Absalom kept begging David until he sent Amnon and all of Davidfs sons to accompany Absalom.
28Then Absalom instructed his young men, gPlease keep watching Amnon until hefs drunk. Then Ifll tell you, eAttack Amnon!f As soon as I do, kill him and donft be afraid! You have your orders, so be strong and brave!h 29So Absalomfs young men did to Amnon just as they had been ordered, but the rest of Davidfs sons jumped up, mounted their mules, and escaped.
30While they were still on the road, this rumor came to David: gAbsalom has struck down all of the kingfs sons and none of them has survived.h 31David arose, ripped his clothes in anguish, and collapsed to the ground while all of his staff stood by with their own clothes torn.
32But Davidfs brother Shimeahfs son Jonadab reported, gYour majesty, donft assume theyfve killed all of the young men\the kingfs sons\only Amnon has died, since that was Absalomfs intention from the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33Now your majesty, donft be concerned about this rumor that all the kingfs sons have died, because only Amnon is dead.h
34Meanwhile, Absalom had run away. While the young man standing watch was looking around, all of a sudden he observed many people coming down the road behind and to the west of the mountain! So the watchman left his post and reported, gI have seen men coming from the direction of Horonaim.h
35Jonadab told the king, gLook! Here come the kingfs sons. This thing has turned out just like your servant reported.h 36Just as he finished his comments, the kingfs sons arrived, crying loudly. At this, with tears overflowing, the king and his entire staff wept bitterly.
37Absalom continued to flee, eventually going to Ammihudfs son King Talmai of Geshur, while King David continued to mourn for his son every day. 38After fleeing to Geshur, Absalom remained there for three years. 39Meanwhile, King David longed to visit Absalom, since he was moved to compassion over Amnonfs death.
Chapter 14
1Meanwhile, Zeruiahfs son Joab knew that the kingfs attention was focused on Absalom, 2so he sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, gPlease play the role of a mourner, wear the clothes of a mourner, and refrain from using makeup. Act like a woman whofs been in mourning for the dead for many days. 3Then go to the king and speak to him like thisch Then Joab told her what to say.
4When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, prostrating herself to address him, gHelp, your majesty!h
5The king asked her, gWhatfs your problem?h
gIfve been a widowed woman ever since my husband died,h she answered. 6gYour humble servant used to have two sons, but they got into a fight out in the field. Because there was no one to keep them apart, one of them attacked the other and killed him. 7Now please pay attention closely! My whole family is attacking your humble servant! Theyfre saying, eTurn over the one who attacked his brother and wefll put him to death in retribution for his brother, whose life he took. That way, wefll kill the heir also!f Theyfre going to extinguish the only light left in my family, leaving my late husband neither an ongoing name nor a survivor on the face of the earth!h
8Then the king replied to the woman, gGo home and Ifll issue a special order just for you.h
9But the woman from Tekoa told the king, gYour majesty, let any guilt for this be on me and on my ancestorsf household, and not on my king or his throne!h
10The king replied, gBring anyone who talks to you about this to me, and he certainly wonft be bothering you anymore!h
11Then she said, gYour majesty, please remember the Lord your God, so that blood avengers donft do any more damage! Otherwise, theyfll destroy my son!h
So he promised, gAs the Lord lives, not even a single hair from your sonfs head will fall to the ground!h
12At this, the woman responded, gWould your majesty the king please allow your humble servant to say one more thing?h
gSay itch he replied.
13gWhy, then,h the woman asked, gare you planning to act just like this against Godfs people? Based on what your majesty has said, youfre acting like one who is guilty himself, because youfre not bringing back the one whom youfve banished! 14After all, even though we all die, and wefre all like water being spilled on the ground that cannot be recovered, nevertheless God doesnft take away life, but carries out his plans so as not to cast away permanently from him those who are presently estranged.
15gNow as to why Ifve come to speak with your majesty the king, itfs because the people have made me afraid, so your humble servant told herself, eIfll go speak to the king, so perhaps the king will do what his humble servant has requested. 16Perhaps the king will listen and deliver his humble servant from the oppression of the man who intends to eliminate both me and my son from what God has apportioned to us!f
17gSo your humble servant is saying, ePlease, your majesty, let what the king has to say be of comfort, because just as the angel of God is, so also is your majesty the king to discern both good and evil. And may the Lord your God remain present with you.fh
18In reply, the king asked the woman, gPlease donft conceal anything about which Ifm going to be asking you now.h
So the woman replied, gPlease, your majesty, let the king speak.h
19Then the king asked, gIs Joab behind all of this with you?h
gAs your soul lives, your majesty, the king,h the woman answered, gno one can divert anything left or right from what your majesty the king has spoken! As a matter of fact, it was your servant Joab! He was there, giving me precise orders about everything that your humble servant was to say. Your servant Joab did this, 20intending to change the outcome of this matter. Nevertheless, your majesty is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to be aware of everything thatfs going on throughout the earth.h
21Then the king addressed Joab, gLook! Ifll do this thing that youfve requested. Go bring back the young man Absalom.h
22At this, Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrating himself to bless the king, and then said, gToday your servant realizes that hefs found favor with you, your majesty, in that the king has acted on the request of his servant.h 23Then Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24Nevertheless, the king said, gLet him return to his own home and not show his face to me.h So Absalom returned to his own home and did not show his face to the king.
25Now throughout all of Israel no one was as handsome as Absalom or so highly praised, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there wasnft a single thing wrong about him. 26Whenever he cut his hair \he cut it at the end of every year, because it grew thick on his head, which is why he cut it\his hair weighed in at 200 shekels measured by the royal standard. 27Absalom fathered three sons and one daughter, whom he named Tamar. She was a beautiful woman, both in form and appearance.
28Meanwhile, Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but never saw the kingfs face. 29After this, Absalom sent for Joab, intending to send him to the king, but Joab would not come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but he still would not come. 30So Absalom told his servants, gObserve that Joabfs grain field lies next to mine. He has barley planted there. Go set it on fire.h So Absalomfs servants set the field on fire.
31At this, Joab got up, went to Absalomfs home, and demanded of him, gWhy did your servants set fire to my grain field?h
32In answer to Joab, Absalom replied, gLook, I sent for you, telling you eCome here so I can send you to the king to ask him gWhatfs the point in moving here from Geshur? I would have been better off to have remained there!hf So let me see the kingfs face, and if Ifm guilty of anything, let him execute me!h
33So when Joab approached the king and told him what Absalom had said, he summoned Absalom, who then came to the king and fell to the ground on his face in front of him. Then the king kissed Absalom.
Chapter 15
1Sometime later, Absalom acquired a chariot equipped with horses and recruited 50 men to accompany him. 2Then he would get up early, stand near the passageway to the palace gate, and when anyone arrived to file a legal complaint for a hearing before the king, Absalom would call to him and ask, gYoufre from what city?h If he replied, gYour servant is from one of Israelfs tribes,h 3Absalom would respond, gLook, your claims are valid and defensible, but nobody will listen to you on behalf of the king. 4Who will appoint me to be a judge in the land? When anyone arrived to file a legal complaint or other cause, he could approach me for justice and I would settle it!h 5Furthermore, if a man approached him to bow down in front of him, he would put out his hand, grab him, and embrace him. 6By doing all of this to anyone who came to the king for a hearing, Absalom stole the loyalty of the men of Israel.
7And so it was that forty years after Israel had demanded a king, Absalom asked the king, gPlease let me go to Hebron so I can pay my vow that I made to the Lord, 8because when I was living at Geshur in Aram, your servant made this solemn promise: eIf the Lord ever brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.fh
9The king replied to him, gGo in peace!h So Absalom got up and left for Hebron.
10But Absalom sent agents throughout all of the tribes of Israel, telling them, gWhen you hear the sound of the battle trumpet, youfre to announce that Absalom is king in Hebron.h 11Meanwhile, 200 men left Jerusalem with Absalom. They had been invited to go along, but were innocent, not knowing anything about what was happening. 12Absalom also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Davidfs counselor, to come from his home town of Giloh while Absalom was presenting the sacrificial offerings. And so the conspiracy widened, because the common people increasingly sided with Absalom.
13Then a messenger arrived to inform David, gThe loyalties of the men of Israel have shifted to Absalom.h
14So David told all of his staff who were with him in Jerusalem, gLetfs get up and get out of here! Otherwise, none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry, or hefll overtake us quickly, bring disaster on all of us, and execute the inhabitants of the city!h
15gLook!h the kingfs staff replied. gYour servants will do whatever the king chooses.h 16So the king left, taking his entire household with him except for ten mistresses, who were to keep the palace in order. 17The king left, along with all of his people with him, and they paused at the last house. 18All of his staff were going on ahead of him\that is, all of the special forces and mercenaries, all of the Gittites, and 600 men who had come to serve him from Gath, went on ahead of the king.
19Then the king suggested to Ittai the Gittite, gWhy should you have to go with us? Return and stay with the new king, since youfre a foreigner and exile. Stay where you want to stay. 20It seems only yesterday that you arrived, so should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your brothers with you. May gracious love and truth accompany you!h
21gAs the Lord lives,h Ittai answered in reply, gand as your majesty the king lives, wherever your majesty my king may be\whether living or dying\thatfs where your servant will be!h
22So David replied, gCome along, then!h So Ittai the Gittite went along also, accompanied by all of his men and all of his little ones. 23With all of the people in the territory crying loudly, everybody passed over the Kidron brook, along with the king. Then everyone headed out toward the road that leads to the wilderness.
24Meanwhile, Zadok showed up also, along with all of the descendants of Levi with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God and Abiathar approached while all the people finished abandoning the city. 25The king told Zadok, gTake the Ark of God back to the city. If Ifm shown favor in the Lordfs sight, then hefll bring me back again and show me both it and the place where it rests. 26But if he should say something like eIfm not pleased with you,f well then, here I am\let him do to me whatever seems right to him.h
27The king also asked Zadok the priest, gArenft you a seer, too? Go back to the city in comfort, along with your son Ahimaaz and Abiatharfs son Jonathan. 28Look! Ifll camp at the wilderness fords until you send word to inform me.h
29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the Ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there. 30David then left, going up the Mount of Olives, crying as he went, with his head covered and his feet bare. All of the people who were with him covered their own heads and climbed up the Mount of Olives, crying as they went along.
31Just then, someone told David, gAhithophel is one of Absalomfs conspirators!h
So David prayed, gLord, please turn Ahithophelfs counsel into foolishness.h
32Just as David was coming to the top of the Mount of Olives where God was being worshiped, there was Hushai the Archite to meet him, with his coat ripped and dust all over his head! 33David greeted him, gIf you come along with me, youfll be a burden to me. 34So go back to the city and tell Absalom, eIfll be your servant, your majesty! Just as I served your father in the past, I can be your servant now.f That way you can manipulate Ahithophelfs advice to my benefit. 35Wonft Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? So whatever you hear from the kingfs palace, youfre to report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Their two sons\Zadokfs son Ahimaaz and Abiatharfs son Jonathan\are with them there. Youfll be sending me everything that you hear through them.h 37So Davidfs friend Hushai went back to the city just as Absalom was arriving in Jerusalem.
Chapter 16
1Now just as David happened to have passed the summit of the Mount of Olives, suddenly Mephiboshethfs servant Ziba met him, accompanied by a couple of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit, and a skin of wine! 2The king asked Ziba, gWhat are those for?h
Ziba replied, gThe donkeys are for the kingfs household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for whoever wants to drink if they get weary in the wilderness.h
3Then the king asked, gWhere is your masterfs son?h
gHefs staying in Jerusalem!h Ziba answered the king. gHefs saying eThe nation of Israel will restore my fatherfs kingdom to me today!fh
4So the king told Ziba, gPay attention! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!h
In response Ziba said, gIfm submitting to you. Let me find favor in your sight, your majesty the king!h
5Later on, as King David approached Bahurim, Gerafs son Shimei, who was related to the family of Saulfs household, went out to meet David, cursing continuously as he came. 6He threw rocks at David and all of Davidfs staff who were accompanying him, while all the rest of the entourage, including all of Davidfs security detail, were close by him. 7gGet out of here! Get out!h Shimei yelled as he cursed. gYou murderer! You who think youfre above the law! 8The Lord has repaid you personally for murdering the entire dynasty of Saul, whose place youfve taken to reign! And the Lord has given the kingdom into your son Absalomfs control. Now look! Your own evil has caught up with you, because youfre guilty of murder!h
9At this point, Zeruiahfs son Abishai asked the king, gWhy should this dead dog be cursing your majesty the king? May I have permission to go over and cut off his head?h
10But the king responded, gWhat do I have in common with you sons of Zeruiah? If he continues to curse\and if the Lord has told him, eCurse David!f\then who are you to be demanding to know eWhy have you done this?fh
11So David ordered Abishai and all of his staff: gLook! My own son wants to kill me! How much more now is this descendant of Benjamin? Leave him alone and let him go on cursing, because the Lord has ordered him to do this. 12Perhaps the Lord will take note of my troubles and return good to me instead of curses today!h
13So David and his entourage went on their way, and Shimei walked along the hillside with him, cursing, throwing rocks, and tossing dirt at David as they went along. 14Eventually, the king and his entourage arrived exhausted at their destination, and David refreshed himself there.
15Right about then, Absalom and his entourage from the people of Israel entered Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. 16When Davidfs friend Hushai the Archite approached Absalom, Hushai greeted Absalom, gLong live the king! Long live the king!h
17But Absalom asked Hushai, gSo this is how you demonstrate your loyalty to your closest friends? Why didnft you leave with your friend?h
18Hushai replied, gNo! On the contrary, whomever the Lord, this group, and all the men of Israel choose is where Ifll be, and Ifll remain with him! 19Besides, who else should I be serving? Why not the son? The same way I served your father, Ifll serve you.h
20So Absalom asked Ahithophel, gWhatfs your advice? What should we do?h
21Ahithophel responded, gGo inside and have sex with your fatherfs mistresses, whom he left to keep the palace in order. Then everyone in Israel will hear how your father has come to hate you and everyone who has joined you will be emboldened to act.h 22So they erected a tent for Absalom on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his fatherfs mistresses right in front of all Israel.
23Now Ahithophelfs advice that he provided at that time was being compared to one who inquired of God, so highly regarded was Ahithophelfs counsel by both David and Absalom.
Chapter 17
1gGive me 12,000 men! Ifll leave tonight and pursue David,h Ahithophel advised Absalom. 2gIfll catch him while he is still tired and weak. Ifll frighten him so all his people with him desert him. But Ifll only kill the king. 3Then Ifll bring everybody else back to you. When the man youfre looking for is dead, all the rest of the people will return quietly.h
4Even though this plan seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all of the elders of Israel, 5Absalom replied, gCall in Hushai the Archite so I can hear what he has to say, too!h 6When Hushai approached Absalom, Absalom asked him, gHerefs what Ahithophel had to advise. Should we do what he says? Or if not, say so!h
7gAhithophelfs advice is not best at this time,h Hushai suggested to Absalom. 8gYou know how strong your father and his men are. Theyfre as mad as a bear robbed of her cubs! Furthermore, your father is a skilled warrior. He wonft stay with his army at night. 9Look! Hefs probably already hiding in a cave or someplace like that. If the first attack fails, people will hear about it and think, eAbsalomfs army is losing!f 10Then even men who would otherwise be as brave as lions will be scared, because every Israeli knows your father is a mighty man, and they know his men are valiant! 11So herefs my advice: Muster everybody from one end of the country to the other! Youfll have an army in number like the sand on the seashore! Then youfll go into battle! 12Wefll go find David wherever hefs hiding. Wefll fall on him like dew on the ground! Wefll kill him and all of his men, and we wonft leave even one man alive! 13If he escapes into a city, wefll bring ropes to that city and tear it down! We wonft leave a single stone left in the valley!h
14Absalom and all of the Israelis replied, gThe advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophelfs!h
But the Lord had planned to circumvent the sound advice of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring Absalom to destruction. 15So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported what he himself had proposed. Hushai said, 16gQuick! Get word to David! Tell him not to spend the night at the crossings that lead to the desert. Instead, he must cross the Jordan River immediately. That way, if he crosses the river, the king and his entourage will survive.h
17Meanwhile, since they could not risk being seen entering the city, Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been waiting at En-rogel, where a young servant woman was to go to inform them and they would then go brief King David. 18But a young man observed Jonathan and Ahimaaz and informed Absalom, so they left in a hurry, arrived at the home of a man who lived at Bahurim, and hid inside a well that was in his courtyard. 19The manfs wife grabbed a sheet, covered the mouth of the well with it, and spread some dried grain over it. As a result, nobody could tell it was a hiding place.
20When Absalomfs servants approached the woman of the house, they asked her, gWhere are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?h
gTheyfve already crossed the brook,h the woman answered. So Absalomfs servants went away in search of Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they couldnft find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21A little while later, the men crawled up out of the well and went off to talk to King David. They told David, gGet up! Cross the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel advised about youch 22So David got up and all of his entourage crossed the Jordan River. Everyone had crossed the Jordan River by dawnfs first light.
23Meanwhile, when Ahithophel observed that his counsel was not being acted upon, he saddled his donkey, got up, and left for his hometown. Leaving behind a set of orders for his household, he hanged himself. After his death he was buried in his fatherfs tomb.
24Later, David arrived at Mahanaim. Absalom and all of the Israelis who supported him crossed the Jordan River. 25Absalom had installed Amasa in place of Joab over the army. (Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite. His mother was Abigail, a daughter of Nahash and a sister of Zeruiah, Joabfs mother.) 26Absalom and the Israelis with him camped in the territory of Gilead. 27When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi (Nahashfs son from the Ammonite town of Rabbah), Makir (Ammielfs son from Lo-debar), and Barzillai (from Rogelim in Gilead) were already there. 28They brought along bedding, bowls, clay basins, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grains, beans, peas, 29honey, cheeses, sheep, and cheese made from cowfs milk for David and his entourage because they had been reasoning, gThe people are hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the wilderness.h
Chapter 18
1David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies. 2Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiahfs son Abishai, Joabfs brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, gIfm going out to battle with you, too.h
3gNo way!h his army responded. gIf we have to retreat from the battle, Absalomfs men wonft care about us. Even if half of us die, they wonft care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in the city.h
4So David responded, gIfll do what you think best.h Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands. 5As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, gTreat young Absalom gently for my sake.h Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about Absalom.
6Davidfs army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest, 7where Davidfs army of servants defeated the Israelis. Many died that day\20,000 men. 8The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting.
9Absalom happened to run into Davidfs soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalomfs head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground. 10When one of the soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, gI saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!h
11Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, gWhat! You saw him? Why didnft you kill him right then and there? I wouldfve given you ten pieces of silver and a warriorfs sash!h
12But the soldier replied to Joab, gI wouldnft have touched the kingfs son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, eWatch how you treat the young man Absalom!f 13If I had taken his life, the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!h
14gTherefs no reason to wait for you!h Joab retorted. Then he took three spears in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of the oak tree. 15Ten young men who served as Joabfs personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him. 16At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other Israelis. 17Meanwhile, Joabfs army grabbed Absalomfs body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes.
18While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument to himself in Kingfs Valley because he had been telling himself, gI donft have a son to carry on my family name.h So he named the pillar after himself\itfs called Absalomfs Monument even today.
19Zadokfs son Ahimaaz told Joab, gLet me run over to King David and take him the news. Ifll mention that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.h
20But Joab answered Ahimaaz, gYoufre not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the kingfs son is dead.h 21So Joab ordered a man from Ethiopia, gGo tell the king what youfve seen.h So the Ethiopian saluted Joab and then ran to tell David.
22gPlease,h Zadokfs son Ahimaaz continued, gNo matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!h
Joab asked him, gWhy this request to run, my son? Therefs no reward in it for you.h
23gNo matter what, Ifm running,h Ahimaaz replied.
So Joab told Ahimaaz, gRun!h And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian.
24Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself! 25So the watchman called out his news to the king.
The king responded, gIf hefs alone, hefs bringing some news to report.h As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace, 26the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, gTherefs another man running by himself!h
The king replied, gHefs also bringing some news to report!h
27Then the watchman observed, gIt looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadokfs son Ahimaaz!h
The king replied, gThis is a good man bearing good news!h
28gEverythingfs fine!h Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground before the king and said, gPraise be to the Lord your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king.h
29gAre things fine with respect to the young man Absalom?h the king asked.
Ahimaaz answered, gI saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the kingfs courier and me, your servant, but Ifm not sure what was going on.h
30The king replied, gStand here at attention and wait.h So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting.
31Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He reported, gGood news, your majesty the king! The Lord has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!h
32The king asked the Ethiopian, gIs the young man safe?h
The Ethiopian answered, gMay the enemies of your majesty the king\including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you\become like that young manc.h
33Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, gMy son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!h
Chapter 19
1Someone informed Joab, gThe king is weeping bitterly, mourning for Absalom.h 2The victory had become an occasion for the army to mourn, because on that very day the troops heard the announcement, gThe king is grieving for his son!h 3So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after theyfve run away from a battle.
4Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, gMy son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!h
5Joab went up to the palace and rebuked the king: gToday youfve humiliated your entire army who just saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and mistresses! 6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! Youfve made it abundantly clear today that your officers and the men under them mean nothing to you! Ifve learned today that you would rather have Absalom alive today and all the rest of us dead! 7Now get up and restore the morale of your army. I swear by the Lord that if you donft get out there, you wonft have a single man left in your army by nightfall! Youfll be in more trouble today than all the disasters youfve been through from your boyhood until now!h 8So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the army was informed, gThe king is sitting in the gateway!h they all gathered together in his presence.
Meanwhile, the Israelis had run away back to their own homes. 9Throughout the tribes of Israel, everyone was quarreling with one another:
gThe king delivered us from the domination of our enemiesc.h
gHefs the one who rescued us from Philistine controlc.h
gNow hefs fleeing the country because of Absalomc!h
10gThe very same Absalom we anointed to rule just died in battlec!h
gNow then, why remain silent about bringing the king backc?h
11So King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: gAsk the elders of Judah, eWhy are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, considering that whatfs being reported throughout all of Israel has come to the king at his palace? 12Youfre my relatives! Youfre my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last to bring back the king?f 13Then ask Amasa, eArenft you my own flesh and blood? So may God deal with me, no matter how severely, if from this day forward you donft take Joabfs place as commander of my army.f
14By doing things like this, he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him. They sent the king this message: gCome on back, you and all of your army!h 15So the king returned to Israel as far as the Jordan River.
The men of Judah went out as far as Gilgal to greet the king and escort him across the Jordan River 16while Gerafs son Shimei, a descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim, accompanied them to meet King David. 17Ziba, the steward in charge of Saulfs household, and 1,000 descendants of Benjamin accompanied him, along with Zibafs fifteen sons and 20 servants. They rushed toward the Jordan River ahead of the king 18and forded it to assist the king at the crossing so he could do whatever he wished.
Just as the king was about to ford the Jordan River, Gerafs son Shimei fell down in front of the king 19and addressed him, gMay your majesty not hold me guilty. Donft remember how your servant did wrong the day your majesty the king left Jerusalem. May the king not let it burden his heart, 20because your servant knows that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first one from the entire house of Joseph to meet your majesty the king.h
21But Zeruiahfs son Abishai asked, gWhy shouldnft Shimei be put to death for this? After all, he cursed the Lordfs anointed!h
22David replied, gWhat do you sons of Zeruiah have in common with me? Youfve become my enemies today! Should anyone be executed in Israel today? Donft you know that Ifve been reinstated as king over Israel today?h 23Then the king addressed Shimei, gYou wonft die!h affirming his promise with an oath.
24Meanwhile, Saulfs grandson Mephibosheth also went out to greet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, gSo why didnft you come with me, Mephibosheth?h
26He replied, gWell, your majesty, since your servant is lame, I told myself, eIfll have my donkey saddled and Ifll ride on it so I can leave with the king.f But my servant Ziba deceived me 27by slandering your servant to your majesty. But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. 28Everyone from my grandfatherfs household deserved nothing but death from your majesty the king, but you provided a place for your servant among those who have been eating from your table. So what right do I have to ask for anything more from the king?h
29In response, the king told him, gWhatfs the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields.h
30But Mephibosheth told the king, gLet him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace.h
31Barzillai the Gileadite also had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king and to see him on his way from there. 32Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim. 33So the king invited Barzillai, gCross the Jordan River with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and Ifll provide for you there.h
34gHow many more years do I have to live,h Barzillai replied to the king, gthat I should move to Jerusalem with the king? 35Ifm now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes good or bad! I canft tell what I eat or drink! I canft hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king? 36Your servant will cross the Jordan River with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward? 37Please let your servant return so I can die in my own home town near the grave of my father and mother. Meanwhile, here is your servant Chimham! Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you.h
38So the king answered, gChimham will accompany me, and Ifll do for him whatever seems best to you! Ifll do anything for you that you want!h 39Then all the people crossed the Jordan River, followed by the king. The king embraced Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai returned to his home. 40As the king crossed over the Jordan River to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel.
41Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him, gWhy did our relatives in Judahfs army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River, along with Davidfs army?h
42Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, gWe did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off the kingfs expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?h
43But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: gWe represent ten of the tribes of Israel! So we have more right to David than you do! Why havenft you taken us seriously? Werenft we the first to talk about bringing back our king?h But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.
Chapter 20
1Right about then, Bichrifs son Sheba, an ungodly man from the tribe of Benjamin, sounded a battle trumpet and announced:
Wefve never been a part of David!
Wefll never gain anything from Jessefs son!
Itfs every man to his tent, Israel!
2So all of the other Israeli soldiers abandoned David to follow Bichrifs son Sheba, while the army of Judah remained with the king all the way from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.
3When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, the king took the ten mistresses whom he had left behind to keep the palace in order and placed them in a separate house, providing for them under the care of a protective guard. He never visited them again, so they were under care until they died, living as if their husbands had died.
4Meanwhile, David ordered Amasa, gMuster the army of Judah here within three days, and be here yourself!h
5But when Amasa went out to muster the army of Judah, he delayed to act within the time allotted to him. 6So David told Abishai, gNow Bichrifs son Sheba is about to do more damage than did Absalom. So take my personal guards and go after them. Otherwise, hefll run to one of the fortified cities and escape from us.h 7So Joabfs men, the special forces and mercenaries, and all of Davidfs elite forces left Jerusalem in pursuit of Bichrifs son Sheba.
8When they arrived at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet them. Joab was dressed in a soldierfs uniform, over which was a belt that fastened a sword sheath to his thigh. As he walked forward, the sword was exposed. 9Joab asked Amasa, gIs everything going well with you, my brother?h As Joab took Amasa by his beard to greet him, 10Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground in a single stroke and killing him. After this, Joab and his brother pursued Bichrifs son Sheba.
11One of Joabfs soldiers stood by Amasa while he lay dying and announced, gWhoever is in favor of Joab and David, let him follow Joab.h 12While Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway, everybody who passed by was stopping to stare at him, so when the soldier saw that all of the army was stopping, he carried Amasa off the highway into a nearby field and covered him with a garment. 13After Amasa had been removed from the highway, the rest of the army followed Joab in pursuit of Bichrifs son Sheba.
14Meanwhile, Sheba traveled throughout the tribes of Israel in the direction of Abel and Beth-maacah, and all of the descendants of Beri gathered together and followed him inside. 15All of the men who had accompanied Joab arrived and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They threw up a siege ramp against the city rampart and began to batter the wall to demolish it. 16Just then a wise woman called out from the city. gAttention!h she said, gGo tell Joab eCome here! I want to talk to you!fh 17Joab came over and the woman asked him, gAre you Joab?h
gI am,h he answered.
So she told him, gListen to what your servant has to say!h
gIfm listening,h he replied.
18So she said, gIn days past, people used to settle a dispute by saying eLetfs ask for advice at Abel!f 19Ifm one of the peaceful and faithful citizens of Israel. Youfre trying to destroy a city thatfs a mother in Israel. Why are you devouring the heritage of the Lord?h
20But Joab replied, gNo way! No way! Ifm not here to devour or destroy! 21Thatfs a lie! But there is a man from the Ephraim hill country\hefs known as Bichrifs son Sheba\who has rebelled against King David. Turn him over and Ifll withdraw from the city!h
So the woman replied, gWatch this! His head will be thrown to you over the city wall.h 22Then the woman wisely went back to her people. They cut off the head of Bichrifs son Sheba and threw it out to Joab, so Joab sounded his battle trumpet and they withdrew from the city. Everybody went back home and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.
23Joab commanded the entire army of Israel, Jehoiadafs son Benaiah commanded the special forces and mercenaries, 24Adoram supervised conscripted labor, Ahiludfs son Jehoshaphat was the recorder, 25Sheva was secretary, Zadok and Abiathar were priests, 26and Ira the Jairite was Davidfs priest.
Chapter 21
1One time there was a famine during Davidfs reign that went on for three straight years. David sought the Lord, who said, gSaul and his household are guilty because he executed the Gibeonites.h
2So the king called together the Gibeonites and conferred with them. Now the Gibeonites werenft part of the nation of Israel, but were the survivors from the Amorites. Although the Israelis had promised to spare them, Saul had started to execute them in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.
3So David asked the Gibeonites, gWhat am I to do for you? How am I to make atonement so that you will bless the Lordfs heritage?h
4gWefre not looking for mere silver or gold to be paid by Saul or his household to us,h the Gibeonites responded to him. gAnd itfs not for us to execute anyone in Israel.h
In reply, David asked, gSo what are you asking me to do for you?h
5They told the king, gThe man who consumed us, who planned our destruction\intending to leave us with nothing in the territory of Israel\ 6is to have seven of his sons turned over to us. We will hang them in the presence of the Lord at Gibeah, which belonged to Saul, whom the Lord chose.h
So the king answered, gI will give them.h 7The king exempted Mephibosheth, the son of Saulfs son Jonathan, because of the promise to the Lord that existed between David and Saulfs son Jonathan.
8Instead, the king arrested Aiahfs daughter Rizpahfs two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth, whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Saulfs daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Barzillai the Meholathitefs son Adriel. 9Then he turned them over to the custody of the Gibeonites, who hanged them on the mountain in the presence of the Lord. All seven of them died at the same time. They were executed during the first days of harvest, just as the barley began to be gathered in.
10Then Aiahfs daughter Rizpah grabbed some sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock where her children had been hanged from the beginning of harvest until the first rain fell from the sky. She would not allow any scavenger birds to land on them during the day nor the beasts of the field to approach them at night.
11When David was informed what Rizpah, the daughter of Saulfs mistress had done, 12David had Saulfs bones and the bones of his son Jonathan removed from the custody of certain men from Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square in Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them\that is, back on the day when the Philistines had killed Saul on Mount Gilboa. 13He brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there along with the bones of those who had been hanged, 14and they buried Saulfs bones and his son Jonathanfs bones in the territory of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Saulfs father Kish. After they had done everything that the king commanded, God responded to prayers for the land.
15Afterwards, war broke out between the Philistines and Israel, so David went down to fight the Philistines. David became weary, 16and Ishbi-benob, who had been fathered by giants, said he intended to kill David. (His bronze spearhead weighted 300 shekels, and he carried state-of-the-art weaponry.) 17But Zeruiahfs son Abishai came to Davidfs aid, attacked the Philistine, and killed him. After this, Davidfs army told him, gYoufre not going out anymore with us to battle, so Israelfs beacon wonft be extinguished!h 18Sometime later after this incident, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who had been fathered by giants. 19In yet another battle at Gob, Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemitefs son Elhanan killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear resembled that of a weaverfs beam. 20Later on, there was another battle at Gath, where there was a very tall man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot\24 in number\who had also been fathered by giants. 21When he defied Israel, Davidfs brother Shimeahfs son Jonathan killed him. 22These four giants, who had been fathered by a giant in Gath, were killed at the hands of David and his servants.
Chapter 22
1David composed the words of this song to the Lord the very day the Lord delivered him from the domination of all of his enemies, including from Saulfs hands. 2This is what he said:
Lord, you are my stone stronghold
and my fortified place;
you are continually delivering me.
3He is my God,
my strong stone\
in him I will find my refuge\
my shield,
the strength of my salvation,
my high tower,
my way of escape,
and the one who is saving me.
You will save me from violence.
4As I am praising him,
I will call out to the Lord,
and I will be saved from my enemies.
5Because deadly breakers engulfed me,
while torrents of abuse from the ungodly overwhelmed me.
6Binding ropes from Sheol entangled me
while lethal snares hindered me.
7I cried out to the Lord in the middle of my troubles;
I cried out to my God.
He listened to my voice from his sanctuary,
and my call for help was heard.
8Just then the earth shook and trembled!
The foundations of heaven reeled and quaked
because the Lord was angry.
9Smoke poured out of his nostrils,
and fire from his mouth
kindling coals to flame by it.
10He deformed heaven itself as he descended.
Thick darkness enveloped his feet.
11He rode on a cherub and flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind!
12The darkness around him was his canopies\
amassed water was his overhanging clouds!
13From the shining light that was his presence
coals of fire blazed into flame!
14The Lord roared from heaven!
The Most High let his voice be heard!
15He launched his arrows and scattered them\
his lightning routed them.
16The currents of the sea were revealed
and the foundations of the world were exposed
at the rebuke of the Lord
and at the blazing breath from his nostrils!
17He sent for me from on high!
He grabbed hold of me,
drawing me out of deep water.
18He rescued me from my strong enemy\
from those who continually hate me,
since they were stronger than I.
19They confronted me when I was in trouble,
but the Lord remained my support!
20He brought me to a wide open area,
rescuing me because he was pleased with me!
21The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness,
rewarding me according to the degree of my innocence,
22because I have kept the Lordfs way\
I havenft willfully abandoned my God\
23and because all of his decrees remain in my thoughts,
I have not turned aside from his statutes,
24I have been innocent before him,
and Ifve kept myself from incurring guilt.
25The Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness,
that is, according to my clean standing as he looks at me.
26In the company of the gracious
you demonstrate your gracious love.
In the company of the blamelessly valiant
you demonstrate your blamelessness.
27In the company of the pure
you demonstrate your purity.
In the company of the perverted
you will appear to be perverse.
28You save the nation who is humble
but your eyes watch the proud,
to bring them down.
29For you are my lamp, Lord,
the Lord who illuminates my darkness.
30By you I devastate armies,
by my God I scale walls.
31This God! His way is perfect!
What the Lord declares proves true.
He shields everyone who flees for protection to him!
32For who is God apart from the Lord?
And who is a Rock, apart from our God?
33This God is my strong place of valor!
He has made my life blameless.
34He has made my feet like those of a deer,
setting me secure on his high places!
35He has trained my hands for battle readiness\
I can bend a bow made out of bronze.
36He has equipped me with the shield that is your salvation,
Your gentleness has made me great.
37Youfve made room beneath me for my footsteps,
and my feet didnft slip.
38I pursued my enemies and conquered them;
I didnft return until they were consumed.
39I devoured them,
striking them down
until they could not get up again.
They fell beneath my feet.
40You strengthened me with valor sufficient for the battle;
you made those who rebelled against me fall beneath me.
41You made my enemies turn and run,\
that is, those who hate me\
and I destroyed them!
42They looked around, but there was no one to save them\
they looked to the Lord, but he paid no attention!
43I pulverized them to powder,
like the dust of the earth;
I crushed them,
stomping on them like mud on a street.
44You delivered me from civil war among my own people.
You preserved me as head of the nations.
People whom I had never known served me!
45Foreigners came cringing to me;
they obeyed as soon as they heard me.
46Foreigners lost their courage,
coming trembling from their strongholds.
47The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock,
and may my God be exalted,
the Rock who is my salvation!
48The God who keeps on avenging me,
subjugating people beneath me,
49delivering me from my enemies.
You exalted me above those who rebelled against me,
delivering me from violent men.
50Because of all of this I will praise you among the nations, Lord,
and I will sing praises to your name!
51Great is the salvation he brings to his king,
showing gracious love to his anointed,
to David and to his offspring forever.
Chapter 23
1This was Davidfs last composition:
The oracle of David, son of Jesse,
an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted\
anointed by the God of Jacob,
the contented psalm writer of Israel.
2The Spirit of the Lord speaks within me;
his word is on my tongue!
3The God of Israel has spoken;
the Rock of Israel has talked to me.
gWhen one is governing men justly,
he fears God while governing.
4He is like dawnfs first light,
like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning,
glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower.
5Is not my dynasty like this with God?
Has he not made an eternal covenant with me,
preparing every detail of it?
And he has made it secure,
including my complete salvation, has he not?
He has been of continual help, has he not,
even with the parts he has not yet brought about?
6But ungodly men are like thorns that are discarded
because they cannot be safely handled.
7Whoever handles them
wears heavy duty clothing,
carries strong tools,
and burns them to ashes on the spot!
8Herefs a list of the names of Davidfs special forces: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite was head of the Three; he was nicknamed Adino the Eznite because he killed 800 men in a single battle engagement.
9Next was Dodai the Ahohitefs son Eleazar. Eleazar, who also was one of the Three, was with David when they challenged the Philistines. When the Philistines had assembled in battle array, the Israeli army retreated, 10but Eleazar remained standing right where he was and fought so hard against the Philistines that he became exhausted\he couldnft even let go of his sword! The Lord magnificently delivered them that day. After Eleazar had won the battle, the other soldiers returned, but only to strip the weapons and armor from the dead.
11Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararitefs son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight in a field where lentils had been growing. Israelfs army retreated from the Philistines, 12but Shammah stood his ground in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the Lord brought about a great victory.
13One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants, three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam. 14David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
15David expressed his longing, gOh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well thatfs by the city gate!h 16So the Three elite warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out in the Lordfs presence, 17and said, gThe Lord forbid that I drink this\this is the blood of men who endangered their own lives!h The Three elite warriors did these things.
18Zeruiahfs son Abishai, Joabfs brother, was the lieutenant in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. 19He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to the Three.
20Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named Ariel from Moab and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. 21He also killed a soldier from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptianfs hand and killed him with his own spear. 22Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors. 23He was well known among the platoons, but he didnft measure up to the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.
24Among the Thirty were Joabfs brother Asahel, Dodofs son Elhanan of Bethlehem, 25Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod, 26Helez the Paltite, Ikkeshfs son Ira from Tekoa, 27Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29Baanahfs son Heleb from Netophah, Ribaifs son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin, 30Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area, 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim, 32Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashenfs sons, 33Shammahfs son from Harar, Sharar the Hararitefs son Ahiam, 34Ahasbai the Maacathitefs son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonitefs son Eliam, 35Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36Nathanfs son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiahfs son Joab), 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39and Uriah the Hittite\for a total of 37.
Chapter 24
1Later, Godfs anger blazed forth against Israel, so he incited David to move against them by telling him, gGo take a census of Israel and Judah.h
2So the king ordered Joab, commander of the special forces, who was with him, gGo throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and take a census of the people so I can be made aware of the total number.h
3But Joab replied, gMay the Lord your God increase the population of the people a hundredfold while your majesty the king is still alive to see it happen! But why does your majesty the king want to do this?h
4But the kingfs order overruled Joab and the commanders of the special forces, so Joab and the commanders of the special forces left Davidfs presence to take a census of the people of Israel. 5They crossed the Jordan River, encamped at Aroer south of the town that is located in the river valley, proceeding through Gad and then on toward Jazer. 6They went on to Gilead and the territory of Tahtim-hodshi, then on toward Dan. From Dan they went around to Sidon 7and arrived at the fortified city of Tyre and all of the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites.
Eventually they proceeded to Beer-sheba in the Judean Negev. 8After they had traveled throughout the entire land, they returned to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and 20 days. 9Joab reported the total number of men to the king. In Israel there were 800,000 men trained for war. In Judah there were 500,000.
10Later, Davidfs conscience bothered him after he had numbered the army, so David told the Lord, gI have sinned greatly by what I did. But now I am asking you, please remove the guilt of your servant, since I have acted very foolishly.h
11Before David arose the next morning, this message from the Lord came to Gad, Davidfs seer: 12gGo tell David, eThis is what the Lord says: gIfm holding three choices out for you: pick one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you.hfh
13So Gad went to David and asked him, gShall seven years of famine come to your land, or three months of reversals while you flee from your enemies as they pursue you, or three days of pestilence in your land? Decide right now what I am to answer to the one who sent me.h
14So David replied to Gad, gThis is a very difficult choice for me to make! Let me now please fall into the hand of the Lord, since his mercy is very great, but may I never fall into human hands!h
15That very morning, the Lord sent a pestilence to Israel until the conclusion of the time designated, and 70,000 men died from Dan to Beer-sheba. 16As the angel was stretching out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord was grieved because of the calamity, so he told the angel who was afflicting the people, gEnough! Stay your hand!h So the angel of the Lord remained near the threshing floor that belonged to Araunah the Jebusite.
17When David saw the angel who had been attacking the people, he told the Lord, gLook, Ifm the one who has sinned! I did the evil. These are only sheep! What did they do? Please, let your hand fall on me and on my household!h
18That very day, Gad approached David and told him, gGo up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor that belongs to Araunah the Jebusite.h 19So David went up, just as Gad had ordered, consistent with the Lordfs command.
20When Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his staff approaching him. Araunah went out, bowed down before the king with his face on the ground, 21and asked him, gWhy has your majesty the king come to his servant?h
David replied, gTo purchase your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord, so the pestilence can be averted from the people.h
22Araunah responded to David, gMay your majesty the king take it and offer whatever pleases him. Here are oxen for a burnt offering, along with the threshing sledges and yokes from the oxen for wood! 23Your majesty, Araunah gives all of this to the king.h Araunah also told the king, gMay the Lord your God be pleased with you!h
24gNo!h the king replied to Araunah. gI will buy them from you at full price. I wonft offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.h So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 silver shekels, 25built an altar to the Lord there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord answered Davidfs prayers for the land and the pestilence on Israel was averted.
First Kings
Chapter 1
1When David had grown very old, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm, 2so his servants suggested to him, gLetfs look for a young virgin woman to take care of you, your majesty. She will be of use to you if you have her lie down near you so that your majesty may keep warm.h 3So they conducted a search throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and Abishag the Shunammite was located and brought to the king. 4The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her.
5Meanwhile, about this time Haggithfs son Adonijah began to seek a reputation for himself and decided, gIfm going to be king!h So he prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 soldiers to serve as a security detail to guard him. 6His father had never challenged him at any time during his life by asking him, gWhy are you acting like this?h Adonijah was very handsome and had been born after Absalom. 7He had the support of Zeruiahfs son Joab and of Abiathar the priest, who followed Adonijah and assisted him, 8but Zadok the priest, Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and Davidfs personal elite forces would have nothing to do with Adonijah.
9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the Serpent Stone near En-rogel, inviting all of his relatives, the kingfs sons, and all of the men of Judah who worked for the king, 10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, Davidfs personal elite forces, or his brother Solomon.
11gHavenft you heard?h Nathan asked Solomonfs mother Bathsheba. gHaggithfs son Adonijah has become king and David, our true king, isnft aware of it. 12If you listen to me, youfll save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Go right now to King David and ask him, eYour majesty, you promised your servant that gYour son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne,h didnft you? So why has Adonijah become king?f 14Then, while you are still talking to the king, Ifll come in after you and verify your statement.h
15So Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him. 16Bathsheba knelt and bowed down to the king, and the king asked her, gWhat do you wish?h
17gYour majesty,h she replied, gyou promised your servant in the name of the Lord your God, eYour son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne.f 18Now look, Adonijah has become king, and your majesty is not aware of it. 19Adonijah has sacrificed myriads of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and he has invited all of the kingfs sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 20And as for you, your majesty, everyone in Israel is looking to you to tell them who will sit on your majestyfs throne after you. 21Otherwise, as soon as your majesty is laid to rest with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be branded as traitors.h
22While she was still talking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23They informed the king, gNathan the prophet is here.h
When he had been ushered into the presence of the king, Nathan bowed low in front of the king with his face to the ground 24and asked, gYour majesty, did you say eAdonijah will be king after me and will sit on my thronef? 25Well now, he went down today and sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and has invited all the kingfs sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. Theyfre having a party together and saying, eLong live King Adonijah!f 26Of course, he never invited me, Zadok the priest, Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, nor your servant Solomon. 27Were you behind this, your majesty, without letting your servants know who would sit on your majestyfs throne after him?h
28gCall Bathsheba for me,h King David replied. So she came in and stood in front of the king. 29gAs the Lord lives,h the king said with an oath, gwho has redeemed me from all sorts of troubles, 30I certainly did tell you in the name of the Lord God of Israel, eYour son Solomon will be king after me and will sit on my throne in my place.f Ifm certainly going to make this happen today!h
31gKing David,h Bathsheba said as she bowed low in front of the king with her face to the ground, gyour majesty, may you live forever.h
32gGet me Zadok the priest,h King David said, galong with Nathan the prophet, and Jehoiadafs son Benaiah.h So they were ushered into the kingfs presence 33and David addressed them. gTake your lordfs servants, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. 34Have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then sound a trumpet and declare eLong live King Solomon!f 35After this, you are to follow him back here, and he is to come and sit on my throne and take my place as king, because Ifve appointed him to be Commander-in-Chief over Israel and Judah.h
36gAmen!h replied Jehoiadafs son Benaiah to the king. gMay the Lord God of your majesty make this happen! 37As the Lord has been with your majesty the king, so may he be with Solomon. May he make his throne greater than the throne of your majesty, King David.h
38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, the special forces and mercenaries went out and had Solomon ride the kingfs mule all the way to Gihon. 39Zadok the priest brought from his tent a horn filled with oil and anointed Solomon, a trumpet was sounded, and everybody yelled out, gLong live King Solomon!h 40All the people followed after him, playing on wind pipes and so full of joy that the earth shook because of all the noise!
41Right about then, Adonijah and all of his guests were just finishing their meal when they heard all the noise. gWhy is the city in such an uproar?h Joab asked as he heard the trumpet sounds.
42While he was still asking that question, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest arrived, so Adonijah told him, gCome on in, since youfre a worthy man and are bringing us good news!h
43gNo,h Jonathan answered. gOur lord King David has installed Solomon as king. 44The king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, the special forces and mercenaries, along with Solomon, who is riding the kingfs personal mule. 45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him in Gihon, and they just left from there rejoicing, and thatfs why the city is all in an uproar. Thatfs the noise that youfve been hearing! 46Solomon now sits on the royal throne. 47In addition to all of this, the kingfs servants have come along to congratulate our lord King David. Theyfve been telling David eMay your God make Solomonfs reputation even more famous than yours, and may he make his throne greater than yours!f The king has himself bowed in worship on his own bed 48and said eBlessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has provided someone to sit on my throne today. Ifve seen it with my own eyes!fh
49Terrified, all of Adonijahfs guests jumped up and ran away. 50Afraid of Solomon, Adonijah also jumped up and headed straight for the horns of the altar.
51gHey look!h somebody informed Solomon. gAdonijah is terrified of King Solomon! Hefs gone out, grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, and now hefs begging King Solomon, eSwear to me that you wonft put your servant to death with a sword!fh
52gIf hefs done nothing wrong, not a hair of his head will be harmed,h Solomon replied. gBut if we find evil in him, hefs a dead man.h
53So King Solomon sent for him, and he was brought down from the altar. When he had arrived, he fell on his face in front of King Solomon, so Solomon told him, gGo home!h
Chapter 2
1As Davidfs time to die approached, he addressed his son Solomon with these words:
2gIfm headed down the road that everyone who lives on earth travels, so be strong and demonstrate that youfre a grown man 3by keeping the charge that the Lord your God entrusted to you. Live life his way, keep his statutes, his commands, his ordinances, and his testimonies, just as theyfre written down in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in everything you do and wherever you go, 4and so that the Lord may fulfill his promise that he spoke about me when he said, eIf your sons pay attention to how they live by walking truthfully in my presence with all their heart and with all their soul, you will never lack a man on the throne of Israel.f
5gFurthermore, youfre aware of what Zeruiahfs son Joab did to me and to those two commanders of the armies of Israel, Nerfs son Abner and Jetherfs son Amasa, whom he killed, and how he shed the blood of wartime during times of peace, staining the very belt he wears around his waist and the sandals he wears on his feet. 6So act consistently with your wisdom, and donft let him die as a peaceful old man. 7Be gracious to the descendants of Barzillai the Gileadite, and provide for them in your household, because they helped me when I had to run from your brother Absalom.
8gPay attention now! You have with you Gerafs son Shimei the descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim. He cursed me violently that day when I had to leave for Mahanaim. When he visited me at the Jordan River, I made an oath to the Lord and told him, eI wonft execute you with a sword.f 9But donft let him off unpunished, since youfre a wise man and youfll know what you need to do to him. Find a way that he dies in his old age by shedding his blood.h
10After this, David died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of David. 11David had reigned over Israel for 40 years. He reigned in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for 33 years. 12Solomon then assumed his father Davidfs throne, and his kingdom was firmly established.
13Later, Haggithfs son Adonijah approached Solomonfs mother. gAre you here on a peaceful mission?h she asked.
gYes,h he replied. 14gI have something to ask you about.h
gTalk,h she told him.
15So he replied, gYou know that the kingdom should have come to me, and that everyone in Israel intended to place me as the next king. However, the kingdom has turned around and now belongs to my brother, because it went to him from the Lord. 16So now Ifm asking one thing from you. Donft refuse me.h
gTalk,h she told him.
17Then he asked her, gPlease talk to King Solomon for me, since he wonft refuse you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.h
18gOkay,h Bathsheba replied. gIfll talk to the king for you.h 19So Bathsheba went to talk to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king rose to meet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. He ordered a throne be set in place for his mother. She sat on a throne to his right 20and told him, gI would like to make a minor request of you. Please donft refuse me.h
gWhat is your request, mother?h the king asked her. gI wonft turn you down.h
21So she asked him, gGive Abishag the Shunammite to your brother Adonijah as a wife.h
22But King Solomon replied to his mother, gWhy are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why not ask me to give up the kingdom for him, since hefs my older brother, and why not ask for Abiathar the priest, and for Zeruiahfs son Joab?h
23Then King Solomon took this oath in the name of the Lord: gMay God do so to me, and more besides, if Adonijah hasnft endangered his life by bringing up this subject. 24Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of my father David, and who has established a dynasty, just like he promised, Adonijah will surely be executed today.h 25So King Solomon sent for Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, who attacked and killed Adonijah.
26The king also told Abiathar the priest, gGo home to Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I wonft kill you today, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David and because you shared all the troubles that my father went through.h 27So Solomon fired Abiathar as the Lordfs priest, thus fulfilling the promise that the Lord had spoken in Shiloh concerning Elifs household.
28When Joab learned what had happened, he ran to the Lordfs tent and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, since Joab had supported Adonijah (though he had not supported Absalom). 29Somebody informed King Solomon, gJoab just ran to the Lordfs tent and now hefs standing beside the altar!h
But Solomon ordered Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, gGo kill him!h
30So Benaiah went into the Lordfs tent and told Joab, gThe king orders you to come out!h
gNo,h Joab said, gIfd rather die here!h
So Benaiah went and informed the king, gThis is how Joab answered me.h
31The king replied to him, gDo just what he asked. Kill him and bury him so that you may remove from me and from my fatherfs household the guilt that Joab shed needlessly. 32The Lord will repay him for his bloodshed because, without my father Davidfs consent he attacked and murdered two men more righteous and better than he, Nerfs son Abner, the commander of Israelfs army and Jetherfs son Amasa, commander of Judahfs army. 33May their blood be repaid to Joab and to his descendants forever, and may there be peace shown from the Lord forever to David, to his descendants, to his household, and to his throne.h
34Jehoiadafs son Benaiah then approached Joab, attacked him, killed him, and had him buried at Joabfs home in the wilderness. 35The king appointed Jehoiadafs son Benaiah in charge of the army to replace Joab and also appointed Zadok the priest to replace Abiathar.
36The king sent for Shimei and told him, gBuild yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but donft go anywhere from there. 37If you ever leave and cross the Kidron Brook, you can be sure that youfll die. Youfll be responsible for your own death.h
38Shimei replied to the king, gWhat your majesty has decreed is acceptable to me. Ifll do what youfve said.h So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for quite some time. 39But three years later, two of Shimeifs servants escaped to Maacahfs son Achish, the king of Gath.
Somebody told Shimei, gLook! Your servants went to Gath!h 40So Shimei got up, saddled a donkey, and traveled to Gath to find his servants. He found them and brought them back from Gath.
41Later, Solomon found out that Shimei had left Jerusalem, gone to Gath, and had returned, 42so the king sent for Shimei and asked him, gDidnft I make a promise to the Lord and warn you, eThe day you leave and go anywhere else, you can be sure youfll dief? And you told me, eWhat your majesty has decreed is acceptable to me.f 43So why havenft you kept the oath you made to the Lord, and why didnft you obey my personal order to you?h
44The king also reminded Shimei, gYou know all the evil things that you admit you did to my father David. Therefore the Lord is going to repay you for all of your evil. 45But King Solomon will be blessed, and Davidfs throne will be established in the presence of the Lord forever.h 46So the king gave orders to Jehoiadafs son Benaiah to go out, attack Shimei, and kill him. That is how the kingdom was established under Solomonfs control.
Chapter 3
1Later, Solomon intermarried with the family of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt by taking his daughter and bringing her to the city of David to live until he had completed building his own palace, the Lordfs Temple, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2The people were sacrificing at various high places because the Temple had not yet been built and dedicated to the Lord.
3Solomon loved the Lord, and lived according to the statutes that his father David obeyed, except that he sacrificed and burned offerings at the high places. 4The king used to go to Gibeon to sacrifice, since there was a famous high place there, where Solomon once offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar. 5The Lord appeared to Solomon one night in a dream and told him, gAsk me for whatever you want and Ifll give it to you.h
6So Solomon said:
gYou have demonstrated abundant gracious love to your servant David, my father, as he lived in your presence truthfully, righteously, and uprightly in his heart. In addition, you have kept on showing this abundant gracious love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. 7Now, Lord my God, you have set me as king to replace my father David, but Ifm still young. I donft have any leadership skills. 8Your servant lives in the midst of your people that you have chosen, a great people that is too numerous to be counted. 9So give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I can discern between good and evil. Otherwise, how will I be able to govern this great people of yours?h
10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, 11so God told him:
gBecause you asked for this, and you didnft ask for a long life for yourself, and you didnft ask for the lives of your enemies, but instead youfve asked for discernment so you can understand how to govern, 12look how Ifm going to do precisely what you asked. Ifm giving you a wise and discerning mind, so that there will have been no one like you before you and no one will arise after you like you. 13Ifm also giving you what you havenft requested: both riches and honor, so that no other king will be comparable to you during your lifetime. 14If you will live life my way, keeping my statutes and my commands, just like your father David did, Ifll also increase the length of your life.h
15Then Solomon woke up and realized that he had dreamed a dream. Then he went back to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lordfs covenant, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and threw a party for all of his servants.
16Right about then, two prostitutes approached the king and requested an audience with him. 17One woman said, gYour majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18Three days later, this woman also gave birth. We lived alone there. There was nobody else with us in the house. It was just the two of us. 19This womanfs son died overnight because she laid on top of him. 20She got up in the middle of the night, took my son from me while your servant was asleep, and laid him to her breast after laying her dead son next to me. 21The next morning, I got up to nurse my son, and he was dead. But when I examined him carefully in the light of day, he turned out not to be my son whom I had borne!h
22gNot so,h claimed the other woman. gThe living child is my son, and the dead one is yours.h
But the first woman said, gNot so! The dead child is your son and the living one is my son.h This is what they testified before the king.
23The king said, gOne of them claims, eThis living son is mine, and your son is the dead onef and the other claims eNo. Your son is the dead one and my son is the living one.f 24gSomebody get me a sword.h So they brought a sword to the king. 25gDivide the living child in two!h he ordered. gGive half to the one and half to the other.h
26The woman whose child was still alive cried out to the king, because her heart yearned for her son. gOh no, your majesty!h she said. gGive her the living child. Please donft kill him.h
But the other woman said, gCut him in half! That way, hefll belong to neither one of us.h
27The king announced his decision: gGive the living child to the first woman. Donft kill him. She is his mother.h 28When this decision that the king had handed down was announced, everybody in Israel was amazed at the king, because they all saw that Godfs wisdom was in him, enabling him to administer justice.
Chapter 4
1And so King Solomon ruled over all of Israel. 2Herefs a list of his officials: Zadokfs son Azariah was priest, 3Shishafs sons Elihoreph and Ahijah were his secretaries, Ahiludfs son Jehoshaphat was recorder, 4Jehoiadafs son Benaiah commanded the army, Zadok and Abiathar served as priests, 5Nathanfs son Azariah supervised the governors, Nathanfs son Zabud the priest was the kingfs counselor, 6Ahishar supervised palace matters, and Abdafs son Adoniram supervised conscripted labor. 7Solomon also appointed twelve governors over all of Israel, each of whom were responsible for providing one monthfs food provisions to the king and to his administration during each year.
8Herefs a list of their names: Ben-hur from the hill country of Ephraim; 9Ben-deker in Makaz, Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh and Elonbeth-hanan; 10Ben-hesed served in Arubboth (where he supervised Socoh and all of the territory of Hepher); 11Ben-abinadab supervised the Dor heights (Solomonfs daughter Taphath was his wife); 12Ahiludfs son Baana served Taanach, Megiddo, and all of Beth-shean near Zarethan below Jezreel, including from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead, including the towns that belonged to Manassehfs descendant Jair that are in Gilead; 14Iddofs son Ahinadab served in Mahanaim; 15Ahimaaz served in Naphtali (he was married to Solomonfs daughter Basemath); 16Hushaifs son Baana served in Asher and Bealoth; 17Paruahfs son Jehoshaphat served in Issachar; 18Elafs son Shimei served in Benjamin; 19and Urifs son Geber served in the territory of Gilead, the territory formerly ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan (he was the only governor over that territory).
20Judah and Israel became as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They enjoyed abundance, and ate, drank, and rejoiced regularly. 21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the territory of the Philistines and south to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon throughout his lifetime. 22Solomonfs daily provisions were 30 kors of fine flour, 60 kors of meal, 23ten fattened oxen, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and domestic poultry. 24He ruled over everything west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all of the kings west of the Euphrates River, and he enjoyed peace on all sides around him.
25Judah and Israel lived safely, and everyone enjoyed their own vine and fig tree from Dan to Beer-sheba through all of Solomonfs life. 26Solomon owned 40,000 stalls for the horses that drove his chariots, and he employed 12,000 men to drive them. 27His officers supplied provisions for King Solomon and for everyone who visited King Solomonfs palace, each in their respective month of service responsibility. Nothing ever ran out. 28They also provided barley and straw for the horses and camels to their respective locations, each consistent with their responsibilities.
29God gave Solomon wisdom and great discernment. His insights were as numerous as sand on the seashore. 30Solomon was wiser than any of the eastern leaders and wiser than anyone in Egypt. 31He was wiser than anyone of his day\wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, and wiser than Maholfs sons Calcol and Darda.
His reputation was known throughout the surrounding nations. 32Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. 33He described trees\everything from cedars that grow in Lebanon to hyssop that grows on a garden wall. He described animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34People came from everywhere to hear Solomonfs advice. Every king on the earth heard of his wisdom.
Chapter 5
1King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he learned that Solomon had been anointed king to replace his father, because Hiram had been Davidfs lifelong friend. 2Solomon sent this message to Hiram:
3gYou know that my father David was unable to build a temple dedicated to the Lord his God because he was busy fighting wars all around him until the Lord defeated his enemies. 4But now the Lord has given me rest all around, since I have neither foreign adversaries nor domestic crises. 5So now Ifm planning to build a temple dedicated to the Lord my God, just as the Lord told my father when he said, eYour son, whom I will set on your throne to replace you, will build the Temple dedicated to me.f 6Now therefore please order that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, because you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians do.h
7As soon as Hiram received the message from Solomon, he became so ecstatic that he exclaimed, gBlessed be the Lord today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people!h Then he sent this message to Solomon:
8gI have read the letter that you sent me. Ifll do what youfve asked about the cedar and cypress timber. 9My servants will transport them from Lebanon to the sea, where wefll make them into rafts and float them by sea to the port that you tell me to send them. Wefll have them prepared for transport there and then you can carry them from there. You can meet my needs by providing provisions for my household.h
10Thatfs how Hiram came to provide Solomon as much cedar and cypress timber as he needed. 11In return, Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil. Solomon provided this amount every year during the construction.
12The Lord continued giving Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised, and Hiram and Solomon entered into a peace treaty between themselves.
13King Solomon conscripted laborers from throughout Israel. The work force numbered 30,000 men. 14He sent 10,000 men to Lebanon in shifts lasting one month. They worked one month in Lebanon for every two months they worked at home. Adoniram was placed in charge of the conscripted labor. 15Solomon also employed 70,000 heavy-lift workers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country. 16Solomon also employed 3,300 officials to supervise the work and to manage the people employed in the construction. 17The king specified that large, expensive stones be quarried so the foundation of the Temple could be laid with cut stones. 18As a result, Solomonfs builders worked with Hiramfs builders, accompanied by the Gebalites, to quarry the stone and to prepare the timber and other stone for the Templefs construction.
Chapter 6
1During the month of Ziv, which was the second month of the fourth year of Solomonfs reign over Israel, 480 years after the Israelis left the land of Egypt, Solomon began to build the Lordfs Temple. 2The Temple for the Lord that Solomon was building was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. 3A portico extended in front of the Temple for 30 feet outward, corresponding to the width of the Temple. Along the front of the Temple its depth was 15 feet. 4Solomon also constructed windows in the Temple with specially designed frames.
5Against the wall of the Temple he built a series of rooms that encompassed the exterior of the Temple walls around the inner sanctuary. He built these side chambers all around the building. 6The lower structures were seven and a half feet wide, the middle structures were nine feet wide, and the third structures were ten and a half feet wide. Offsets were placed all around the Temple so that beams would not protrude through the walls of the Temple. 7The Temple was constructed of stone precut at the quarry so that no hammer, axe, or any other iron implement would be heard in the Temple while it was being built. 8A passageway to the side chamber was constructed on the south side of the Temple by which people could ascend winding stairs to the middle story, then from there to the third story.
9After Solomon built the Temple and finished it, he covered the Temple with beams and planks made of cedar. 10He constructed this structure to adjoin the entire Temple, seven and a half feet high, and fastened it to the Temple with cedar timbers.
11Then this message from the Lord came to Solomon: 12gConcerning this Temple that youfre building, if you live your life according to my statutes, carry out my ordinances, and keep all of my commands, and live according to them, then I will do what I promised to your father David. 13I will reside among the Israelis and will never abandon my people Israel.h
14So Solomon kept on building the Temple and finished it. 15Then he built the inside walls of the Temple, lining them from floor to ceiling with cedar boards, and overlaying the Temple floor with boards made of cypress wood. 16He lined 30 feet of the rear part of the Temple from floor to ceiling with cedar boards specially constructed for the inside to serve as the Most Holy Place. 17The rest of the main nave in the front was 60 feet long. 18Cedar carvings in the form of gourds and blooming flowers covered the entire interior of the Temple so that no stone could be seen.
19Solomon also prepared an inner sanctuary within the Temple where the Lordfs Ark of the Covenant was placed. 20The inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high, and overlaid with pure gold. The altar was also overlaid with cedar. 21Solomon overlaid the inside of the Temple with pure gold, fastened gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. 22He finished the Temple by overlaying it entirely with gold, including overlaying with gold the whole altar that was by the inner sanctuary.
23Inside the inner sanctuary Solomon placed two cherubim crafted from olive wood, each fifteen feet high. 24Each wing of one cherub was seven and a half feet long, and each wing of the other cherub was seven and a half feet long, so that the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing was fifteen feet. 25Each cherub was fifteen feet high, and both were of the same size and shape, 26the height of one cherub being fifteen feet, as was the height of the other.
27Solomon placed the cherubim in the middle of the inner sanctuary, with their wings spread in such a way that the wing of one was touching the one wall and the opposite wing of the other cherub was touching the opposite wall. Furthermore, their wings in the center of the wall were touching each other wing-to-wing. 28Each cherub was overlaid with gold.
29Solomon also inlaid all the inner walls of the Temple\both the inner and outer sanctuaries\with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers. 30He also overlaid the floor of the Temple with gold in both the inner and outer sanctuaries.
31Solomon also provided doors, lintels, and five-sided doorposts for the entrance to the inner sanctuary. 32He installed two doors made of olive wood, inlaying them with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers, and overlaying them with gold. Then he added more gold to cover the cherubim and palm trees.
33Solomon also provided four-sided doorposts made of cypress wood for the entrance to the outer sanctuary, 34along with two doors of cypress wood, one door of which had two leaves that turned on hinges, as did the other door, which also had two leaves that turned on hinges.
35Solomon also inlaid the doors with cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers. He overlaid them with gold that was carefully applied on the engraved work. 36He constructed the inner court with three rows of precut stone and a row of cedar beams.
37The foundation for the Lordfs Temple was laid in the month of Ziv during the fourth year of Solomonfs reign, 38and the Temple was completely finished according to its plans and specifications in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomonfs reign, that is, during the month of Bul. It took about seven years to build.
Chapter 7
1But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own palace, and finally finished it. 2He built his own palace out of timber supplied from the forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet tall, and was constructed on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams interlocking the pillars. 3There were 45 pillars paneled with cedar above the side chambers, with rows of fifteen pillars, 4with three rows of framed windows facing each other in three ranks. 5All the doorways and doorposts had rectangular frames, with the doorways facing each other in three tiers. 6There was also a hall of pillars 75 feet long and 45 feet wide, and a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of the pillars. 7He constructed the Judgment Hall for the throne room where he would be ruling, paneling it with cedar from floor to ceiling. 8Solomonfs personal dwelling quarters, a separate court behind the hall, was of similar workmanship. Solomon also built a house similar to this for Pharaohfs daughter, whom Solomon had married.
9All of these were made with expensive stones, pre-cut according to specifications, hand-sawed inside and out from the foundation to the coping, including from inside to the great court. 10The foundation was made of expensive stone, including large stones fifteen feet long and stones twelve feet long. 11Above these were expensive stones cut according to specifications, and cedar. 12So the great court was surrounded by three rows of cut stone, along with a row of cedar beams, just like the inner court of the Lordfs Temple and the porch surrounding the Temple.
13King Solomon sent for Hiram from Tyre, 14the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, whose father was from Tyre. A bronze worker, he was wise, knowledgeable, and was skilled in all sorts of bronze working. He went to King Solomon and did all of his work.
15He fashioned two bronze pillars, each one 27 feet high, with a circumference of 18 feet. 16He also crafted two capitals of cast bronze and set them on top of the pillars. The height of one capital was seven and a half feet, and the height of the other capital was seven and a half feet. 17A network of latticework on top of the pillars was inlaid with ornamental wreaths and chains, the top of each pillar containing seven groups of ornamental structures. 18The pillars contained two rows of ornaments shaped like pomegranates around the latticework covering the top of each pillar. 19The capitals on top of each pillar above the rounded latticework contained six feet of lily designs, 20with the capitals on the two pillars covered by 200 pomegranates in rows around both the capitals above and adjoining the rounded latticework. 21Thatfs how he designed the pillars at the portico of the sanctuary. When he set up the right pillar, he named it Jachin. When he set up the left pillar, he named it Boaz. 22The work on the pillars was finished with a lily design on top of the pillars.
23Hiram also made a sea of cast metal fifteen feet from brim to brim, circular in shape and seven and a half feet high and 45 feet in its inner circumference. 24Under the brim, completely encircling it, were two rows of gourds inlaid as part of the original casting, ten for each one and a half feet. 25The sea stood on top of twelve oxen. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The sea was set on top of them, and their hind parts faced the center. 26The reservoir, which held about 12,000 gallons, stood about three inches thick, and its rim looked like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom.
27Hiram also made ten bronze water carts. Each one was six feet wide, six feet long, and four and a half feet high. 28The carts were designed with borders between cross-pieces, 29and on the borders between the cross-pieces were lions, oxen, and cherubim. A pedestal was placed above the cross-pieces, and beneath the lions and oxen there were wreaths hanging down. 30Each cart had four bronze wheels equipped with bronze axles with four support feet. Beneath the basin were cast support structures made like wreaths on each side. 31The opening to each water cart inside the crown on top was one and a half feet wide, with engravings on the opening. The borders to the frames surrounding the opening were square, not round. 32The four wheels were placed underneath the borders, and the axles for the wheels were on the stand. Each wheel stood 27 inches high. 33The wheels resembled those of a chariot, with their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs made of cast bronze. 34Four supports stood at the four corners of each cart, built into the carts themselves. 35On top of each stand was a circular structure nine inches high, with its braces and support frames integral with it, forming a single piece. 36Hiram engraved ornamental cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and frames wherever there was space to do so, and encircled the artwork with wreaths. 37He made ten identical water carts by using the same plans, castings, and shapes for all of them.
38Hiram also fashioned ten bronze basins, each holding about 240 gallons, each basin measuring 6 feet in diameter, with one basin for each stand. 39He set five of the stands on the right side of the Temple and five on the left side of the Temple. He set the bronze sea on the right side of the Temple eastward facing the south. 40Hiram also made the basins, shovels, and bowls to complete the work that he performed for King Solomon in the Lordfs Temple, 41including the two pillars and the bowls for the capitals that stood on top of the two pillars, along with the two lattices that covered the two bowls of the capitals that stood on top of the pillars, 42plus the 400 pomegranates for the two lattices (that is, the two rows of pomegranates for each lattice to cover the two bowls of the capitals that stood on top of the pillars), 43the ten stands with the ten basins on the stands, 44the single bronze sea and the twelve oxen that stood under the sea, 45and the pots, shovels, and bowls\all of these utensils that Hiram made for King Solomon for the Lordfs Temple were made from polished bronze.
46The king had them cast in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan in the Jordan plain. 47Solomon never inventoried the weight of the bronze used, because there were too many utensils, so the weight of the bronze used was never ascertained. 48Solomon made all the furnishings that were placed in the Lordfs Temple, including the golden altar and the golden table on which the bread of the Presence was placed, 49along with the lamp stands (five on the right side and five on the left in front of the inner sanctuary), all made of pure gold, as well as the flower blossoms, lamps, and tongs of gold, 50and the cups, snuffers, bowls, spoons, and the fire pans, all made of pure gold, and hinges for the doors of the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, and for the gates of the Temple that led to the nave, also of gold.
51Thus all the work that King Solomon performed in the Lordfs Temple was finished. Then Solomon brought in the articles that had been dedicated by his father David, including silver, gold, and other utensils, and he placed them into storage in the treasuries of the Lordfs Temple.
Chapter 8
1Then Solomon gathered together the elders of Israel, including all the heads of the tribes and the leaders of the ancestral households of the Israelis, to meet with him in Jerusalem so they could bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Zion, the city of David. 2So all the men gathered together to meet with King Solomon at the Festival of Tents in the month Ethanim, the seventh month. 3All the Elders of Israel showed up, and the priests picked up the ark 4and brought it, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy implements that were in the tent. The priests and descendants of Levi carried them up to Jerusalem.
5King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel that had assembled to be with him stood in front of the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they were neither counted nor inventoried. 6After this, the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to the place prepared for it, into the inner sanctuary of the Temple, under the wings of the cherubim in the Most Holy Place. 7The wings of the cherubim spread over the resting place for the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles when viewed from above. 8The poles extended so far that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. They remain there to this day. 9The ark was empty except for the two stone tablets that Moses had placed there at Horeb when the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelis after they had come out of the land of Egypt. 10When the priests left the Holy Place after setting the ark in place, the cloud filled the Lordfs Temple 11so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, since the glory of the Lord filled the Lordfs Temple.
12Then Solomon said, gThe Lord has said that he lives shrouded in darkness. 13Now I have been constructing a magnificent Temple dedicated to you that will serve as a place for you to inhabit forever.h
14Then the king turned to face the entire congregation of Israel while the congregation of Israel remained standing. 15Then Solomon prayed:
gBlessed is the Lord God of Israel, who made a commitment to my father David and then personally fulfilled what he had promised when he said:
16eFrom the day I brought out my people Israel from Egypt I never chose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple where my name might reside. I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.f
17gMy father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18The Lord told my father David:
eTherefore, since you determined to build a temple for my name, you acted well, because it was your choice to do so. 19Nevertheless, you are not to build the Temple, but your son who will be born to you is to build a temple for my name.f
20gThe Lord has brought to fulfillment what he promised, and now here I stand, having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21I have placed there the ark in which the covenant is stored that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.h
22Then Solomon took his place in front of the Lordfs altar in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, 23and said:
gLord God of Israel, there is no one like you, God in heaven above or on the earth below, who watches over his covenant, showing gracious love to your servants who live their lives in your presence with all their hearts. 24It is you, Lord God, who have kept your promise to my father, your servant David, that you made to him. Indeed, you made a commitment to my father David and then personally fulfilled what you had promised today.
25gNow therefore, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise that you made to my father, your servant David, when you said, eYou will not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants will watch their lives, to live in my presence just as you have lived in my presence.f
26gNow therefore, God of Israel, may your promise that you made to your servant David my father be fulfilledc 27and yet, will God truly reside on earth? Look! Neither the sky nor the highest heaven can contain you! How much less this Temple that I have built! 28Pay attention to the prayer of your servant and to his request, Lord my God, and listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying in your presence today. 29Let your eyes always look toward this Temple night and day, toward the location where you have said eMy name will reside there.f Listen to the prayer that your servant prays in this direction. 30Listen to the requests from your servant and from your people Israel as they pray in this direction, listen from the place where you reside in heaven, then hear and forgive.
31gIf a man should sin against his neighbor and he is required to take an oath, and he then comes to take an oath in front of your altar in this Temple, 32then listen in heaven, act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing back to him the consequences of his choices and by justifying the righteous by recompensing him according to his righteousness.
33gIf your people Israel are defeated in a battle with their enemy because they have sinned against you, when they return to you and confess to you, pray, and in this Temple they ask you to show grace to them, 34then hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and return them to the soil that you gave to their ancestors.
35gWhen heaven remains closed, and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and they pray in the direction of this place, confessing your name and turning from their sin when you afflict them, 36then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. Indeed, teach them the best way to live and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as an inheritance.
37gIf a famine comes to the land, or if plant diseases, mildew, locust, or grasshoppers appear, or if their enemies attack them in their settlements of the land, no matter what the epidemic or illness is, 38whatever prayer or request is made, no matter whether itfs made by a single man or by all of your people Israel, each praying out of his own hurting heart and anguish and stretching out his hands toward this Temple, 39then hear from heaven, the place where you reside, and forgive, repaying each person according to all of his ways, since you know their hearts\for you alone know the hearts of all human beings\ 40so they will fear you every day and live on the surface of the land that you have given to our ancestors.
41gNow concerning the foreigner who is not from your people Israel, when he comes from a land far away for the sake of your name 42(for people will hear of your great name, your mighty acts, and your obvious power), when he comes and prays facing this Temple, 43then hear in heaven where you reside, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the people of the earth may know your name, fear you as do your people Israel, and so they may know that this Temple that I have built is called by your name.
44gWhen your people go out to war against their enemies, no matter what way you send them, and they pray to the Lord in the direction of the city that you have chosen and in the direction of the Temple that I have built for your name, 45then hear their prayer and their request in heaven, and fight for their cause.
46gWhen they sin against you\because there isnft a single human being who doesnft sin\and you become angry with them and deliver them over to their enemy, who takes them away captive to the land that belongs to their enemy, whether near or far away, 47if they turn their hearts back to you in the land where they have been taken captive, repent, and pray to you\even if they do so in the land of their captivity\confessing, eWe have sinned, we have committed abominations, and practiced wickedness,f 48if they return to you with all of their heart and with all of their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, as they pray to you in the direction of their land that you have given to their ancestors and to the city that you have chosen, and to the Temple that I have built for your name, 49then hear their prayer and requests in heaven, where you reside, and fight for their cause, 50forgiving your people who have sinned against you, along with their transgressions by which they have transgressed against you.
gShow your compassion in the presence of those who have taken them captive, so they may show compassion on them, 51since they are your people and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from an iron fire furnace. 52Do this so your eyes may remain open to the requests of your servant and to the requests of your peoplefs prayers, to listen to them whenever they call out to you, 53because you have separated them to yourself as your heritage from all the people of the earth, as you spoke through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Lord God.
54When Solomon had completed saying this entire prayer to the Lord, he got up from kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven in the presence of the Lordfs altar, 55stood up, and blessed all of the assembly of Israel in a loud voice. He said:
56gBlessed is the Lord, who has given security to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one of his promises has failed to come about that he gave through his servant Moses. 57May the Lord our God be with us, just as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us, 58so that he may turn our hearts toward him, so that we may live life his way, keeping his commands, statutes, and ordinances that he gave to our ancestors. 59And may what Ifve had to say to the Lord remain with the Lord our God both day and night, so that he may defend the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as the need of the day may require it, 60so that, in turn, all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God\there is no one else. 61Now let your heart be completely devoted to the Lord our God, to live according to his statutes and to keep his commands, as we are doing today.h
62Then the king and all of Israel with him offered sacrifices to the Lord. 63Solomon offered peace offerings to the Lord consisting of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelis dedicated the Lordfs Temple. 64That same day, the king consecrated the middle court that stood in front of the Lordfs Temple, because that was where he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offerings and because the bronze altar that was in the Lordfs presence was too small to hold the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offerings. 65So Solomon observed the Festival of Tents at that time, as did all of Israel with him. A large assembly came up from as far away as Lebo-hamath and the Wadi of Egypt to appear in the presence of the Lord our God, not just for seven days, but for seven days after that, a total of fourteen days. 66The following day, Solomon sent the people away as they blessed the king. Then they went back to their tents, rejoicing and glad for all the good things that the Lord had done for his servant David and to his people Israel.
Chapter 9
1Later, after Solomon had finished building the Lordfs Temple, the royal palace, and everything else that Solomon wanted to do, 2the Lord appeared to Solomon for a second time, just as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3The Lord told him:
gIfve heard your prayer and your request that you made to me. I have consecrated this Temple that you have built by placing my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there continually.
4gNow as for you, if you commune with me like your father did, with an upright heart of integrity and doing everything that Ifve commanded you and keeping my statutes and ordinances, 5then Ifll make your royal throne secure forever, just as I agreed to do so for your father David when I said, eYou are to not lack a man on the throne of Israel.f 6But if you or your descendants abandon me, and do not keep my commandments and statutes that I have given to you, and if you go away, serve other gods, and worship them, 7then I will eliminate Israel from the land that I gave them and from the Temple that Ifve consecrated for my name. I will throw them out of my sight, and Israel will become the butt of jokes and a means of ridicule among people worldwide!
8gThis Temple will become a pile of ruins. Everyone who passes by it will be so astounded that they will ask, eWhy did the Lord do this to this land and to this Temple?f 9They will answer, eBecause they abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and served them. Thatfs why the Lord has brought all of this disaster on them.fh
10It took 20 years for Solomon to finish working on the two houses\the Lordfs Temple and the royal palace\ 11after which King Solomon gave Hiram 20 cities in the land of Galilee, because King Hiram of Tyre had provided Solomon with as much cedar, cypress timber, and gold that he wanted. 12Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, but he wasnft happy with them, 13so he asked him, gWhat are these cities that you have given to me, my brother?h Thatfs why these cities were named gthe land of Cabalh to this day. 14Then Hiram paid the king 9,000 pounds of gold.
15Here is a summary of the conscripted labor that King Solomon required to build the Lordfs Temple, his royal palace, the terrace ramparts in the city of David, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 16Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer, burned it down, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and then gave it as a dowry for his daughter, Solomonfs wife. 17So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, lower Beth-horon, 18Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, 19along with the storage cities that Solomon used for his chariots and for his cavalry, everything that Solomon felt like building in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in every territory under his control.
20The people who survived from the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not related to the Israelis, 21and whose descendants had survived them and continued to live in the land because the Israelis were unable to completely eliminate them, Solomon placed under conscripted labor, a situation that remains in effect to this day. 22However, Solomon did not force Israelis into conscripted labor, but they did serve as his soldiers, servants, princes, captains, chariot commanders, and cavalry. 23There were 550 chief officers who supervised Solomonfs activities and managed the staff that was doing the work.
24As soon as Pharaohfs daughter arrived from the city of David to live in her house that Solomon had built for her, then he fortified the terrace ramparts in the city of David. 25Three times every year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he had built to the Lord, burning incense with the offerings in the presence of the Lord.
This concludes the record of the Temple construction.
26King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Reed Sea in the land of Edom. 27Hiram sent his servants to sail with the fleet, since they were expert seamen, and so they accompanied Solomonfs servants. 28They sailed as far as Ophir and brought back 31,500 pounds of gold for Solomon.
Chapter 10
1When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomonfs reputation with the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions. 2She brought along a large retinue, camels laden with spices, and lots of gold and precious stones. Upon her arrival, she spoke with Solomon about everything that was on her mind. 3Solomon answered all of her questions. Nothing was hidden from Solomon that he did not explain to her. 4When the queen of Sheba had seen all of Solomonfs wisdom for herself, the palace that he had built, 5the food set at his table, his servants who sat with him, his ministers in attendance and how they were dressed, his personal staff and how they were dressed, and even his personal stairway by which he went up to the Lordfs Temple, she was breathless!
6gEverything I heard about your wisdom and what you have to say is true!h she gasped, 7gbut I didnft believe it at first! But then I came here and Ifve seen it for myself! Itfs amazing! I wasnft told half of whatfs really great about your wisdom. Youfre far better in person than what the reports have said about you! 8How blessed are your staff! And how blessed are your employees who serve you continuously and get to listen to your wisdom! 9Blessed be the Lord your God, who is delighted with you! He set you in place on the throne of Israel because the Lord loved Israel forever. Thatfs why he made you to be king, so you could carry out justice and implement righteousness.h
10Then she gave the king 9,000 pounds of gold, a vast quantity of spices, and precious stones. No spices ever came again that were comparable to those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11Hiramfs ships that brought gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir lots of algum wood and precious stones. 12The king used the algum wood to have supports made for the Lordfs Temple and for the royal palace, as well as lyres and harps for the choir, and nothing like that wood has ever come again or even been seen since right to this day. 13In return, King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and had requested in addition to what he had given her consistent with his generosity. Afterward, she returned to her own land with her servants.
14Solomon received annually about 49,950 pounds of gold, 15not including revenue from traders, merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land. 16King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, overlaying each large shield with the gold from 600 gold pieces, 17and 300 shields from beaten gold, overlaying each shield with the gold from 300 gold pieces. The king put them in his palace in the Lebanon forest. 18The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. 19Six steps led up to the throne, which had a round canopy fastened to the rear of the throne and armrests on each side of the seat and two lions standing on either side of each armrest. 20Twelve lions were placed on both sides of the six steps leading to the throne, and nothing comparable was made for any other kingdoms. 21All of King Solomonfs drinking vessels were made of gold, and all the vessels in his palace in the Lebanon forest were made of pure gold. None were of silver, because silver was never considered to be valuable during Solomonfs lifetime, 22because the king had ships that sailed to Tarshish accompanied by Hiramfs ships. Once every three years ships from Tarshish returned, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 23As a result, King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in regards to wealth and wisdom. 24All the earth continued to seek audiences with Solomon so they could hear the wise things that God had put in his heart. 25Everyone kept on bringing gifts on an annual basis, including items made of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules. 26Solomon accumulated chariots and cavalry. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 cavalry soldiers. He stationed them in various chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and made cedar trees as abundant as sycamore trees in the Shephelah. 28Solomon imported horses from Egypt and Kue, and the kingfs buyers procured them at market price from Kue. 29A chariot from Egypt cost 600 pieces of silver, and a horse 150 pieces of silver, but then they were exported to all the Hittite kings and to the Aramean kings.
Chapter 11
1But King Solomon married many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh: women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidonia, along with Hittite women, too, 2all of them from nations that the Lord had ordered the Israelis, gYou are not to associate with them and they are not to associate with you, because they will most certainly turn your affections away to follow their gods.h Solomon became deeply attached to them by falling in love. 3He had 700 princess wives and 300 mistresses who turned his heart away from the Lord, 4because as Solomon grew older, his wives turned his affections away after other gods, and his heart was not fully as devoted to the Lord his God as his father Davidfs heart had been. 5Solomon pursued Astarte, the Sidonian goddess, and Milcom, that detestable Ammonite idol. 6Solomon practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by not fully following the Lord, as had his father David. 7Later, Solomon even constructed a high place on the mountain east of Jerusalem that was dedicated to Chemosh, that detestable Moabite idol, and to Molech, the detestable Ammonite idol. 8Solomon did this for all of his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their own gods.
9The Lord became angry at Solomon because his heart wandered away from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10and warned him about this so he would not pursue other gods. But he did not obey what the Lord had commanded, 11so the Lord told Solomon, gBecause you have done this and havenft kept my covenant and statutes that I commanded you, Ifm going to tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. 12Ifm not going to do this during your lifetime, for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of your sonfs control. 13For the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, I wonft tear away the entire kingdom. Ifll leave one tribe for your son to govern.h
14After this, the Lord allowed Hadad the Edomite to oppose Solomon. He was part of the royal line of Edom. 15During Davidfs military campaign against Edom, when his army commander Joab had gone out to bury the dead, he killed every male in Edom. 16Joab had his entire army of Israel stay there for six months until he had eliminated every male in Edom.
17But Hadad escaped to Egypt in the company of some of his fatherfs Edomite servants, while Hadad was still a little child. 18They left Midian, arrived in Paran, and left from Paran with some men and traveled on to Egypt, where Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gave him a house to live in, assigned a food allotment to him, and gave him some land. 19Hadad won the affection of the Pharaoh, who gave permission for Hadad to marry the sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes. 20Queen Tahpenesf sister bore him his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaohfs palace while Genubath lived in Pharaohfs palace with the Pharaohfs own sons.
21Later on, Hadad learned in Egypt that David had been buried with his ancestors and that Joab the army commander was dead. So Hadad asked Pharaoh, gPlease send me out so I can go back to my own land.h
22Pharaoh asked him, gBut have you lacked anything from me that would make you want to go back to your own country?h
gNo,h he answered, gbut I still really must leave.h
23God also raised up Eliadafs son Rezon, who had escaped from his master King Hadadezer of Zobah. 24He raised an army and commanded a gang of raiders after David had eliminated those who lived in Zobah. Rezon and his army moved to Damascus, remained there, and Rezon ruled from Damascus. 25He opposed Israel during Solomonfs entire reign, in addition to all of the evil things that Hadad did. Rezon also hated Israel while he reigned over Aram.
26Solomon had a servant, Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who was an Ephraimite from Zeredah. His widowed mother was named Zeruah. Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon, 27and this is why he rose in rebellion against the king: Solomon had built up the terrace ramparts in the city of his father David in order to repair a weakness. 28Jeroboam was a valiant soldier, and because Solomon observed that the young man was able to get things done, he set him in charge over all of the conscripted labor from the household of Joseph. 29During that time, Jeroboam left Jerusalem and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. Ahijah had wrapped himself up in a new cloak, and both of them were alone on the open road. 30Ahijah grabbed the new cloak that he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces! 31Then he told Jeroboam, gTake ten pieces for yourself, because this is what the Lord God of Israel says:
ePay attention! Ifm going to tear the kingdom out of Solomonfs control and give you ten tribes. 32Ifll leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and one tribe for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I chose from all of the tribes of Israel. 33Ifm doing this because they have abandoned me and worshipped that Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They havenft lived my way by doing what I consider to be right and observing my statutes and my ordinances, like his father David did.
34eNevertheless, I wonft take the entire kingdom away from him, but Ifll let him reign for the rest of his life, because of my servant David, whom I chose, who obeyed my commandments and statutes, 35but I will take the kingdom away from his sonfs control and give ten tribes to you. 36Ifll give one tribe to his son, so my servant David will always have a light shining in my presence in Jerusalem, the city that I chose for myself and where I have placed my name. 37Ifm going to take you and have you reign over whatever you desire. You will be king over Israel. 38If you listen to everything that I command you to do, and if you live your life my way, and if you do what I consider to be right by observing my statutes and my commandments, just like my servant David did, then I will be with you, I will build an enduring dynasty for you, just like I did for David, and Ifll give Israel to you. 39This is how Ifm going to afflict Davidfs descendants because of what they have done, though I wonft do it continuously.fh
40Thatfs why Solomon tried to execute Jeroboam, but Jeroboam got up and fled to Egypt, where he lived as a guest of King Shishak and remained until Solomon had died.
41Now the rest of Solomonfs accomplishments, including everything else he did, as well as records of his wisdom, are recorded in the Book of the Acts of Solomon, are they not? 42Solomon reigned over all of Israel from Jerusalem for a total of 40 years. 43Then Solomon died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam reigned in his place.
Chapter 12
1Rehoboam traveled to Shechem because all of Israel went there to install him as king. 2Nebatfs son Jeroboam heard about it while he was still in Egypt, where he had fled to get away from King Solomon. Jeroboam returned from Egypt 3after being summoned. When Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel arrived, they spoke to Rehoboam, 4gYour father made our burdens unbearable. Therefore lighten your fatherfs requirements and his heavy burdens that he placed on us, and wefll serve you.h
5gCome again in three days,h Rehoboam told them. So the people left 6while King Rehoboam conferred with his advisors who had worked for his father Solomon during his administration. He asked them, gWhat is your advice as to how I should respond to these people?h
7They advised him, gIf today you are a servant, you will serve this people by answering them and speaking kindly to them. Then they will serve you forever.h
8But Rehoboam ignored the counsel that his elder advisors had given him. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him and who worked for him. 9As a result, he asked them, gWhatfs your advice so that we can give an answer to these people who have asked me, ePlease lighten the burden that your father put on us.f?h
10gThis is what you should tell these people who asked you eYour father made our burden heavy, but you must make it lighter for us!fh the young men who grew up with Rehoboam replied. gTell them, eMy little finger will be thicker than my fatherfs whole body! 11Not only that, but since my father loaded you down heavily, Ifm going to add to that burden. My father disciplined you with whips, but Ifm going to discipline you with scorpions!fh
12So Jeroboam and all the people went back to Rehoboam on the third day, just as they had been directed when the king said, gCome back again in three days.h 13But the king gave the people a harsh response, because he was ignoring the counsel that his elders had given him. 14Instead, Rehoboam spoke to them along the lines of what the younger men suggested. He told them gMy father burdened you heavily, but I will add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, Ifm going to discipline you with scorpions!h
15The king would not listen to the people, because the turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill his prediction that the Lord spoke by means of Ahijah the Shilonite to Nebatfs son Jeroboam 16When all of Israel saw that the king wasnft listening to them, the people responded to the kingfs message, gWhatfs the point in following David? We have no inheritance in the descendants of Jesse. Letfs go home, Israel! David, take care of your own household!f So Israel left for home. 17And so Rehoboam ruled over the Israelis who lived in the cities of Judah.
18King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of conscripted labor, but all of Israel stoned him to death, and King Rehoboam had to jump in his chariot and flee back in a hurry to Jerusalem. 19Thatfs how Israel came to be in rebellion against Davidfs dynasty to this day.
20Now when all of Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent for him and invited him to visit their assembly, where they installed him as king over all of Israel. Nobody (with the sole exception of the tribe of Judah) would align with Davidfs dynasty. 21As soon as Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled 180,000 elite soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, intending to attack the dynasty of Israel and restore the kingdom to Solomonfs son Rehoboam. 22But a message from God came to Shemaiah, a man of God: 23gTell Solomonfs son Rehoboam, king of Judah, all the dynasty of Judah, Benjamin, and the rest of the people, 24eThis is what the Lord says: gYou are not to fight or even approach your fellow Israelis in battle. Every soldier is to return to his own home, because this development comes from me.hfh So they listened to what the Lord had to say and returned home, just as the Lord had directed.
25Later on, Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. He also expanded from there and built Penuel. 26Jeroboam was thinking to himself, gThe kingdom is about to return to Davidfs control. 27If these people keep going up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord there, the hearts of these people will return to their lord, King Rehoboam of Judah. Then theyfll kill me and return to Rehoboam, king of Judah!h 28So the king sought some advice and then built two golden calves and announced, gItfs too difficult for you to travel to Jerusalem. So here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!h 29He set one of them in Bethel and placed the other one in Dan. 30Doing this was sinful, because the people traveled as far as Dan to appear before one of their idols. 31Jeroboam built temples on the high places, and appointed his own priests from the fringe elements of the people who were not descendants of Levi.
32Jeroboam invented a festival for the fifteenth day of the eighth month similar to the festival that takes place in Judah. He approached the altar that he had set up in Bethel and sacrificed to the calves that he had made, having stationed in Bethel the priests that he had appointed. 33Then, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, he went up to burn incense on the altar that he had set up in Bethel, thus beginning the festival that he had made up out of his own heart for the Israelis.
Chapter 13
1Right when Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn some incense, a man of God arrived in Bethel from Judah in obedience to a command from the Lord. 2He cursed the altar in this message from the Lord: gHey altar! Hey altar! This is what the Lord says: ePay attention to this! A son is going to be born in Davidfs dynasty. His name will be Josiah. He will sacrifice the priests who burn incense on you in these high places. Human bones will be burned on you!fh
3Later that same day, he gave them a special display of power of what was to come when he said, gHerefs proof that the Lord has decreed this: Look! This altar will be split apart and the ashes that are on it will spill out.h
4When he heard the man of God curse the altar in Bethel, the king pointed at the man of God from where the king was standing at the altar. gSeize him!h he ordered. But all of a sudden his hand that he had stretched out dried up, and he could not bring it back to his side! 5Also, the altar broke apart and the ashes that were on it spilled out from the altar, providing just the proof that the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord!
6gPlease!h the king begged the man of God, gAsk the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored for me!h So the man of God asked the Lord, and the kingfs hand was immediately and fully restored, just like it had been before. 7So the king told the man of God, gCome back to my palace and rest a while. Ifd like to give you a reward.h
8But the man of God replied to the king, gEven if you were to offer me half of your house, I wouldnft go with you, and Ifm sure not going to eat even a piece of bread or drink water in this place, 9because the Lord commanded me specifically, eYou are not to eat bread, drink water, or return by the way that you came to arrive here!fh 10Then he left, returning a different way than the one by which he had traveled to Bethel.
11Now there was an old prophet who lived in Bethel, and his sons went to him and told him everything that the man of God had accomplished that day in Bethel, including the message that he had delivered to the king. 12gWhich way did he go?h their father asked him, since his sons had observed the way that the man of God had taken to return to Judah from Bethel. 13gSaddle my donkey for me!h he ordered. So they saddled the donkey for him 14and he rode off after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree. gYoufre the man of God who came from Judah, arenft you?h the old prophet asked him.
gI am,h he replied.
15gCome home with me and have a meal,h he told him.
16But he replied, gI canft go back with you to your home, be in your company, or even eat food or drink water with you in this place, 17because Ifve been given a command in the form of this message from the Lord: eYou are to eat no food, drink no water, and do not return to Judah by traveling the way by which you go there.fh
18gIfm a prophet like you,h the old man replied, gand an angel spoke to me and delivered this message from the Lord: eBring him back with you to your house and give him food and water.fh But he was lying, 19and the man of God accompanied the old prophet back to his house, ate some food, and drank some water.
20Later, while they were sitting down at the table, a message from the Lord was delivered to the prophet who had brought him back, 21so he cried out to the man of God from Judah: gThis is what the Lord says: eBecause you disobeyed a command from the Lord and havenft done what the Lord your God commanded you to do, 22but instead you returned to eat and drink in the very place that he told you gEat no food and drink no water,h your body will not be buried in the same grave as your ancestors.fh
23After the meal was over, and the man had eaten food and had drunk water, the old prophet saddled the donkey for him\that is, for the man of God whom he had brought back. 24Not long after the man of God had left, a lion met him along the road and killed him. His body was left lying in the middle of the road with the donkey standing beside it and with the lion also standing next to the body. 25When some men passed by and noticed the body lying in the middle of the road and the lion standing beside the body, they went straight to the city and told what had happened in the city where the old prophet lived.
26The prophet who had brought the man of God back from the road learned about it. gItfs the man of God who disobeyed the message from the Lord,h he said. gThatfs why the Lord gave him to that lion, which mauled him and killed him, just as the message from the Lord told rebuke him.h 27Then he ordered his sons, gSaddle the donkey for me.h So they did. 28The old prophet went out, located the body on the road where the donkey and the lion were standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body nor mauled the donkey. 29The prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to the city where the old man lived so he could mourn and bury him.
30He buried the corpse in his own grave and his family mourned for him, crying out, gOh, no! My brother!h
31After he had buried the man of God, he gave these instructions to his children: gWhen I die, bury me in the same grave in which the man of God is buried. Place my bones beside his, 32because what he predicted by a message from the Lord against the altar in Bethel and the temples built in the high places of the cities of Samaria will certainly come about.h
33Despite everything that happened, Jeroboam never did repent of his evil practices. Instead, he appointed even more people to act as priests for the high places. Anyone who wanted to be a priest was ordained to be a priest in the high places. 34This practice became so sinful that the Lord decided to erase Jeroboamfs dynasty, thus eliminating it from the face of the earth.
Chapter 14
1Right at that time, Jeroboamfs son Abijah became ill, 2so Jeroboam suggested to his wife, gGet up, disguise yourself so that no one will know that youfre Jeroboamfs wife, and go to Shiloh where the prophet Ahijah lives. Hefs the one who told me that I would be king over this people. 3Take ten loaves with you, some cakes, and a jar of honey and go visit him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.h
4So thatfs what Jeroboamfs wife did. She got up, went to Shiloh, and found Ahijahfs home. Ahijah was blind, because his eyes could not focus due to his age. 5Meanwhile, the Lord had spoken to Ahijah, gBe on your guard! Jeroboamfs wife is coming to ask you about her son, because he is ill. Youfre to say such and such to her. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else!h
6When she arrived, Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came through the doorway. He said this to her:
gCome in, wife of Jeroboam. What is this pretension at being someone else? I have some harsh news. 7Go tell Jeroboam:
eI raised you up from among the people.
eI made you Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel.
8eI tore the kingdom away from Davidfs dynasty.
eThen I gave it to you.
But you have not lived like my servant David, who kept my commands with all his heart, and did only what I considered to be right.
9eInstead, you have done more evil than everyone who lived before you.
eYou have gone out and crafted other gods for yourself.
eYou made cast images.
eYou have provoked me to anger.
eYou have thrown me behind your back.
10eTherefore, watch while I bring calamity on Jeroboamfs dynasty!
eI will eliminate every male, both slave and free in Israel, from Jeroboam.
eI will burn up Jeroboamfs dynasty, as a man burns up manure until it is gone. 11Dogs will eat anyone who dies in the city that belongs to Jeroboamfs household. The birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the open field, because the Lord has determined it.f
12gNow get up and go home. When your feet cross the city line, your child will die. 13Everyone in Israel will mourn for him and will bury him, because he alone from Jeroboamfs family will receive a decent burial, because something good was observed in him with respect to the Lord God of Israel out of all the household of Jeroboam!
14gIn addition to this, the Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will eliminate Jeroboamfs dynasty, starting today and from now on. 15The Lord will attack Israel, and Israel will shake like a reed shakes in a river current! He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and he will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they erected their Asherim and provoked the Lord to become angry! 16He will give up Israel because of Jeroboamfs sins that he committed and by which Jeroboam caused Israel to sin.h
17Then Jeroboamfs wife got up and left for Tirzah. As soon as she set foot over the threshold of the house, the child died. 18All of Israel mourned him at his burial, just as the Lord had said when he spoke through Ahijah the prophet.
19Now as for the rest of Jeroboamfs accomplishments, including how he waged war and how he reigned, you may read about them in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 20Jeroboam reigned for 22 years and then died, as had his ancestors, and his son Nadab reigned in his place.
21Meanwhile, Solomonfs son Rehoboam reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to place his Name. His mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. 22Judah practiced what the Lord considered to be evil. They did more to provoke him to jealousy than their ancestors had ever done by committing the sins that they committed. 23They erected high places, sacred pillars, and Asherim for themselves on every high hill and under every green tree. 24They even maintained male shrine prostitutes throughout the land, and imitated every detestable practice that the nations practiced whom the Lord had expelled in front of the Israelis.
25As a result, during the fifth year of the reign of King Rehoboam, King Shishak of Egypt invaded and attacked Jerusalem. 26He stripped the Lordfs Temple and the royal palace of their treasures. He took everything, even the gold shields that Solomon had made. 27King Rehoboam made shields out of bronze to take their place, and then committed them to the care and custody of the commanders of those who guarded the entrance to the royal palace. 28Whenever the king entered the Lordfs Temple, the guards would carry them to and from the guardfs quarters.
29As to the rest of Rehoboamfs accomplishments, and everything else that he undertook, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, arenft they? 30There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, 31but eventually Rehoboam died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His motherfs name had been Naamah the Ammonite, and his son Abijah became king to replace him.
Chapter 15
1Abijah reigned over Judah starting in the eighteenth year of Nebatfs son Jeroboamfs reign. 2He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3He practiced the same sins that his father committed before he was born. Unlike his ancestor David, his heart never became devoted to the Lord his God. 4Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the Lord his God maintained a lamp for David in Jerusalem by raising up his son after him so that Jerusalem would be established, 5because David had practiced what the Lord considered to be right. He never avoided anything that the Lord had commanded him during his entire lifetime, except for the case of Uriah the Hittite.
6There was continual military conflict between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout his entire lifetime. 7The rest of Abijahfs accomplishments, including everything he undertook, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? And a state of war continued to exist between Abijah and Jeroboam. 8Eventually, Abijah died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king.
9Asa began to reign as Judahfs king during the twentieth year of the reign of Jeroboam as king over Israel. 10He reigned 41 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11Asa practiced what the Lord considered to be right, just like his ancestor David. 12He also removed the male cult prostitutes from the land and destroyed all the idols that his ancestors had made. 13He removed his mother Maacah from her position as Queen Mother because she had made a detestable image dedicated to Asherah. Asa cut down his motherfs idol, crushed it, and burned it at the Kidron Brook. 14Nevertheless, the high places were not removed, even though Asafs heart was blameless toward the Lord all of his life. 15Asa brought into the Lordfs Temple the things that his father had dedicated, as well as his own dedicated gifts such as silver, gold, and temple service implements.
16A state of continual military unrest existed between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their lifetimes. 17King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and interdicted Ramah by building fortifications around it so no one could enter or leave to join King Asa of Judah. 18But Asa removed all the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lordfs Temple and from his royal palace, placed them into the care of some servants, and then sent them to Tabrimmonfs son King Ben-hadad of Aram, the grandson of Hezion, who lived in Damascus.
19gLetfs make a treaty between you and me,h he said, gjust like the one between my father and your father. Notice that Ifve sent you silver and gold to break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so hefll retreat from his attack on me.h
20So King Ben-hadad did just what King Asa had asked: he sent his commanding officers to attack the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, all of Chinneroth, and the territory of Naphtali. 21When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and remained in Tirzah, 22so King Asa published a proclamation throughout Judah (no one was left out) and they carried away the stones and timber with which Baasha had been fortifying Judah. King Asa used them to fortify Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah.
23The rest of Asafs accomplishments, his strength, everything that he undertook, and the cities that he fortified are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? However, as he approached old age, he became diseased in his feet. 24Then Asa died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his ancestor. His son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.
25Jeroboamfs son Nadab became king over Israel during the second year of the reign of King Asa over Judah. He reigned over Israel for two years, 26practicing what the Lord considered to be evil, living the way his father did, committing sins, and leading Israel to sin. 27So Ahijahfs son Baasha from the household of Issachar conspired against him and killed Nadab at Gibbethon in Philistia while Nadab and all of Israel were attacking Gibbethon. 28Baasha killed him during the third year of the reign of King Asa of Judah and took Nadabfs place as king.
29As soon as he was established as king, he killed everyone in the household of Jeroboam. He left not even one single person alive. He destroyed them completely, just as the Lord had spoken through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30because of the sins that Jeroboam had committed, and because he led Israel into sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to become angry.
31Now the rest of Nadabfs accomplishments, including everything he undertook, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 32Meanwhile, a state of war continued to exist between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, throughout their reigns.
33During the third year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, Ahijahfs son Baasha became king over all of Israel. He reigned for 24 years at Tirzah. 34He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, living like Jeroboam did and leading Israel into sin.
Chapter 16
1Later, a message came from the Lord to Hananifs son Jehu. It was directed to rebuke Baasha, and this is what it said:
2I raised you from the dirt to become Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel, but youfve been living like Jeroboam, youfve been leading my people Israel into sin, and youfve been provoking me to anger with their sins. 3So watch out! Ifm going to devour Baasha and his household. Ifm going to make your household just like the household of Jeroboam, Nebatfs son. 4Anyone from Baashafs household who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the sky will eat.h
5Now the rest of Baashafs accomplishments, including everything that he undertook, as well as his strengths, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 6Eventually, Baasha died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah was installed as king in his place.
7In addition, a message from the Lord came through Hananifs son Jehu the prophet against Baasha and his household, not only because of all of the things that Baasha did that the Lord considered to be evil, including provoking the Lord to anger by what he did and by being like the household of Jeroboam, but also because Baasha had destroyed Jeroboamfs household.
8During the twenty-sixth year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, Baashafs son Elah became king over Israel and reigned at Tirzah for two years. 9But his servant Zimri, who commanded half of his chariot forces, conspired against Elah while he was drinking himself drunk in the home of Arza, who managed the household at Tirzah. 10Zimri went inside, attacked him, and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, and then became king in Elahfs place. 11As soon as he had consolidated his reign, he executed the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male alive, including any of Baashafs relatives or friends. 12In doing so, Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, in keeping with the message from the Lord that he had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet 13because of all the sins that Baasha and his son Elah had committed and because of what they did to lead Israel into sin, thus provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idolatry. 14Now the rests of Elahfs accomplishments, including everything he undertook, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?
15Zimri reigned for seven days at Tirzah during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Asa of Judah. At that time, the army was encamped in a siege against Gibbethon of Philistia. 16The army at the encampment heard this report: gZimri has conspired against the king and killed him.h So the entire army of Israel made Omri, their commander, king over Israel. 17Then Omri and the entire army of Israel left from Gibbethon and attacked Tirzah. 18When Zimri observed that the city had been captured, he retreated into the kingfs palace, set fire to the citadel, and died when the palace burned down around him 19because of the sins that he committed by doing what the Lord considered to be evil, living like Jeroboam did, and sinning so as to lead Israel into sin. 20The rest of Zimrifs accomplishments, including his conspiracy that he carried out, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?
21The army of Israel was divided into two parties: half of the army were loyal to Ginathfs son Tibni and wanted to make him king, and half were loyal to Omri. 22But the army that was loyal to Omri was victorious over Ginathfs son Tibni. Tibni later died and Omri became king. 23During the thirty-first year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He reigned for twelve years, six of them at Tirzah. 24He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, fortified the hill, and named the city Samaria after Shemer, the former owner of the hill. 25Omri practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, doing far more evil than anyone who had reigned before him. 26He lived just like Nebatfs son Jeroboam, and by his sin he led Israel into sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their idolatry. 27Now the rest of Omrifs accomplishments, including the power that he demonstrated, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 28So Omri died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.
29Omrifs son Ahab became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa of Judah. He reigned over Israel in Samaria for 22 years. 30Omrifs son Ahab practiced more of what the Lord considered to be evil than anyone who had lived before him. 31In fact, as if it were nothing for him to live like Nebatfs son Jeroboam, Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Then he went out to serve Baal and worship him. 32He built an altar for Baal in a temple for Baal that he constructed in Samaria. 33Ahab also erected an Asherah, doing more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all of the kings of Israel who had reigned before him. 34It was during Ahabfs reign that Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations just as his firstborn son Abiram was dying, and he erected its gates while his youngest son Segub was dying, thus fulfilling the message that the Lord delivered through Nunfs son Joshua.
Chapter 17
1Elijah the foreigner, who was an alien resident from Gilead, told Ahab, gAs the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence Ifm standing, there will be neither dew nor rain these next several years, except when I say so.h
2Later, this message came to him from the Lord: 3gLeave here and go into hiding at the Wadi Cherith, where it enters the Jordan River. 4You will be able to drink from that brook, and Ifve commanded some crows to sustain you there.h
5So Elijah left and did exactly what the Lord had told him to do\he went to live near the Wadi Cherith, where it enters the Jordan River. 6Crows would bring him bread and meat both in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7But after a while, the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
8Then this message came to him from the Lord: 9gGet up, move to Zarephath in Sidon, and stay there. Look! Ifve commanded a widow to sustain you there.h
10So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance to the city, a widow was there gathering sticks. So he asked her, gPlease, may I have some water in a cup so I can have a drink.h 11While she was on her way to get the water, he called out to her, gWould you please also bring me a piece of bread while youfre at it?h
12gAs the Lord your God lives,h she replied, gI donft have so much as a muffin, just a handful of flour in a bowl and some oil left in a bottle. Now Ifm going to find some sticks so I can cook a last meal for my son and for me. Then wefre going to eat it and die.h
13But Elijah told her, gYou can stop being afraid. Go and do what you said, but first make me a muffin and bring it to me. Then make a meal for yourself and for your son, 14because this is what the Lord God of Israel says: eThat jar of flour will not run out, nor will that bottle of oil become empty until the very day that the Lord sends rain on the surface of the ground.fh
15So she went out and did precisely what Elijah told her to do. As a result, Elijah, the widow, and her son were fed for days. 16The jar of flour never ran out and the bottle of oil never became empty, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
17Sometime later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. In fact, his illness became so severe that he died. 18gWhat do we have in common, you man of God?h she accused Elijah. gYou came to me so you could uncover my guilt! And youfre responsible for the death of my son!h
19gGive me your son,h he replied. Then he took him from her lap, carried him upstairs to the room where he lived, and laid him on his bed. 20Then he called out to the Lord and asked him, gLord my God, have you also brought evil to this dear widow with whom I am living as her guest? Have you caused the death of her son?h 21Then he stretched himself three times and cried out to the Lord, gLord my God, please cause the soul of this little boy to return to him.h
22The Lord listened to Elijah, and the soul of the little boy returned to him, and he revived. 23Then Elijah took the little boy downstairs from the upper chamber back into the main house and delivered him to his mother. gLook,h Elijah told her, gyour son is alive.h
24The woman responded to Elijah, gNow at last Ifve really learned that you are a man of God and that what you have to say about the Lord is the truth.h
Chapter 18
1Quite some time later\three years later!\this message from the Lord came to Elijah: gGo visit Ahab, and Ifll send some rain to the surface of the ground.h 2So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab, right when the famine in Samaria was most severe.
3Ahab called for Obadiah, his household supervisor. This man, who feared the Lord very much, 4had taken 100 prophets and had hidden them by fifties in a cave, providing them with food and water when Jezebel was trying to destroy the Lordfs prophets.
5Ahab had instructed Obadiah, gGo throughout the land to all of the water springs and to all of the valleys. Maybe wefll find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Also, maybe we wonft have to kill some of our cattle.h 6So they divided the land between them so they could conduct their survey. Ahab went off by himself in one direction and Obadiah went off by himself in the other.
7While Obadiah was on the road, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him and bowed down with his face to the ground. gItfs you, isnft it, my master Elijah?h
8gI am,h he replied. gGo tell your master, eLook! Elijah!fh
9But Obadiah replied, gWhat did I do wrong, that you would put me in a position where Ahab would execute me? 10As surely as the Lord your God lives, there isnft a nation or kingdom where my master hasnft tried to find you. Whenever they would say eHe isnft here,f he forced that kingdom or nation to swear that they hadnft seen you. 11But now youfre saying eGo tell your master, gElijah is here!hf 12As soon as Ifve left you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you off to I donft know where! Then when I go tell Ahab and he canft find you, hefll kill me, even though I have been your servant and have feared the Lord since I was young! 13Hasnft anyone told you, my master, what I did when Jezebel was killing the Lordfs prophets? I hid 100 of the Lordfs prophets by fifties in a cave and provided food and water for them. 14Now youfre saying, eGo tell your master, gElijahfs here!hf Hefs sure to kill me!h
15But Elijah promised him, gAs the Lord of the Heavenly Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, I will appear to Ahab today.h
16So Obadiah went out to meet Ahab and reported to him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab asked him, gIs it really you, you destroyer of Israel?h
18But Elijah replied, gIfm no destroyer of Israel. But you and your ancestorfs household have been doing that, because you have abandoned the Lordfs commandments and have followed the Baals. 19So go gather all of Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. Bring along 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah who are funded at Jezebelfs expense.h
20Ahab sent for the Israelis and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel, 21where Elijah approached all the people and asked them, gHow long will you keep hesitating between both sides? If the Lord is God, go after him. If Baal, go after him.h
But the people didnft say a word.
22So Elijah told the people, gIfm the only one left over as a prophet of the Lord, am I? But Baalfs prophets number 450 men? 23So let them provide two oxen. They can choose one ox for themselves. Cut it up, lay it on top of some wood, but donft set fire to it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on top of some wood, and I wonft set fire to it. 24Then you can call on the name of your god, and Ifll call on the name of the Lord. Let the God who answers by fire be our God!h
gThatfs a good idea!h all the people shouted.
25So Elijah told the prophets of Baal, gChoose an ox for yourselves and you prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but donft set fire to the offering.h
26So they took the ox that was given to them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from early morning until noon. gBaal! Answer us!h they cried. But there was no response. Nobody answered. So they kept on dancing around the altar that they had made.
27Starting about noon, Elijah began to tease them:
gShout louder!
gHefs a god, so maybe hefs busy.
gMaybe hefs relieving himself.
gMaybe hefs busy someplace.
gMaybe hefs taking a nap and somebody needs to wake him up.h
28So the prophets of Baal cried even louder and slashed themselves with swords and lances until their blood gushed out all over them, as was their custom. 29They kept on raving right through midday and until it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, but there was still no response. Nobody answered, and nobody paid attention.
30Eventually, Elijah told everybody, gCome here!h So everybody approached him, and he repaired the Lordfs altar that had been torn down. 31Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Jacobfs descendants, to whom the message from the Lord had come that gIsrael is to be your name.h 32So Elijah used the stones to build an altar to the name of the Lord. But then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two measures of seed. 33Then he laid the wood in order, cut the bull into pieces, and laid them on top of the wood.
gFill four pitchers with water,h he ordered. gThen pour them out on the burnt offering and the wood.h
34gDo it a second time,h he ordered. So they did it a second time.
gDo it a third time,h he said. So they did it a third time. 35The water ran down around the altar and completely filled the trench.
36As the time for the evening offering arrived, Elijah the prophet approached and said, gLord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I, your servant, have done all of this in obedience to your word. 37Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people may know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning back their hearts again.h
38Right then the Lordfs fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even the water that was in the trench! 39When all the people saw what had happened, they fell flat on their faces and cried out gThe Lord is God! The Lord is God!h
40But Elijah said, gArrest the prophets of Baal. Donft let even one of them get away.h So the people seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and executed them there.
41After this, Elijah told Ahab, gGet up and have something to eat and drink, because therefs the sound of a coming rainstorm.h 42So Ahab got up to get something to eat and drink while Elijah went back up to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed low to the ground and placed his face between his knees.
43Then he told his young servant, gGo and look toward the sea.h
So he went and looked out to sea. gNothing there,h he said.
But Elijah told him to go back seven times. 44On the seventh look, he said, gLook! Therefs a cloud, a small one, about the size of a manfs hand. Itfs coming up out of the sea!h
gGet up and find Ahab!h Elijah said. gTell him, eMount your chariot and ride down the mountain so the storm doesnft stop you.fh
45A little while later, the sky turned black with storm clouds and winds, and there was a heavy shower. So Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46After Ahab had left, the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah, and he tucked his mantle into his belt and outran Ahab in a race to the city gate of Jezreel.
Chapter 19
1Ahab complained to Jezebel about everything that Elijah had done, especially the part about him killing all the prophets of Baal with a sword. 2Jezebel sent a messenger to tell Elijah, gMay the gods do the same to me and even more if tomorrow about this time I havenft made you like one of those prophets you had killed.h
3Elijah was terrified, so he got up and ran for his life to Beer-sheba, which is part of Judah, and left his servant there 4and ran for a dayfs journey deep into the wilderness. He found a juniper tree, sat down under it, and prayed that he could die. He asked God, gEnough! Lord! Take my life, because Ifm not better than my ancestors!h 5Then he lay down and went to sleep under the juniper tree. All of a sudden, there was an angel, who kept grabbing him and telling him, gGet up! Eat!h
6So he looked around, and there near his head was a muffin sitting on top of some heated stones, along with a jar of water. Elijah ate and drank and then lay down again. 7Later, the angel of the Lord came a second time, grabbed him, and said gGet up! Eat! The journey ahead is too difficult for you!h 8So Elijah got up, ate and drank, and survived on that one meal for 40 days and nights as he set out on his journey to Horeb, Godfs mountain.
9Elijah arrived at a cave and stayed there. All of a sudden this message came from the Lord: gWhat are you doing here, Elijah?h
10gIfve been very zealous for the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,h he replied. gThe Israelis have abandoned your covenant, demolished your altars, executed your prophets with swords, and I\thatfs right, just me!\am the only one left. Now theyfre seeking my life, to get rid of me!h
11gGo out,h he responded, gand stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord.h And there was the Lord, passing by! A tremendous, mighty windstorm was tearing at the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces in the presence of the Lord, but the Lord was not in the windstorm. After the wind there came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake there came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13As soon as Elijah heard it, he covered his face in his mantle, went outside, and stood at the entrance to the cave. And there a voice spoke to him and said, gWhat are you doing here, Elijah?h
14gIfve been very zealous for the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,h he replied. gThe Israelis have abandoned your covenant, demolished your altars, executed your prophets with swords, and I\thatfs right, just me!\am the only one left. Now theyfre seeking my life, to get rid of me!h
15The Lord replied to him, gGo! Return to Damascus, and when you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Aram, 16anoint Nimshifs son Jehu as king over Israel, and anoint Shaphatfs son Elisha from Abel-meholah as a prophet to replace you. 17Whoever escapes from Hazaelfs sword Jehu will execute, and whoever escapes from Jehufs sword Elisha will put to death. 18Nevertheless, Ifve reserved 7,000 in Israel who have neither bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him.h
19Elijah left there and located Shaphatfs son Elisha, who was plowing, along with a total of twelve pairs of oxen. (He was plowing with the twelfth pair.) As Elijah passed by, he tossed his cloak at Elisha. 20He abandoned the oxen, ran off to follow Elijah, and asked him, gPlease, let me kiss my mother and father good-bye, and then Ifll come after you.h
gGo back again,h Elijah replied. gWhat have I done to you?h
21So Elisha turned back, took the pair of oxen, sacrificed them, boiled their flesh using the farm implements for fuel, and gave the food to the people with him. Then he got up, followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Chapter 20
1A little while later, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered an army of cavalry and chariots in a military confederacy with 32 kings, invaded Samaria, and set up siege encampments there. 2Then he sent envoys to visit King Ahab of Israel and told him, gThis is what Ben-hadad says: 3eYour silver and gold belong to me. So do the most beautiful of your wives and children.fh
4gWhatever you want, your majesty,h the king of Israel answered. gI belong to you, as does everything I own.h
5After delivering Ahabfs answer, the envoys returned with this message: gThis is what Ben-hadad says: eIfve sent my envoys to you to tell you that your silver, gold, wives, and children are to be given to me. 6About this time tomorrow, Ifll send my servants to you, and theyfll search through your palace and your servantsf houses. Whatever is important to you will be seized and taken away.fh
7Then the king of Israel called together all of the elders of the land and told them, gPlease note that this man is here looking for trouble. He sent a message to me, demanding my wives, my children, and my silver and gold, and I havenft refused him.h
8gDonft listen to him,h all the elders and the people replied. gAnd donft agree to his terms.h
9So he told Ben-hadadfs envoys, gTell his majesty the king, eEverything that you asked for the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.fh So the envoys left to deliver Ahabfs response. They returned a little while later.
10Beh-hadad sent this message back: gMay the gods do so to me, and more than that also, if the dust that remains of Samaria is enough to fill up a few handfuls for all of the armies at my disposal.h
11But the king of Israel replied, gTell him, eThe one who is starting to strap on his battle armor should never brag like the one who is taking it off.fh
12Ben-hadad received Ahabfs response while he was celebrating with his kings in the battle pavilions. gSound eBattle Stations!fh he ordered, and the army began to prepare their attack.
13Right about then, a prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and told him, gThis is what the Lord says: eYou see all of this great big army, do you? Well now, Ifm going to deliver them all right into your hand, and you will learn that I am the Lord!fh
14gBy whom?h Ahab asked.
gThis is what the Lord says,h the prophet replied. geBy the young men who serve as officials within the provinces.fh
gWho is to begin the battle?h Ahab asked.
gYou,h the prophet answered.
15So Ahab gathered together 232 young men who served as officials within the provinces and then mustered 7,000 soldiers from among the Israelis. 16They attacked at noon, just as Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the battle pavilions, along with the 32 kings who had joined him. 17The young men who served as officials within the provinces led the charge, and somebody informed Ben-hadad, gSome men have come out from Samaria.h
18gTake them alive, whether theyfve come in peace or not,h he ordered.
19Meanwhile, as the young men who served as officials within the provinces left the city, their army followed after them. 20Each man struck down his opponent, and the Arameans ran away with Israel in pursuit. King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on horseback with the help of his cavalry. 21The king of Israel went out and attacked the cavalry and chariots and killed the Arameans in a massive victory.
22The prophet approached the king of Israel and told him, gGo replenish your forces and prepare for the future, because early this next year the king of Aram will attack you again.h
23Sure enough, the advisors to the king of Aram told him, gTheir gods are mountain gods. Thatfs why they were stronger than we were. But when we fight them on the plains, wefre certain to be the stronger army! 24So do this: remove the kings from command and replace them with captains. 25Then replace the army that you lost, horse-for-horse and chariot-for-chariot. Wefll fight them on the plains, and wefre certain to be the stronger army.h Ben-hadad listened to what they had to say and carried out their advice.
26Early the next year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and invaded Aphek in a battle against Israel. 27The Israelis were mustered, equipped with provisions, and sent out to fight. The Israeli encampment looked like two little flocks of goats compared to how the Aramean encampments filled the countryside!
28Right about then, a man of God approached and told the king of Israel, gThis is what the Lord says: eBecause the Arameans keep saying gThe Lord is a mountain god, but isnft a valley god,h Ifm going to deliver this entire vast army right into your control, so youfll learn that I really am the Lord.fh 29So they remained in opposing camps for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle commenced, and the Israelis killed 100,000 Aramean infantry troops in a single day. 30The rest of the Aramean army retreated into Aphek, but the city wall collapsed on 27,000 soldiers who had taken shelter there. Ben-hadad himself ran away and hid inside a closet somewhere in the city.
31gLook, now,h his advisors suggested, gwefve heard that the Israeli kings are merciful. So letfs clothe ourselves with sackcloth, tie our hair back with ropes, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe hefll spare your life.h 32So they put on some sackcloth, tied their hair back with ropes, and approached the king of Israel. gYour servant Ben-hadad says this,h they said. gPlease let me live.h
gIs he still alive?h Ahab asked. gHefs my brother.h
33Ben-hadadfs advisors, quickly analyzing the signs in what Ahab was saying, responded, gYes, your brother Ben-hadad.h
gGo get him,h Ahab responded. So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab took him up into his personal chariot.
34Ben-hadad made this promise to Ahab: gI will restore the cities that my ancestors took from your ancestors. Youfll be able to build streets named after yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.h
gWith this promise I will release you,h Ahab replied. So Ahab made a treaty with Ben-hadad and let him go.
35Right about then, one of the members of the guild of prophets told another through a message from the Lord: gPlease strike me!h But the man refused to do so, 36so he told him, gBecause you havenft obeyed the Lordfs voice, as soon as you leave here, a lion will kill you.h As soon as the man left, a lion found him and killed him.
37Later, he found another man and told him, gPlease strike me!h So the man struck him and wounded him. 38Then the prophet left and waited for the king to pass by, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and told him, gYour servant went out into the middle of the battle, and a soldier turned aside, brought a prisoner to me, and told me, eGuard this man. If he turns up missing for any reason at all, youfll pay for it with your life or be fined 75 pounds of silver.f 40While your servant was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped.h
The king told him, gBy your actions youfve earned the proper judgment!h
41Then the prophet quickly tore off his bandage, and the king of Israel recognized him as being one of the prophets. 42He told the king, gThis is what the Lord says: eBecause you let the man whom I had dedicated to destruction go free, therefore your life is to be forfeited for his life, and your people for his people.fh
43After hearing this, the king of Israel rode back to his palace in Samaria, frustrated and in a foul mood.
Chapter 21
1Meanwhile, there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel who owned a vineyard that was located contiguous to King Ahabfs palace in Samaria. 2Ahab addressed Naboth and asked him, gI would like to plant a vegetable garden near my house. Please exchange your vineyard with a better one from me, or if youfd rather have cash, Ifll buy it for its full value.h
3But Naboth replied to Ahab, gNo way! The Lord prohibits the sale to you of the inheritance of my ancestors!h
4Ahab went back to his palace, sullen and in a foul mood, because Naboth the Jezreelite had turned down Ahabfs offer by saying gI will not transfer my ancestorsf inheritance to you!h He laid down on his bed, curled up with his face to the wall, and refused to eat.
5But his wife Jezebel went to him and asked him, gHow is it that youfre so sullen and refusing to eat?h
6gI asked Naboth the Jezreelite, eSell me your vineyard for cash, or if you want, Ifll give you a better one in its place.f But he refused. He told me, eI wonft give you my vineyard!fh
7gArenft you the reigning king of Israel,h his wife Jezebel replied. gGet up, have a meal, and get ready to be happy. Ifll go get you the vineyard that Naboth the Jezreelite owns.h 8So she wrote some memos in Ahabfs name, set his personal seal to them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9In the memos, she wrote the following directives: gProclaim a public fast and seat Naboth in the front row. 10Seat two wicked men in front of him, and make them testify against him. Tell them to claim eYou cursed God and the king.f Then take him out and stone him to death.h
11So the leading men of the city, along with the elders and nobles who lived there, did precisely what Jezebel had directed them to do. They followed the instructions that she had set forth in the memos: 12They proclaimed a public fast and seated Naboth in the front row. 13Two wicked men came in, sat down in front of them, and testified against Naboth in public, gNaboth cursed God and the king!h So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
14Afterwards, they sent a message to Jezebel that said, gNaboth has been stoned. Hefs dead.h
15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told Ahab, gGet up and confiscate Nabothfs vineyard that he refused to sell you for cash. Naboth the Jezreelite isnft alive anymore. Hefs dead!h 16So once he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab got up, went down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and confiscated it.
17Thatfs when this message from the Lord came to Elijah the foreigner: 18gGet up and go down to meet King Ahab of Israel. Hefs in Samaria. Look! Hefs in Nabothfs vineyard, where hefs gone to confiscate it. 19Ask the king, eDid you commit murder? And now youfre going to steal as well?f Also tell him, eThis is what the Lord says: gWhere the dogs were licking up Nabothfs blood, dogs will also lick up your blood\thatfs right\yours!hfh
20Later on, Ahab asked Elijah, gHave you found me, my enemy?h
But Elijah answered, gIfve found you because you sold yourself to do what the Lord considers to be evil! 21Now pay attention! Ifm going to send evil in your direction! I will completely sweep you away and eliminate from Ahab every male, whether indentured servant or free, throughout Israel. 22I will make your household resemble that of Nebatfs son Jeroboam, or like the household of Ahijahfs son Baasha, because of how youfve provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin. 23The Lord also has this to say about Jezebel: eDogs will eat Jezebel within the outer ramparts of Jezreel. 24Dogs will eat whoever belongs to Ahab and who dies in the city. The birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the fields.fh
25It can be truly said that no one else sold himself to practice what the Lord considered to be evil quite like the way Ahab did, because his wife Jezebel incited him. 26His behavior in pursuing idolatry was detestable, just like the Amorites had done whom the Lord had expelled in front of the army of Israel. 27Nevertheless, as soon as Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and wandered around meekly.
28Later, this message from the Lord came to Elijah the foreigner: 29gHave you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his sonfs lifetime.h
Chapter 22
1Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. 2During that third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit the king of Israel. 3The king of Israel asked his servants, gWere you aware that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, but we arenft doing anything to remove it from the control of the king of Aram?h
4Then he asked Jehoshaphat, gWill you join me in battle against Ramoth-gilead?h
gIfm with you,h Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel. gMy army will join yours, and my cavalry will be your cavalry.h 5But Jehoshaphat also asked the king of Israel, gPlease ask for a message from the Lord, first.h
6So the king of Israel called in about 400 prophets and asked them, gShould we go attack Ramoth-gilead, or should I call off the attack?h
gGo attack them,h they all said, gbecause the Lord will drop them right into the kingfs hand!h
7But Jehoshaphat asked, gIsnft there a prophet of the Lord left here that we could talk to?h
8gThere is still one man left by whom we could ask the Lord what to do,h the king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, gbut I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me. Instead, he prophesies evil. He is Imlafs son Micaiah.h
But Jehoshaphat rebuked Ahab, gKings should never talk like that.h
9Nevertheless, the king of Israel called one of his officers and ordered him, gBring me Imlafs son Micaiah quickly.h
10Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were each sitting on their respective thrones, arrayed in their robes, on the threshing floor at the entrance to the city gate of Samaria, and all of the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11Chenaanahfs son Zedekiah made iron horns for himself and told them, gThis is what the Lord says, eWith these horns you are to gore the Arameans until they are eliminated!fh
12All the other prophets were saying similar things, like gGo up to Ramoth-gilead and you will be successful, because the Lord will hand it over to the king!h
13Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, gLook, everything that the other prophets were saying was unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably.h
14gAs the Lord lives,h Micaiah replied, gIfll say what my God tells me to say.h
15When Micaiah approached the king, the king asked him, gMicaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?h
gGo to war,h Micaiah replied, gand you will be successful, because the Lord will hand it over to the king!h
16When he heard this, the king asked him, gHow many times do I have to make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth? Now do it in the name of the Lord!h
17So Micaiah replied:
gI saw all of Israel
scattered on the mountains
like sheep without a shepherd.
And the Lord told me,
eThese have no master,
so let them each return to his own home in peace.fh
18Then the king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, gDidnft I tell you that he wouldnft prophesy anything good about me, but only evil?h
19But Micaiah responded, gTherefore, listen to what the Lord has to say. I saw the Lord, sitting on his throne, and the entire Heavenly Army was standing around him on his right hand and on his left hand.
20gThe Lord asked, eWho will tempt King Ahab of Israel to attack Ramoth-gilead, so that he will die there?f And one was saying one thing and one was saying another.
21gBut then a spirit approached, stood in front of the Lord, and said, eI will entice him.f
22gAnd the Lord asked him, eHow?f
geI will go,f he announced, eand I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all of his prophets!f
gSo the Lord said, eYoufre just the one to deceive him. You will be successful. Go and do it.f
23gNow therefore, listen! The Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouth of all of these prophets of yours, because the Lord has determined to bring disaster upon you.h
24Right then, Chenaanahfs son Zedekiah approached Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. Then he asked him, gHow did the Spirit of the Lord move from me to speak to you?h
25Micaiah replied, gYoufll see how when the day comes that you run away to hide yourself in a closet!h
26Then the king of Israel ordered, gTake Micaiah and place him in the custody of Amon, the city governor. Hand him over to Joash, the kingfs son. 27Give him this order: ePlace him in prison on survival rations of bread and water only until I come back safely.fh
28gIf you return alive,h Micaiah responded, gthen the Lord has not spoken by me.h Then he added, gListen, all you people!h
29So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah both attacked Ramoth-gilead. 30The king of Israel suggested to Jehoshaphat, gIfll go into battle in disguise, but you keep your royal uniform on.h So the king of Israel disguised himself and they both went into the battle.
31Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to 32 of his chariot commanders: gDonft attack unimportant soldiers or ranking officers. Go after only the king of Israel.h
32So when the chariot commanders observed Jehoshaphat, they said by mistake, gItfs the king of Israel!h and they turned aside to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out. 33When the chariot commanders saw that their target was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.
34Meanwhile, somebody drew his bow aimlessly and struck the king of Israel between the scales where his armor breastplates joined, so he instructed his chariot driver, gTurn around and take me out of the battle, because Ifve been severely wounded.h 35The battle continued on for the rest of the day while the king of Israel was propped up in front of the Arameans until the sun set, at which time he died. The blood from Ahabfs wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.
36As the day drew to a close, this order was circulated throughout the army telling the soldiers, gEverybody go back to his city and to his own land.h 37So the king died and was brought back to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria. 38They washed the chariot by the reservoir of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood near where the prostitutes went to bathe, in keeping with the message that the Lord had spoken.
39Now as to the rest of Ahabfs accomplishments, everything that he undertook, the ivory palace he built, and the cities that he built, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 40Thatfs how Ahab died, just as his ancestors had, and his son Ahaziah became king in his place.
41Asafs son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah during the fourth year of the reign of King Ahab of Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi. 43He lived like his father Asa and never abandoned that life. He did what the Lord considered to be right. Nevertheless, the high places were not demolished, and the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. 44Jehoshaphat also made a peace treaty with the king of Israel.
45Now the rest of Jehoshaphatfs accomplishments, the power that he demonstrated, and how he waged war are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 46He also eliminated the male cult prostitutes who still remained from the time of his father Asa.
47There was no king reigning in Edom; there was only a stand-in king. 48Jehoshaphat had ocean-going vessels from Tarshish sail to Ophir for gold, but they never made it because they were shipwrecked at Ezion-geber. 49Ahabfs son Ahaziah had offered to go. gLet my servants go with your servants in the ships!h he said. But Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50Later, Jehoshaphat died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried alongside his ancestors in the city of David. Jehoram his son became king in his place.
51Ahabfs son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He reigned for two years over Israel. 52He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by living life like his father and mother did. He lived like Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who led Israel into sin. 53He served Baal, worshipped him, and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, in accordance with everything his father had done.
Second Kings
Chapter 1
1Moab rebelled against Israel after Ahab died. 2Meanwhile, Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice in his upper room in Samaria and lay injured. He sent messengers to Ekron with these orders: gGo and consult with Ekronfs god Baal-zebub to find out if Ifm going to recover from this injury.h
3But the angel of the Lord spoke to Elijah the foreigner, gGet up and go meet the messengers from the king of Samaria. Ask them eIs it because there is no God in Israel that youfre going to consult with Ekronfs god Baal-zebub? 4Now therefore this is what the Lord says: gYou wonft be getting up from that bed of yours on which youfre lying. You will most certainly die!hfh So Elijah got up and went.
5The messengers returned to the king and he asked them, gWhatfs this? Youfve come back?h
6They replied, gWe met a man who told us, eGo back to the king who sent you and ask him, gIs it because there is no God in Israel that youfre going to consult with Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you wonft be getting up from that bed on which youfre lying. You will most certainly die!hfh
7He told them, gDescribe the man who met you and told you these things.h
8They answered, gThe man was a hairy fellow. He wore a leather sash around his waist.h
The king responded, gItfs Elijah, that foreigner!h
9So the king sent out 50 men, along with their leader. The leader approached Elijah, who was sitting at the top of a hill. He ordered Elijah, gHey, man of God! The king orders you to come down!h
10Elijah responded to the leader who was in charge of the 50 soldiers, gSo Ifm a man of God, am I? If so, may fire fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiersch Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured that leader and his 50 soldiers.
11Later the king tried again\he sent another company of 50 soldiers, along with their leader, who ordered Elijah, gHey, man of God! This is what the king orders: eCome down!fh
12Elijah responded to the leader and to his entire company, gSo Ifm a man of God, am I? If so, may fire fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiersch Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured him and his 50 soldiers.
13Then the king tried yet again! The king sent a third company of 50 soldiers along with their leader. The third leader went up the hill, approached Elijah, fell on his knees in front of him, and begged him, gHey, man of God, please treat my life and the lives of these servants of yours as precious! 14Look how fire fell from heaven and devoured the two other companies of 50 soldiers, along with their captains, but now please treat me as if my life were precious!h
15The angel of the Lord told Elijah, gGo down the hill with that man. Donft be afraid of him!h So Elijah got up and went down with him to meet the king.
16Then Elijah spoke to the king, gThis is what the Lord says: eSince you sent messengers to consult with Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron\is it because there is no God in Israel with whom to consult regarding his word?\therefore youfre not getting up from the bed on which youfre lying. You certainly will die!fh 17And die he did, just as the Lord had said and just as Elijah had spoken!
After this, Jehoram ascended to the throne during the second year of the reign of Jehoshaphatfs son Jehoram from Judah. He took the place of Ahaziah, who had no son. 18The rest of Ahaziahfs activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?
Chapter 2
1As the time drew near when the Lord was about to take Elijah to heaven in a wind storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah instructed Elisha, gRemain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me as far as Bethel.h
But Elisha replied, gAs the Lord lives, Ifm not going to leave you while youfre still alive!h So they both went on to Bethel.
3When the Guild of Prophets who lived in Bethel came out to greet Elisha, they asked him, gYou are aware, arenft you, that later today the Lord is going to remove your master from being your mentor?h
gOf course Ifm aware of it,h he said. gCalm down.h
4Elijah also spoke to him, gElisha, remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me to Jericho.h
But Elisha responded, gAs the Lord lives, and while youfre still alive, Ifm not going to leave you!h So they went to Jericho.
5The Guild of Prophets who lived in Jericho approached Elisha and asked him, gYou are aware, arenft you, that later today the Lord is going to remove your master from being your mentor?h
gOf course Ifm aware of it,h he said. gCalm down.h
6Elijah also spoke to him, gElisha, remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me to the Jordan River.h
But Elisha responded, gAs the Lord lives, and while youfre still alive, Ifm not going to leave you!h So they went on their way, 7accompanied by 50 men from the Guild of Prophets, who stood at a short distance from them while they were both standing by the Jordan. 8Elijah took off his ornamented cloak, wrapped it up in a roll, struck the water, and all of a sudden the water divided into two parts! One side of the river stood still opposite the other until the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9When they had crossed the Jordan River, Elijah invited Elisha, gAsk me what you want me to do for you before Ifm taken away from you.h
So Elisha asked, gPlease, may there be a double portion of your spirit upon me!h
10gThatfs a hard thing to ask for,h Elijah answered, gbut if you see me while Ifm being taken from you, it will happen for you. But if you donft see me, it wonft happen.h
11As they continued on, talking as they went, suddenly chariots blazing with fire and pulled by fiery horses appeared, separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a wind storm to heaven! 12As Elisha continued to watch, he cried out, gMy father! My father! The chariots of Israel and its cavalry!h Then he did not see Elijah anymore.
After this, Elisha gripped his clothes that he was wearing, tore them apart into two pieces, 13picked up Elijahfs ornamented cloak that had fallen from him, and went back to stand on the bank of the Jordan River. 14Elisha took hold of Elijahfs ornamental cloak that had been left behind, struck the water, and cried out: gWhere is the Lord God of Elijah?h All of a sudden, after he had struck the water, the water divided into two parts! One side of the river stood opposite the other, and Elisha crossed over.
15As soon as the Guild of Prophets who lived adjacent to Jericho saw Elisha, they began to announce, gThe spirit of Elijah is at rest on Elisha!h So they came out to meet him and they greeted him by bowing low to the ground in front of him.
16Then they asked Elisha, gLook! We have 50 valiant men here with your servant! Please let them go out and search for your master Elijah. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up on a mountain or into a valley.h
Elisha responded, gDonft bother searching.h
17But they persisted until he was frustrated, so he said, gSend them out!h So they sent out the 50 men, and they looked around for three days but did not find Elijah. 18By the time they returned, Elisha was living in Jericho. Then Elisha asked them, gDidnft I tell you not to go?h
19The men who lived in the city addressed Elisha. gLook now,h they said, gour cityfs location is good, as you have been observing, but the water springs here are bad and the land isnft sustaining crops.h
20Elisha ordered them, gBring me a new bowl and put some salt in it.h So they brought him what he had requested.
21Elisha went out to the springs, threw the salt into them, and declared, gThis is what the Lord says: eI have purified these waters. Neither death nor barrenness is to flow from them anymore.fh 22As a result, the water springs remain pure to this day, just as Elisha had declared.
23Later, Elisha left there to go up to Bethel, and as he was traveling along the road, some insignificant young men came from the city and started mocking him. They told him, gGet on up, baldy! Get on up, baldy!h 24He looked behind him, took note of the young men, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Suddenly two female bears emerged from the woods and mauled 42 of the young men. 25After this, he left from there to go to Mt. Carmel, and from there he went back to Samaria.
Chapter 3
1Ahabfs son Jehoram ascended to the throne of Israel at Samaria during the eighteenth year of the reign of Judahfs king Jehoshaphat. He reigned for twelve years, 2practicing evil in the Lordfs presence, only not to the extent that his mother and father had done\he forced abolition of the sacred pillar to Baal that his father had crafted. 3Even so, he kept on committing the sins that Nebatfs son Jeroboam had done, which ensnared Israel in sin\he never abandoned them.
4Meanwhile, Moabfs king Mesha was a sheep breeder. He used to pay 100,000 lambs and the wool from 100,000 rams to the king of Israel as tribute. 5After Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6So king Jehoram left Samaria at that time and mustered the entire army of Israel. 7As he was going out, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: gThe king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight Moab?h
gIfm coming,h Jehoshaphat replied. gIfm like you! My army will act like your army and my cavalry like your cavalry,h Then Jehoshaphat added: 8gWhat road do we take?h
Jehoram answered, gWefll go along the Edom desert road.h
9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom made a complete circuit on the road for seven days, but there was no water for the army or for the livestock that accompanied them.
10Then the king of Israel remarked, gOh no! The Lord has summoned us three kings so he can hand us over to Moab, hasnft he?h
11Jehoshaphat asked, gIsnft there a prophet who belongs to the Lord and through whom we can ask the Lord a question?h
One of the king of Israelfs attendants replied, gShaphatfs son Elisha lives here. He used to be Elijahfs personal attendant.h
12Jehoshaphat answered, gHe receives messages from the Lord.h So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to visit Elisha.
13Elisha asked the king of Israel, gWhat do I have in common with you? Go visit your parentsf prophets.h
The king of Israel replied, gNo! The Lord has summoned these three kings so he can hand them over to Moab!h
14But Elisha responded, gAs the Lord of the Heavenly Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, I would never pay attention to you or even look in your direction were it not for my continual respect for the presence of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 15Now bring me a musician.h
As the musician played, the hand of the Lord rested on Elisha, 16so he said, gThis is what the Lord says: eFill this valley with trench after trench!f 17For this is what the Lord says: eThough you wonft see wind or storm, nevertheless that river will overflow with water so that you, your cattle, and your livestock may drink.f 18And this is the easy part for the Lord\hefs also going to hand the Moabites over to you! 19Then you are to attack every fortified city and every significant city. Cut down every significant tree, fill in all of the water springs, and ruin every prime piece of land with stones.h
20The very next day, about the time of the morning offering, water suddenly appeared, coming from the direction of Edom, and the land overflowed with water! 21Meanwhile, all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to attack them, so everyone old enough to wear battle armor was mustered to stand guard at the border. 22As the Moabites arose early that morning, the sun cast its rays on the water, and to the Moabites, the water across from them appeared to be red like blood. 23So they concluded, gThis must be blood! The kings must have had one mighty big fight and each man killed the other! So letfs go get the battle spoil, Moab!h
24But when the Moabites arrived at the Israeli encampment, the Israelis got up and attacked them. The Moabites ran away from the Israelis, who followed them into the land as they continued their pursuit against Moab. 25They destroyed their cities, and all of them threw stones onto every piece of farm land, ruining the fields. Then they filled in all the water wells and chopped down all of the useful trees. Stone walls remained surrounding Kir-hareseth only, until the archers surrounded and attacked that city. 26When the king of Moab realized that the battle was going strongly against him, he took 700 expert swordsmen to attempt to break through to the king of Edom, but was unable to do so. 27So he took his firstborn son, whom he intended to reign after him, and offered him up as a burnt offering on the wall. There subsequently came great anger against Israel, so they abandoned the attack and returned to their homeland.
Chapter 4
1Now there happened to be a certain woman who had been the wife of a member of the Guild of Prophets. She cried out to Elisha, gMy husband who served you has died, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. But a creditor has come to take away my children into indentured servitude!h
2Elisha responded, gWhat shall I do for you? Tell me what you have in your house.h
She replied, gYour servant has nothing in the entire house except for a flask of oil.h
3He told her, gGo out to all of your neighbors in the surrounding streets and borrow lots of pots from them. Donft get just a few empty vessels, either. 4Then go in and shut the door behind you, taking only your children, and pour oil into all of the pots. As each one is filled, set it aside.h
5So she left Elisha, shut the door behind her and her children, and while they kept on bringing vessels to her, she kept on pouring oil. 6When the last of the vessels had been filled, she told her son, gBring me another pot!h
But he replied, gThere isnft even one pot left.h Then the oil stopped flowing. 7After this, she went and told the man of God what had happened. So he said, gGo sell the oil, pay your debt, and you and your children will be able to live on the proceeds.h
8Some time later, Elisha went to Shunem, where he met a prominent and wealthy woman who persuaded him to have a meal with her. As a result, whenever he was in the area, he stopped by to eat with her. 9So she had a talk with her husband. gLook here! Ifve learned that this is a holy and godly man who comes by here on a regular basis. 10Now then, letfs build a small upper room and put a bed in it for him there, along with a table, a chair, and a lamp stand. That way, when he comes to visit, he can rest there.h
11One day, Elisha came by to visit and stopped in to rest in the upper chamber. 12He told his attendant Gehazi, gCall this Shunammite.h So when he had summoned her, she stood in front of him.
13Elisha told him, gAsk her, eLook how youfve gone to all this trouble to care for us! What can I do for you? Do you wish to be mentioned to the king or to the head of the army?fh
She replied, gIfm at home living among my own people.h
14He responded, gWhat, then, is to be done on her behalf?h
Gehazi answered, gWell, she has no son and her husband is growing old.h
15gCall her,h Elisha ordered. After he called her, she came and stood in the doorway, 16and he told her, gAbout this time next year you will be embracing a son.h
gNo, sir! Please, as a godly man, donft mislead your servant!h 17But the woman did conceive and did bear a son at that very same time the next year, just as Elisha had told her.
18After the child had grown up a bit, one day he went out to visit his father, who was with the harvesters. 19He told his father, gMy head! My head!h
So his father ordered his servant, gCarry him over to his mother!h 20So the servant carried him over to his mother, where he rested on her lap until mid-day, and then he died. 21The woman went upstairs, laid him on the bed belonging to the man of God, and shut the door, leaving him behind as she left.
22Then she called to her husband and asked him, gPlease send me one of the servants, along with one of the donkeys, so I can ride quickly to see that godly man. Ifll be right back.h
23He asked her, gWhatfs the point of visiting him today? Itfs not a New Moon, and it isnft the Sabbath!h
But she kept saying, gThings will go well.h
24So she saddled a donkey and told her servant, gForward, driver! Donft slow down on my account, unless I tell you!h 25So out she went and eventually she arrived at Mount Carmel to visit the man of God.
When the man of God noticed her from a distance, he told his attendant Gehazi, gLook! Therefs the woman from Shunem! 26Please run out quickly and greet her. Ask her, eAre things going well with you? Are things going well with your husband? Are things going well with your child?fh
She answered Gehazi, gThings are going well.h
27As she came near the man of God on the mountain, she grabbed his feet. When Gehazi intervened to push her away, the man of God said, gLeave her alone! She is deeply troubled! The Lord has concealed the thing from me, and hasnft informed me.h
28Then she asked, gDid I ask my lord for a son? Didnft I beg you, eDonft mislead me?fh
29At this he told Gehazi, gGet ready to run! Take my staff in your hand, and get on the road. Donft greet anyone you meet. If anyone greets you, donft respond. Just go lay my staff on the youngsterfs face.h
30At this, the youngsterfs mother replied, gAs long as you and the Lord live, Ifm not leaving you!h So he got up and followed her.
31Meanwhile, Gehazi went on ahead of them and placed the staff on the youngsterfs face, but when there was no sound or reaction, he returned, met Elisha, and told him, gThe youngster has shown no sign of awakening.h
32When Elisha entered the house, there was the youngster, dead and laid out on Elishafs bed! 33So he entered, shut the door behind them both, and prayed to the Lord. 34Then he approached the child and lay down with his mouth near the childfs, with his eyes near those of the child, and taking the childfs hands in his. As Elisha stretched himself on the child, the childfs flesh began to grow warm. 35Then he went downstairs, walked around back and forth inside the house once, went back up to his upper chamber, and stretched himself over the child again. The young man sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes.
36He called out to Gehazi, gGo get the Shunammite woman!h So he called her. When she came in to see Elisha, he told her, gTake back your son!h 37Then she approached him, fell at his feet, bowing low to the ground, took back her son, and went out.
38Elisha returned to Gilgal during a time of famine in the land. While the Guild of Prophets were having a meal with him, he instructed his attendant, gPut a large pot on the fire and boil some stew for the Guild of Prophets.h 39Somebody went out into the fields to grab some herbs, found a wild vine, and gathered a lap full of wild gourds, which he came and sliced up into the stew pot, but nobody else knew.
40When they served the men, they began to eat the stew. But they cried out, gThat pot of stew is deadly, you man of God!h So they couldnft eat the stew.
41But he replied, gBring me some flour.h He tossed it into the pot and said, gServe the people so they can eat.h Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.
42Later on, a man arrived from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God some bread as a first fruit offering. He had 20 loaves of barley and ripe ears of corn in his sack. So Elisha said, gGive them to the people so they can eat.h
43Elishafs attendant asked, gWhat? Will this serve 100 men?h
But he replied, gDistribute it to the people so they can eat, because this is what the Lord says: eThey will eat and have a surplus!fh 44So he served them, and they ate and had some left over, just as the Lord had indicated.
Chapter 5
1Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in the opinion of his master. He was highly favored, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. Though he was a mighty and valiant man, he was suffering from leprosy. 2On one of their raids to the territory of Israel, Aram had taken captive a young girl when she was an infant, who had eventually become an attendant to Naamanfs wife. 3She mentioned to her mistress, gIf only my master were to visit the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.h
4Later, Naaman went to inform his master and told him something like this: gThus and so spoke the young woman from the territory of Israel.h
5The king of Aram replied, gGo now, and Ifll send a letter to the king of Israel.h So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000 units of gold, along with ten sets of clothing. 6He also brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read as follows: gcand now as this letter finds its way to you, look! Ifve sent my servant Naaman to you so you may heal him of his leprosy.h
7When the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes and cried out, gAm I God? Can I kill and give life? Is this man sending me a request to heal a manfs leprosy? Letfs think about this\hefs looking for a reason to start a fight with me!h
8When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king and asked, gWhy did you tear your clothes? Please, let the man come visit me and he will learn that there is a prophet in Israel!h
9So Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots and stood in front of the door to Elishafs house. 10Elisha sent a messenger out to him, who told him, gGo bathe in the Jordan River seven times. Your flesh will be restored for you. Now stay clean!h
11But Naaman flew into a rage and left, telling himself, gLook! I thought eHefs surely going to come out to me, stand still, call out in the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the infection, and cure the leprosy!f 12Arenft the Abana and Pharpar rivers in Damascus better than all of the water in Israel? Couldnft I just bathe in them and become clean?h So he turned away and left, filled with anger.
13But then his servants approached him and spoke with him. They said, gMy father, had the prophet only asked of you something great, you would have done it, wouldnft you? Yet he told you, eBathe, and be cleanc!fh 14So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan River seven times, just as the man of God had said, and his flesh rejuvenated like the flesh of a newborn child. And he was clean.
15Naaman went back to the man of God, along with his entire entourage, and stood before him. gPlease look!h he said. gI know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel! So please, take a present from your servant.h
16But Elisha replied, gAs the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will not receive anything from you.h Though Naaman urged him to take it, Elisha declined.
17So Naaman asked, gNo? Then please let your servant load two mules with dirt from Israel, because your servant will no longer offer any burnt offering or sacrifice to any other god but the Lord. 18In this one area may the Lord pardon your servant: Whenever my master enters the temple of Rimmon to worship there, he will lean on my hand while I bow down in the temple of Rimmon. So may the Lord pardon your servant in this one area.h
19gGo in peace,h he said. So Naaman left.
After Naaman had gone only a short distance, 20Gehazi, the attendant to Elisha, the man of God, told himself, gLook how my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman! He declined to take from him what he brought. As the Lord lives, Ifm going to run after him and get something from him.h 21So Gehazi ran after Naaman.
When Naaman noticed someone running after him, he came down from his chariot, greeted him and asked, gIs everything all right?h
22Gehazi said, gEverythingfs all right. My master sent me to tell you, eJust now two men from the Guild of Prophets have arrived from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver bullion and two sets of clothes.fh
23But Naaman said, gPlease accept my invitation to take two talents of silver bullion.h He urged him, binding two talents of silver bullion in two bags, along with two sets of clothes. He placed them in the care of two of his young men, and they went on ahead of Gehazi. 24When he arrived at the stronghold, Gehazi took the bags from their custody and hid them away in the house. Then he sent the men away and they left.
25Later he went to address his master. Elisha asked him, gWhere did you go, Gehazi?h
gYour servant went nowhere in particular,h he said.
26But Elisha responded, gDidnft my heart break as the man was turning from his chariot to greet you? Is now the time to receive money? To receive clothes? And olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, servants, or female attendants? 27Naamanfs leprosy will plague you and your descendants forever!h As he left Elishafs presence, he was infected with leprosy that looked like white snow.
Chapter 6
1One day the Guild of Prophets told Elisha, gNotice how the place where we are living is too small for us. 2Letfs go to the Jordan River, fashion some rafters, and build a place for us so we can live there.h
So he said, gGo!h
3Someone asked, gWould you be willing to come with your servants?h
gIfm willing,h he replied. 4So he accompanied them, and when they came to the Jordan River, they cut down some trees.
5It happened that as one of them was felling a beam, his axe head fell into the water. He cried out, gOh no! Master! The axe was on loan to me!h
6The man of God asked, gWhere did it fall?h When he was shown the place, he cut off a branch, tossed it there, and made the iron axe head float. 7Then Elisha said, gPick it up!h So the young man reached out and picked it up.
8Eventually the king of Aram went to war against Israel, taking counsel with his advisors and concluding, gIn such and such a place Ifll build my encampment.h
9So the man of God sent a message to the king of Israel, warning him, gKeep an eye on that area, because the Arameans are going to be there!h 10The king of Israel confirmed the matter about which the man of God had warned him. Having been forewarned, he was able to protect himself there on more than one or two occasions.
11The king of Aram flew into a rage over this, so he called in his advisors and asked them, gWill you please tell me which of us has joined the king of Israel?h
12gNo, your majesty,h one of his servants said. gElisha the prophet, who lives in Israel, tells the king of Israel what you talk about in your bedroom!h
13So the king ordered, gGo and discover where he is, so I may send men to take him into custody.h
Later somebody told him, gLook! Hefs in Dothan!h
14So the king of Aram sent out horses, chariots, and an elite force, and they arrived during the night and surrounded the city. 15Meanwhile, the attendant to the man of God got up early in the morning and went outside, and there were the elite forces, surrounding the city, accompanied by horses and chariots! So Elishafs attendant cried out to him, gOh no! Master! What will we do!?h
16Elisha replied, gStop being afraid, because there are more with us than with them!h 17Then Elisha prayed, asking the Lord, gPlease make him able to really see!h And so when the Lord enabled the young man to see, he looked, and there was the mountain, filled with horses and fiery chariots surrounding Elisha!
18When the army approached him, Elisha spoke to the Lord, asking him, gLord, Ifm asking you please to afflict this group of people with blindness!h So he afflicted them with blindness, just as Elisha had asked.
19Then Elisha told the army, gThis isnft the way, and this isnft the city! Follow me, and Ifll bring you to the man youfre seeking. Then he led them to Samaria. 20When they arrived in Samaria, Elisha asked the Lord, gEnable them to see again.h So the Lord did so, and there they were\right in the middle of Samaria!
21When the king of Israel saw Elisha, he asked him, gShall I execute them, my father?h
22But he replied, gNo! Youfre not to kill them! Would you execute those whom youfve taken captive at the point of a sword or with your bow? Give them food and water so they can eat and drink. Then send them back to their master!h 23So he prepared a large festival for them, and when they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them back to their master, and marauding gangs of Arameans never came into the territory of Israel again.
24Some time later, King Ben-hadad from Aram mustered his army, invaded the land, and attacked Samaria 25until there was a great famine throughout Samaria. The siege lasted until a donkeyfs head cost 80 silver coins and one quarter of a unit of dovefs dung cost five silver coins.
26While the king of Israel was walking along the city wall, a woman cried out to him. gHelp me, your majesty!h she said.
27He replied, gNo! Since the Lord wonft give you victory, how will I be able to deliver you? From the threshing floor? From the wine press?h 28Then the king asked her, gWhatfs bothering you?h
She said, gThis woman told me, eGive up your son, and wefll eat him today, and wefll eat your son tomorrow.fh 29So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day, I told her, eGive me your son so we can eat him!f But she has hidden her son!h
30When the king heard what the woman said, he ripped his garments as he continued walking along the city wall. As the people watched, all of a sudden they noticed he was wearing sackcloth underneath his clothes, inside next to his flesh! 31He said, gMay God do to me\and more also!\if the head of Shaphatfs son Elisha remains on his shoulders today!h
32Meanwhile, Elisha was sitting in his house, along with the elders, when the king sent a man to kill him, but before the messenger arrived, Elisha told the elders, gAre you watching how this descendant of murderers has ordered my head be cut off? Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it to shut them out! Donft you hear the sound of his masterfs feet right behind him?h
33While he was still talking with them, the messenger arrived to see him and delivered the kingfs message to Elisha, gLook! This evil has come from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord anymore?h
Chapter 7
1So Elisha responded, gListen to this message from the Lord! eThis is what the Lord says: gAt about this time tomorrow, in Samariafs city gate, a seah of finely ground flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel.hfh
2But the royal attendant on whom the king depended responded to the man of God: gLook here! Even if the Lord were to open a window in the sky, how could this happen?h
He replied, gNo, you look! Youfll see it with your eyes, but you wonft eat any of it!h
3Now there happened to be four lepers who were at that very moment at the entrance to the city gate. As they were talking with one another, they said, gWhy are we sitting here waiting to die? 4If we tell ourselves, eLetfs remain in the city,f wefll die there since therefs famine in the city. But if we sit here, wefll die, too. So letfs go over to the Arameans! If they spare our lives, wefll live, and if they kill uscwefre dying anyway!h
5So they got up at dusk and went out to the Aramean encampment. But when they arrived at the outskirts of the Aramean encampment, there was no one there! 6The Lord had made the Aramean army hear the sounds of chariots, horses, and a large army, so they told one another, gLook! The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the Egyptians to come attack us!h 7So the Arameans got up and ran away in the gathering darkness. They left behind their tents, horses, and donkeys just as they were\and fled for their lives!
8When the lepers arrived at the outskirts of the encampment, they entered one tent and ate and drank. Then they carried off from there some silver, gold, and clothes, and went out and hid them. After this, they returned, entered another tent, raided it, and went and hid all of that, too! 9But then they told each other, gWefre not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, but if we keep quiet until morning, wefre sure to be punished! So letfs leave and go tell the kingfs household!h 10So they left, called out to the city gatekeepers, and reported to them: gWe went out to the Aramean encampment, and there was nobody there! Not even the sound of men\only horses and donkeys tied up, and tents left just as they were!h
11The gatekeepers announced the report to the kingfs attendants, 12so the king got up in the middle of the night and ordered his servants: gLet me explain what the Arameans have done to us. They know that wefre hungry, so theyfve left their encampment to conceal themselves in the surrounding fields. Theyfre telling themselves, eWhen they come out of the city, wefll capture them alive and enter the city!fh
13One of his attendants suggested, gPlease, letfs take five of the remaining horses, since those who remain here will end up like the rest of Israel, which has already died, and wefll send them out to look.h 14So they took two chariots and horses, and the king sent them out after the Aramean army with the orders, gGo and look!h
15They went out in the direction of the Jordan River, and the entire roadway was strewn with clothes and equipment that the Arameans had abandoned in their haste to leave! So the messengers returned and reported to the king. 16At this, the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. At that time, a seah of finely ground flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in accordance with the Lordfs message.
17Meanwhile, the king appointed the same royal attendant on whom he depended to take control of the city gate, but the people trampled him to death in the gate, just as the man of God had told the king when the king came down to him. 18It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king:
gAt about this time tomorrow, in Samariafs city gate, a seah of finely ground flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel.h
19But the royal attendant on whom the king depended responded to the man of God: gLook here! Even if the Lord were to make a window in the sky, how could this happen?h
He replied, gNo, you look! Youfll see it with your eyes, but you wonft eat any of it!h
20And so it happened to him, because the people trampled him in the city gate and he died.
Chapter 8
1Meanwhile, Elisha urged the woman whose son he had restored to life, gYou must get up and leave with your household to go live wherever you can, because the Lord has called for a famine, and itfs going to come over the land for seven years.h 2So the woman followed the instructions given to her by the man of God, and she went to the territory of the Philistines to live for seven years with her household. 3At the end of the seven years, the woman returned from the territory of the Philistines and went to the king in order to file an appeal regarding her house and her grain field.
4The king was talking with Gehazi, the attendant of the man of God. He had asked Gehazi, gPlease tell me about all of the great things that Elisha has done.h 5Just as he was telling the king about Elishafs having restored the dead to life, the woman whose son had been restored arrived and appealed to the king for her house and her land!
Gehazi told the king, gYour majesty, this is the woman! And herefs her son, whom Elisha restored to life!h
6The king consulted with the woman, who related the story. So the king appointed a court official to represent her and ordered him: gRestore to her everything that belonged to her, including all of the produce that her fields yielded from the day she left the land until now.h
7Later on, Elisha traveled to Damascus. King Ben-hadad of Aram was ill, but someone informed him, gThe man of God has come here!h
8So the king told Hazael, gTake a gift with you and go meet the man of God. Inquire of the Lord through him and ask, eWill I recover from this sickness.fh
9So Hazael went out to meet with him and took a gift with him\40 camel loads filled with samples of everything good in Damascus. He approached the man of God and said, gYour son King Ben-hadad from Aram has sent me to you to ask you, eWill I recover from this sickness?fh
10But Elisha told him, gGo tell him, eYou will certainly recover,f but the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die.h 11Then Elisha looked steadily at Hazael until Hazael grew ashamed, and then the man of God began to cry.
12gWhy are you crying, sir?h Hazael asked.
gBecause I know the evil that youfre about to bring on the Israelis,h he replied. gYoufll burn down their fortified cities, execute their young men with swords, dash to pieces their little ones, and youfll tear open their pregnant women!h
13But Hazael responded, gWhat? Who am I, your servant, that I should do such a horrible thing?h
But Elisha answered, gThe Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram.h
14So he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked him, gWhat did Elisha tell you?h
He replied, gHe told me that you would certainly get better.h
15But the very next day, Hazael grabbed a thick covering, soaked it in water, and spread it over the kingfs face, and he suffocated. Then Hazael succeeded Ben-hadad as king.
16Sometime during the fifth year of the reign of Ahabfs son Joram, king of Israel (while Jehoshaphat was still ruling as king of Judah), Jehoshaphatfs son Jehoram ascended to the throne of Judah. 17He was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years. 18He lived his life like the kings of Israel did, following the example of Ahabfs household when he married Ahabfs daughter and practiced what was evil in the Lordfs presence. 19But the Lord remained unwilling to destroy Judah for the sake of his servant David, since he had promised to keep Davidfs lamp burning brightly through his descendants every day.
20During Jehoramfs lifetime, Edom rebelled from Judahfs hegemony and appointed a king to rule over themselves. 21Then Joram crossed over to Zair, along with all of his chariots. At night he attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the commanders of his chariots, but the army ran away to their tents. 22Edom remains in rebellion against Judah to this day, and Libnah revolted at the same time. 23The rest of the official acts of Joram, along with everything else that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not?
24After Joram was laid to rest with his ancestors in the city of David, his son Ahaziah replaced him as king. 25Joramfs son Ahaziah began to reign as king of Judah during the twelfth year of the reign of Ahabfs son Joram, king of Israel. 26Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for one year.
His mother was named Athaliah. She was the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel. 27Ahaziah lived his life following the example of Ahabfs household, practicing what the Lord considered to be evil, just like the household of Ahab, because he was a son-in-law to Ahabfs household. 28He joined Ahabfs son Joram in an attack on King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and thatfs where the Arameans wounded Joram. 29Then King Joram retreated to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah during the battle against King Hazael of Aram. Jehoramfs son Ahaziah, king of Judah, went to visit Ahabfs son Joram in Jezreel because Joram was sick.
Chapter 9
1Elisha called one of the members of the Guild of Prophets and told him, gGet ready to run, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2As soon as you get there, go find Jehoshaphatfs son Jehu, the grandson of Nimshi. When you do, go in, tell him to get up and go apart with you away from his brothers. Lead him into a private chamber, 3take the flask of oil, and pour it out on his head. Then tell him, eThis is what the Lord says: Ifm anointing you king over Israel.f Then open the door and leave. Donft linger there!h
4So the young man, who was an attendant to the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5When he arrived, the army commanders were seated, so he said, gI have a message for you, captain!h
Jehu asked, gFor which one of us?h
gFor you, captain!h he answered.
6So Jehu got up and went inside the house, and the young man told him, gThis is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: eI have anointed you king over the people of the Lord\that is, over Israel. 7You are to attack the household of your master Ahab, so I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, as well as the blood of all of the servants of the Lord that has been spilled at Jezebelfs orders. 8The entire household of Ahab will die, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person in Israel, whether imprisoned or surviving. 9I will make the household of Ahab like the household of Nebatfs son Jeroboam and the household of Ahijahfs son Baasha. 10Furthermore, the dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel. There will be no burial for her.fh Then he opened the door and left.
11As Jehu was coming out to his masterfs attendants, one of them asked him, gIs everything all right? Why did this maniac visit you?h
gYou know the man and how he speculates,h Jehu replied.
12gThatfs a lie!h they said. gTell us whatfs going on!h
gHe said eThis and thatf to me,h he responded. geThis is what the Lord says: gI have anointed you king over Israel.hfh
13At this, each man quickly grabbed his own garment, placed it under him at the top of the stairs, sounded a trumpet, and announced, gJehu is king!h
14Meanwhile, Jehoshaphatfs son Jehu, the grandson of Nimshi had been conspiring against Joram while Joram and all the army of Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against King Hazael from Aram. 15King Jehoram had returned to Jezreel to recover from wounds he had sustained from the Arameans when he had fought against King Hazael from Aram. So Jehu concluded, gSince this is what youfve decided, then let no one get away, leave the city, and go report to Jezreel!h 16Then Jehu rode by chariot to Jezreel, since Joram was recovering there. King Ahaziah from Judah had come to visit Joram.
17While the watchman was standing guard in the tower at Jezreel, he watched Jehufs entourage arrive. So he called out, gI see a group arriving.h
Joram ordered, gTake a horseman, send him out to meet them, and have him ask, eHave you come in peace?fh
18So a horseman went out, greeted Jehu and said, gThis is what the king said: eHave you come in peace?fh
But Jehu responded, gWhat do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.h
The watchman reported, gThe messenger arrived there, but he hasnft returned.h
19Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who went out to them and said, gThis is what the king said: eHave you come in peace?fh
Jehu responded, gWhat do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.h
20The watchman reported to Joram, gHe arrived there, but he hasnft returned. Also, he drives like Nimshifs son Jehu drives\irrationally!h
21Joram replied, gLetfs begin our attack!h As soon as his chariot was prepared, both King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to fight against Jehu. They met together in the property that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.
22As soon as Joram noticed Jehu, he cried out, gPeace, Jehu?h
Jehu replied, gWhat peace, given your mother Jezebelfs prostitution and all of her witchcraft?h
23Joram reined his horse around to flee and cried out to Ahaziah, gAhaziah! Treachery!h 24But Jehu drew his bow with all of his strength, shooting Joram between his shoulder blades. The arrow pierced his heart, and he collapsed in his chariot.
25After this, Jehu called out to Bidkar, his third in command, gPick up Joramfs body and throw it in the field, the property that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite, because you and I remember how when we were riding together in pursuit of his father Ahab, that the Lord pronounced this oracle against him:
26eThis is what the Lord says, gI have certainly observed the blood of Naboth and his sons, and I will repay you on this property,h declares the Lord.f
gTherefore take the body and throw it in the field, just as the Lord said.h
27As soon as King Ahaziah of Judah observed this, he attempted to flee by the garden house road, but Jehu pursued him. At the ascent toward Gur which is near Ibleam, he ordered, gShoot him in the chariot, too!h
Ahaziah fled to Megiddo, where he died. 28Ahaziahfs servants transported the kingfs body by chariot to Jerusalem and buried it in his own sepulcher near his ancestors in the city of David. 29Ahaziah had begun to reign over Judah in the eleventh year of the reign of Ahabfs son Joram.
30As soon as Jehu arrived at Jezreel, Jezebel adorned her eyes, arranged her hair, and peered out a window. 31When Jehu had entered through the gate, she asked, gWas Zimri, who murdered his master, received well?h
32Jehu looked up toward the window and called out, gWho is on my side? Who?h When two or three eunuchs looked out at him, 33he ordered, gThrow her down!h
So they did, and her blood splashed against the wall and on the horses, while Jehu trampled her underfoot. 34Later on, after he had come in to eat and drink, he ordered, gGo and see to this cursed woman, and bury her, because she was a kingfs daughter.h 35But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing left of her except her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. 36So they returned and reported to Jehu, and he responded, gThis fulfills this message from the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the foreigner, who said:
eDogs will eat Jezebelfs flesh on the property of Jezreel, 37and her corpse will lie like dung on the surface of the field on the property in Jezreel, but no one will say, gThis is Jezebel.hfh
Chapter 10
1Meanwhile, Ahab had 70 sons who lived in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria\to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and the guardians of Ahabfs children. He told them, 2gAs soon as you receive this letter (since your masterfs children are with you, you have chariots and horses there with you, and you are protected by a walled city and weaponry), 3select the best and most qualified of your masterfs sons, set him in place on his fatherfs throne, and fight for your masterfs dynasty!h
4But they were too terrified, and so they told one another, gLook! Two previous kings couldnft stand up to Jehu, so how can we?h 5So the household overseer, the city supervisor, along with the elders and the childrenfs guardians sent word to Jehu, telling him, gWe will serve you and do everything you ask. We wonft set up a king, so do what you want to do.h
6But Jehu wrote them another letter: gIf youfre loyal to me, and if you intend to obey my commands, then bring the heads of your masterfs sons and meet me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow.h
Now the kingfs sons, totaling 70 men, were living with the leading men of the city, who were their guardians. 7When the letter from Jehu arrived, the city leaders arrested the kingfs sons, slaughtered all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.
8When the messenger arrived to report to the king, he said, gThey have brought the heads of the kingfs sons.h
Jehu replied, gPut them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.h 9The next morning, Jehu went out, stood still, and announced to all the people: gAre you righteous? I conspired against my master and killed him, but who slaughtered all of these? 10Keep this in mind\not a single statement by the Lord will fail to come about that he spoke concerning Ahabfs dynasty, because the Lord has accomplished what he predicted by his servant Elijah.h
11So Jehu executed all those who remained from Ahabfs dynasty in Jezreel, including all of Ahabfs men, his friends, and his priests, until there remained not even one survivor. 12Then Jehu got up, left the city, and went to Samaria. When he arrived at the shearing house that was located on the way, 13Jehu met up with the relatives of king Ahaziah of Judah. He asked them gWho are you?h
They answered, gWefre Ahaziahfs relatives, and wefve come down to greet the kingfs sons and the sons of the queen mother.h
14Jehu ordered, gTake them alive!h So Jehufs soldiers captured them and executed all 42 of them near the pit at the shearing house. He left none of them alive.
15After he left there, he encountered Rechabfs son Jehonadab. After he greeted him, Jehu asked him, gIs your heart right, as my heart is with yours?h
gIt is,h Jehonadab answered.
gIf it is,h Jehu replied, gPut out your hand.h So Jehonadab stuck out his hand, and Jehu took him up to stand in his chariot. 16He told him, gCome with me and see my enthusiasm for the Lord!h So Jehu had Jehonadab ride in his chariot.
17When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he executed everyone who remained of Ahabfs household in Samaria, until he had utterly destroyed Ahab in accordance with the message from the Lord that he spoke to Elijah.
18Then Jehu assembled all the people and announced to them, gAhab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot! 19Therefore summon all of Baalfs prophets to me, including all his worshipers and all his priests. Donft leave even one out, because Ifve prepared a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever doesnft show up doesnft live!h But Jehu did this deceptively, intending to destroy Baalfs worshippers. 20Jehu ordered, gSet aside a solemn assembly for Baal!h
And so they proclaimed it. 21Jehu sent the proclamation throughout Israel, and all the Baal worshipers came. There wasnft a single man left who failed to come. When they entered Baalfs temple, it was filled from one end to the other. 22Then Jehu ordered the one in charge of the wardrobe, gBring out garments for all of the worshipers of Baal.h So he brought out garments for them.
23Jehu and Rechabfs son Jehonadab entered Baalfs temple, and Jehu told the Baal worshipers, gLook around and be sure that no servant of the Lord is here among you, but only worshipers of Baal.h 24Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, ordering them, gIf any of these men whom Ifve brought into your control escape, the one who allows it will forfeit his life.h
25As soon as he had completed the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, gGo in and execute them Donft let even one man escape.h So they executed them with swords, and the guards and the officers threw the bodies out and proceeded into the inner room of Baalfs temple, 26from which they brought out the sacred pillars and burned them. 27They also cut down the pillar to Baal, tore apart Baalfs temple, and turned it into a latrine\and it remains that way today. 28Thatfs how Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel. 29Even so, Jehu never abandoned the sins of Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, regarding the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.
30Nevertheless, the Lord told Jehu, gBecause you have done well in carrying out what I saw as the right thing to do by completing everything I had in mind regarding Ahabfs dynasty, your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.h 31But Jehu did not remain careful to walk in the instruction of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He never abandoned the sins of Jeroboam that had caused Israel to sin. 32In those days the Lord began to reduce Israel in size: Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel, 33from the Jordan River eastward, all the territory of Gilead, the descendants of Gad, the descendants of Reuben, and the descendants of Manasseh, from Aroer by the Valley of the Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan.
34Now as to the rest of Jehufs activities, including his valiant deeds, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 35Then Jehu died, as did his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz reigned in his place. 36Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.
Chapter 11
1As soon as Ahaziahfs mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she seized the throne and executed the entire royal bloodline. 2But King Joramfs daughter Jehosheba, who was Ahaziahfs sister, rescued Ahaziahfs son Joash from the group of the kingfs sons who were being executed and hid him and his nurse in her bedroom, concealing him from Athaliah so he was not put to death. 3So Joash remained hidden with her in the Lordfs Temple for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
4But during the seventh year of her reign, Jehoiada went out and called together the rulers of hundreds, the captains, and the guards, and assembled them together inside the Lordfs Temple. He made a covenant with them, making them take an oath in the Lordfs Temple, and then he revealed the kingfs son to them. 5He ordered them:
gHerefs what wefll do: A third of you will enter here on this coming Sabbath dressed as guardians of the watch for the kingfs palace, 6with a third of you at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Keep watch over the palace and defend it. 7Two of you who enter here on this coming Sabbath are to stand watch at the Lordfs Temple, 8guarding the king and surrounding him with weapons in hand. Whoever comes within range is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes, coming or going.h
9So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest.
10The priest issued king Davidfs personal spears and shields that had been stored in the Lordfs Temple to the captains of hundreds. 11So the guards stood assembled, every soldier with weapons in hand, surrounding the king from the right side corner of the Temple to the left side corner, including around the altar and the Temple.
12Then he brought out the kingfs son, put the royal crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and installed him as king. They anointed him, applauded, and said, gMay the king live!h
13When Athaliah heard all of the commotion coming from those who were guarding the people, she approached the people who were in the Lordfs Temple. 14She looked around\and there was the king, standing near a column, as was the royal custom! He was accompanied by the commanding officers, along with trumpeters who stood beside the king. All the people of the land sounded trumpets in their excitement.
But Athaliah tore her clothes and bellowed, gItfs a plot! A conspiracy!h
15Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of the army, gTake her out the back way and execute anybody who follows her,h since the priest had also issued this order: gLetfs not put her to death in the Lordfs Temple.h 16So they arrested Athaliah, took her out through the same entrance used by the horses for entering the kingfs palace, and executed her.
17Then Jehoiada entered into a covenant with the Lord, the king, and the people, that they would live as the Lordfs people, and also entered into a covenant with the king and the people. 18Then all of the people of the land entered Baalfs temple, tore it down, and broke his altars and his images to pieces, killing Mattan the priest of Baal right in front of the altars. Furthermore, Jehoiada the priest appointed officers to guard the Lordfs Temple, 19and brought the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, taking the king out of the Lordfs Temple, marching through the guardfs gate to the kingfs palace, where Joash took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20After this, everyone throughout the land rejoiced and the city was at peace, because they had executed Athaliah at the kingfs palace.
21Jehoash began to reign as king when he was seven years old, 
Chapter 12
1ascending to the throne in the seventh year of the reign of Jehu and then reigning for 40 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Zibiah from Beer-sheba. 2Jehoash did what the Lord considered to be right during the entire time when Jehoiada the priest was instructing him, 3except that the high places were not demolished, so the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places.
4Jehoash spoke to the priests about all of the proceeds of the consecrated gifts that were being brought into the Lordfs Temple, cash from every man who was traveling through the area, cash obtained by personal assessment, and all the cash that came through voluntary gifts into the Lordfs Temple:
5gLet the priests get support for themselves from their own donors, and let them repair the Temple wherever a leak in need of repair is discovered.h
6But 23 years into the reign of king Jehoash, the priests still had not repaired the leaks in the Temple. 7So king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, along with other priests, and asked them, gWhy havenft you fixed the leaks in the Temple? Stop receiving donations from your acquaintances for repairing the leaks in the Temple.h
8So the priests agreed to receive no more cash from the people, but they didnft repair the leaks in the Temple, either. 9So Jehoiada the priest grabbed a chest, bored an opening in its lid, and placed it next to the altar, on the right side as one enters the Lordfs Temple. The priests who tended the entryway put all the money that was brought into the Lordfs Temple into the chest. 10As a result, whenever they noticed that there was a lot of money in the chest, the kingfs secretary and the high priest went forward, put the money in bags, counted the money that had been given over to the Lordfs Temple, 11and disbursed the cash directly into the hands of those who did the work and who were in charge of the oversight of the Lordfs Temple. They paid it to the carpenters and builders who worked on the Lordfs Temple, 12to masons and stonecutters, and for procurement of timber and quarried stone for making repairs to the Lordfs Temple, and for all outlays needed for repairs of the Temple.
13But no provision was included for the Lordfs Temple from the money that was brought into the Lordfs Temple for silver basins, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels made of gold or silver, 14because that money had been allocated to the workmen who were repairing the Lordfs Temple. 15Furthermore, they required no accounting from the men into whose hand they had paid the money to do the work, because the workers acted in good faith. 16The money from the guilt offerings and from the sin offerings was not brought into the Lordfs Temple, because it was allocated to the priests.
17Later, King Hazael of Aram invaded and attacked Gath, captured it, and then set out to approach Jerusalem. 18So King Jehoash of Judah took all of the sacred things that his ancestors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with his own dedicated things, and all the gold that could be located within the treasure vaults of the Lordfs Temple and in the kingfs palace, and paid off King Hazael of Aram. Then Hazael left Jerusalem.
19Now the rest of the Joashfs activities\everything he did\are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 20His servants rose up in rebellion, formed a conspiracy, and assassinated Joash in the palace at the terrace ramparts while he was on his way down to Silla. 21Shimeathfs son Jozacar and Shomerfs son Jehozabad, his servants, attacked him and he died. They buried him alongside his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king to replace him.
Chapter 13
1During the twenty-third year of the reign of Ahaziahfs son Joash, king of Judah, Jehufs son Jehoahaz began his seventeen year reign in Samaria over Israel. 2He did what the Lord considered to be evil, after the pattern of Nebatfs son Jeroboam. By doing so, he caused Israel to sin, and he never changed course from it. 3As a result, the Lordfs wrath flared up against Israel, so he handed them over to domination by king Hazael of Aram and later into the constant domination by Hazaelfs son Ben-hadad. 4But Jehoahaz sought the Lord, and the Lord paid attention to him, because the Lord had been watching the oppression that Israel was enduring from the king of Aram.
5The Lord provided Israel with a deliverer, so they escaped the Aramean oppression while the descendants of Israel lived in tents as they had formerly. 6Nevertheless, they did not change course away from the sins of Jeroboamfs household, by which he caused Israel to sin, but continued on that same course, with Asherah poles remaining in place in Samaria. 7For the Aramean king had left only 50 cavalry, ten chariots, and 10,000 soldiers out of the army belonging to Jehoahaz, because the king of Aram had destroyed the others, making them like chaff left over after threshing.
8Now the rest of the activities of Jehoahaz, including everything he did and his grandeur, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 9So Jehoahaz died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria while his son Joash replaced him as king.
10During the thirty-seventh year of the reign of king Joash of Judah, Jehoahazfs son Jehoash began a sixteen year reign as king over Israel in Samaria. 11He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, not changing course from all of the sins practiced by Nebatfs son Jeroboam by which he caused Israel to sin. Instead, he continued on that same course. 12The rest of Joashfs activities, including everything he did and the vehemence with which he fought against king Amaziah of Judah are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 13So Joash died, as did his ancestors, and Jeroboam assumed his throne after Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14When Elisha fell ill with the sickness from which he was about to die, king Joash of Israel came down to see him, wept in his presence, and told him, gMy father, Israelfs chariots and horsemen!h
15Elisha told him, gPick up a bow and some arrows.h So he picked up a bow and some arrows.
16Then Elisha told Israelfs king, gDraw the bow!h As he did so, Elisha laid his hands on top of the kingfs hands 17and ordered him, gOpen a window that faces east.h So he did so.
Elisha ordered him, gShoot!h So he shot.
Then Elisha said, gThis is the Lordfs arrow of victory\the victory arrow against Aram, because you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you will have utterly finished them off.h
18After this Elisha said, gPick up the arrows.h So the king picked them up.
Then Elisha told the king of Israel, gStrike the ground!h So he struck it three times and then stood still.
19At this the man of God became angry at him and told him, gYou should have struck five or six times! Then you would have attacked Aram until you would have destroyed it! But as it is now, youfll defeat Aram only three times!h
20Later, Elisha died and was buried. Now at that time various Moabite marauders had been invading the land each spring. 21One day while some Israelis were burying a man, they saw some marauders, so they threw the man into Elishafs grave. But when the man fell against Elishafs remains, he revived and rose to his feet.
22Meanwhile, king Hazael of Aram had been oppressing Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz, 23but the Lord showed grace to them, displayed his compassion toward them, and turned to them due to his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not destroy them or evict them from his presence up until that time. 24After king Hazael of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad replaced him as king. 25At that time, Jehoahazfs son Jehoash recaptured from Hazaelfs son Ben-hadad the cities that Hazael had captured through warfare from the control of Jehoahaz, Jehoashfs father. Joash defeated and recovered cities of Israel from Ben-hadad three times.
Chapter 14
1Amaziah, son of Judahfs king Joash, became king during the second year of the reign of Joash, son of king Joahaz of Israel 2at the age of 25. He reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.
3He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, but not like his ancestor David did. He acted as his father Joash had done, 4except that the high places were not abolished. The people continued to offer sacrifices and to burn incense on the high places. 5Later on, as soon as he was in firm control of his kingdom, he executed the servants who had murdered his father the king, 6but he did not execute the children of the murderers, in keeping with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, as the Lord had commanded: gFathers must not be put to death because of their childrenfs sin; nor are children to die because of their fathersf sin, for each person is to be put to death for his own sin.h
7Joash executed 10,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley and captured Sela in battle, renaming it Joktheel, which remains its name to this day. 8Later, Amaziah sent couriers to Jehoahazfs son Jehoash, grandson of king Jehu of Israel, challenging him, gCome on! Letfs fight face to face!h
9But king Jehoash of Israel sent this message to king Amaziah of Judah: gThe thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to the cedar of Lebanon: eGive your daughter to my son in marriage.f But just then a wild beast from Lebanon wandered by and trampled down the thorn bush. 10You just defeated Edom and youfre arrogant. Bask in your victory and stay home. Why incite trouble so that you\yes, you!\fall, along with Judah with you?h
11But Amaziah refused to listen. So Israelfs king Jehoash and Judahfs king Amaziah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which is part of Judah. 12Judah was defeated by Israel, and everybody fled to their own tents. 13Then king Jehoash of Israel captured Judahfs king Amaziah, the son of Jehoash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. He went to Jerusalem and demolished 600 yards of the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14He confiscated all the gold and silver, all the instruments he could find in the Lordfs Temple and in the palace treasuries. He also captured some hostages and then returned to Samaria.
15The rest of Jehoashfs activities that he undertook, including his valor in fighting king Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 16Jehoash died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria alongside the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam reigned in his place.
17Joashfs son king Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after Jehoahazf son king Jehoash of Israel died. 18The rest of Amaziahfs activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 19A conspiracy arose against him in Jerusalem, and he ran off to Lachish, but he was pursued to Lachish and killed there. 20His body was brought back on horses and he was buried at Jerusalem alongside his ancestors in the city of David.
21All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and installed him as king to take the place of his father Amaziah. 22He rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah. Later on the king died, as did his ancestors.
23In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, began a 41 year reign in Samaria. 24He did what the Lord considered to be evil by not abandoning all the sins of Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who made Israel sin. 25He rebuilt Israelfs coastline from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the message from the Lord God of Israel that he spoke through his servant Jonah the prophet, Amittaifs son, who was from Gath-hepher. 26For the Lord observed Israelfs bitter misery, and there was no one left, neither slave nor free, and there was no deliverer for Israel. 27The Lord had never said that he would erase the name of Israel from under heaven. Instead, he delivered them by Joashfs son Jeroboam. 28The rest of Jeroboamfs actions\everything he did, including his powerful fighting and how on behalf of Israel he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah\are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?
29Jeroboam died, as had his ancestors the kings of Israel, and his son Zechariah became king in his place.
Chapter 15
1Amaziahfs son Azariah began reigning during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel. 2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3He did what the Lord considered to be right, just as his father Amaziah had done in everything, 4except that the high places were never removed, and the people kept on sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
5The Lord struck the king so that he was afflicted with leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house while his son Jotham managed the household and ruled the people who lived in the land. 6Now the rest of Azariahfs activities, including everything he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 7Later, Azariah died, as had his ancestors, and they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham then reigned in his place.
8During the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Azariah, king of Judah, Jeroboamfs son Zachariah began a six-month reign in Samaria. 9He did what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his ancestors had done. He never abandoned the sins of Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin. 10So Jabeshfs son Shallum conspired against him and attacked him in full view of the people, killed him, and reigned in his place. 11The rest of Zachariahfs activities are recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
12This is what the Lord told Jehu: gYour children will sit on Israelfs throne for the next four generations.h And that is what happened: 13Jabeshfs son Shallum began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah. He reigned a full month in Samaria, 14then Gadifs son Menahem approached Samaria from Tirzah and attacked Jabeshfs son Shallum, executed him, and reigned in his place. 15The rest of Shallumfs activities, including the conspiracy that he carried out, are recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?
16At another time, Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all of its inhabitants, including its coastlands from Tirzah, because they would not open the city gate for him. After defeating them, he ripped open all of their pregnant women. 17In the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Azariah, king of Judah, Gadifs son Menahem began a ten-year reign over Israel from Samaria. 18He did what the Lord considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, as long as he lived.
19Later on, King Pul of Aram attacked the land, and Menahem paid Pul 1,000 silver talents so Pul would join forces with Menahem to secure his hold on the kingdom. 20Menahem exacted the money from all of Israelfs powerful and wealthy men, 50 shekels from each, to pay the king of Aram. As a result, the king of Aram retreated and did not remain there in the land. 21The rest of Menahemfs activities, including everything that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 22Then Menahem died, as did his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.
23Menahemfs son Pekahiah became king over Israel for two years during the fiftieth year of the reign of King Azariah of Judah. 24He did what the Lord considered to be evil. Just as Nebatfs son Jeroboam had led Israel into sin, so also Pekahiah did not stop doing the same thing. 25Then Remaliahfs son Pekah, Pekahiahfs officer, conspired against him with Argob and Arieh. Accompanied by 50 Gileadite men, Pekah attacked Pekahiah inside the palace of the kingfs compound in Samaria, executed him, and reigned as king in his place. 26The rest of Pekahiahfs activities, including everything he did, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
27Remaliahfs son Pekah began a 20-year reign as Israelfs king during the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah. 28He did what the Lord considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebatfs son Jeroboam, by which he caused Israel to sin. 29During the lifetime of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also captured Gilead, Galilee, and the entire territory of Naphtali, and carried its people off to Assyria. 30So during the twentieth year of the reign of Uzziahfs son Jotham, Elahfs son Hoshea conspired against Remaliahfs son Pekah, attacked him, executed him, and became king in his place. 31The rest of Pekahfs activities, including everything that he accomplished, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
32Uzziahfs son Jotham became king over Judah during the second year of the reign of Remaliahfs son Pekah, king of Israel. 33He was 25 years old when he became king. He reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. Zadokfs daughter Jerusha was his mother. 34He did what the Lord considered to be right, following everything his father Uzziah had done, 35except the high places were not torn down, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. But he rebuilt the upper gate of the Lordfs Temple. 36The rest of Jothamfs activities, including everything that he accomplished, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not?
37Right about that time, the Lord began to send King Rezin of Aram and Remaliahfs son Pekah against Judah. 38Meanwhile, Jotham died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried with them in the city of David, his ancestor, and Jothamfs son Ahaz reigned in his place.
Chapter 16
1During the seventeenth year of the reign of Remaliahfs son Pekah, Jothamfs son Ahaz became king of Judah. 2Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. He did not practice what the Lord considered to be right, as had his ancestor David. 3Instead, he behaved like the kings of Israel did by making his son pass through fire, the very same abomination that the heathen practiced, whom the Lord evicted from the land right in front of the Israelis. 4Furthermore, Ahaz sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on top of hills, and under every green tree.
5Later, King Rezin of Aram and Remaliahfs son Pekah, king of Israel, approached Jerusalem to attack it. They besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him. 6But at that time King Rezin of Aram recovered Elath for Aram, completely removing the Judeans from Elath. Then the Arameans returned to Elath and have remained there to this day. 7So Ahaz sent envoys to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria to tell him, gI am your servant and son. Save me from the king of Aram and the king of Israel, who are attacking me.h 8Then Ahaz took the silver and gold that was in the Lordfs Temple and in the palace treasuries and sent them as a gift to the king of Assyria, 9so the king of Assyria listened to Ahaz. He attacked Damascus, captured it, sent its people away into exile to Kir, and executed Rezin.
10King Ahaz traveled to Damascus and met with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, where he observed the altar at Damascus. So King Ahaz sent a set of construction patterns of this altar to Uriah the priest. 11Uriah the priest built an altar, following the plans that King Ahaz had sent him from Damascus and finishing the altar before King Ahaz returned from Damascus. 12When the king returned from Damascus, as soon as he saw the altar, he approached it and offered sacrifices on it. 13He presented a burnt offering, a meat offering, poured out a drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of a peace offering on his altar. 14Then he took the bronze altar that stood in the Lordfs presence from in front of the Temple, moved it to the north side of his altar, 15and issued these orders to Uriah the priest:
gBurn the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the kingfs burnt offering and grain offering, the whole burnt offering, the grain offering, and the drink offering on behalf of all the people of the land on the large altar. And sprinkle all the blood from the burnt offering and from the sacrifice. But I will use the bronze altar to ask God questions.h
16So Uriah the priest did precisely what King Ahaz ordered. 17Later, King Ahaz ordered the side panels removed from the bases, along with the washing bowls that had stood on top of the bases. He also removed the large bowl that was called the Sea from on top of the bronze bulls that supported it, and put it on a stone base. 18Then Ahaz removed the covered walkway for use on the Sabbath that they had built in the Temple. Because of the king of Assyria, he also removed the outside entrance from the Lordfs Temple that had been built exclusively for the king.
19Now the rest of Ahazfs activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 20Later, Ahaz died, as did his ancestors, and was buried alongside his ancestors in the city of David. His son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
Chapter 17
1During the twelfth year of the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, Elahfs son Hoshea became king over Israel for nine years in Samaria. 2He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, though not like the kings of Israel who had preceded him. 3King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid tribute to him. 4But the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy involving Hoshea, who had sent envoys to King So of Egypt and stopped offering tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done annually. As a result, the king of Assyria placed him under arrest and sent him to prison. 5After this, the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, approached Samaria, and began a three year siege. 6As a result, during the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and took the Israelis off to Assyria, placing them in Halah, along the Habor River in Gozan, and in cities ruled by the Medes.
7This happened because the Israelis had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt and from the domination of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, because they were fearing other gods, 8and because they were following the rules of the nations whom the Lord had expelled before the Israelis and that the kings of Israel had practiced.
9The Israelis practiced secret things that were not right, offending the Lord their God. In addition, they built high places for use by all their towns, watchtowers, and fortified cities. 10They set up pillars and Asherim on every high hill and in the shade of every green tree, 11where they made offerings on all the high places, as did the nations whom the Lord had expelled before them. They also practiced other wickedness, provoking the Lord to become angry, 12and they served idols, a practice that the Lord had warned them, gYou are not to do this.h
13Nevertheless, the Lord had warned both Israel and Judah by means of every prophet and seer: gTurn away from your evil practices and keep my commandments and statutes according to the entire Law that I gave your ancestors and that I sent to you through my servants, the prophets.h 14But they would not listen. Instead, they were stubborn, just like their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15They rejected the Lordfs statutes, the covenant that he had made with their ancestors, and his warnings that he gave them. They pursued meaninglessness\and became meaningless themselves\as they followed the lifestyles of the nations that surrounded them, a practice that the Lord had warned them not to do.
16They abandoned all of the commands given by the Lord their God, crafted for themselves cast images of two calves, constructed an Asherah, worshipped all of the stars in heaven, and served Baal. 17They passed their sons and daughters through fire, practiced divination, cast spells, and sold themselves to practice what the Lord considered to be evil, thereby provoking him. 18As a result, the Lord was angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. No one was left except for the tribe of Judah.
19But Judah, too, did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. Instead, they lived the lifestyle that Israel had chosen, 20so the Lord rejected all of the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and handed them over to the control of plunderers until he had thrown them away from his presence. 21He ripped them away from the heritage of David, even as the people appointed Nebatfs son Jeroboam to be king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit great sin.
22The Israelis practiced all the sins that Jeroboam had practiced, and never wavered from them 23until the Lord removed Israel from his presence, just as he had warned through all of his prophets who served him. So Israel was carried off into exile from their own land into Assyria, where they remain to this day.
24Because the king of Assyria brought captives from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sephar-vaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria to replace the Israelis, the settlers possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. 25When they first began to live there, the settlers did not fear the Lord, so he sent lions among them, and they killed a few of them. 26As a result, they reported to the king of Assyria, gBecause the nations whom you exiled to live in the cities of Samaria donft know the law of the god of the land, he has sent lions among them. Look how the lions are killing them, because they donft know the law of the god of the land!h
27So the king of Assyria issued this order: gTake one of the priests whom you carried away and let him go back and live there. Let him teach them the law of the god of the land.h 28So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria went to live in Bethel to teach them how they ought to fear the Lord.
29Nevertheless, each nation continued to craft their own gods and install them in the temples on the high places that the people of Samaria had constructed\every nation in their own cities where they continued to live. 30Settlers from Babylon built Succoth-benoth, settlers from Cuth built Nergal, settlers from Hamath built Ashima, 31and settlers from Avva built Nibhaz and Tartak. The residents of Sephar-vaim burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sephar-vaim.
32Because they feared the Lord, they also appointed from among themselves priests for the high places who acted on their behalf in the temples on the high places. 33While they continued to fear the Lord, they served their own gods following the custom of the nations whom they had carried away from there. 34To this very day they still follow the former customs: they donft fear the Lord, they donft live in accordance with their statutes, ordinances, law, or commandments that the Lord had given to the descendants of Jacob, whom he renamed Israel 35and with whom the Lord had made a covenant when he gave these orders to them:
gYou are not to fear other gods, bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them. 36Instead, it is to be the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, showing great power and public demonstrations of might, whom you are to fear, worship, and to whom you are to offer sacrifice. 37Furthermore, you are to be careful to observe forever the statutes, ordinances, law, and the commandment that he wrote for you. And you are not to fear other gods. 38You are not to forget the covenant that Ifve made with you, and you are not to fear other gods. 39But you are to fear the Lord, and he will deliver you from the control of all your enemies.h
40But they wouldnft listen. Instead, they did what they had been doing before. 41These nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their descendants did the same thing, as did their grandchildren. Just as their ancestors had done, they also do the same thing to this day.
Chapter 18
1Now it happened that during the third year of the reign of Elahfs son Hoshea, king of Israel, that Ahazf son Hezekiah became king. 2He was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Zechariahfs daughter Abi. 3He did what the Lord considered to be right, according to everything that his ancestor David had done.
4He removed the high places, demolished the sacred pillars, and tore down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had crafted, because the Israelis had been burning incense to it right up until that time. Hezekiah called it a piece of brass. 5He trusted the Lord God of Israel, and after him there were none like him among all the kings of Judah, 6because he depended on the Lord, not abandoning pursuit of him, and keeping the Lordfs commands that he had commanded Moses. 7So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah prospered wherever he went, even when he rebelled against the king of Assyria, refusing to serve him. 8He attacked the Philistines, invading Gaza and its borders from watchtower to fortified garrison.
9In the fourth year of King Hezekiahfs reign (that is, during the seventh year of Elahfs son Hoseafs reign as king of Israel), King Shalmaneser from Assyria invaded Samaria and besieged it. 10Three years later, they captured Samaria during the sixth year of Hezekiahfs reign, which was the ninth year of Hosheafs reign as king of Israel. 11After this, the king of Assyria carried off Israel into exile in Assyria, settling them in Halah, on the Habor River in Gozan, and in cities controlled by the Medes 12because they would not obey the voice of the Lord their God. Instead, they transgressed his covenant, including everything that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, by neither listening nor putting what he had commanded into practice.
13During the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria approached all of the walled cities of Judah and seized them. 14So Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: gI have offended you. Withdraw from me, and Ifll accept whatever tribute you impose.h So the king of Assyria required Hezekiah to pay him 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. 15Hezekiah gave him all the silver that could be removed from the Lordfs Temple and from the treasuries in the kingfs palace. 16At that time, Hezekiah removed the doors to the Lordfs Temple and the doorposts that King Hezekiah had overlaid with gold, and gave the gold to the king of Assyria.
17Sometime later, the king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rab-saris, and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, accompanied with a large army. 18When they called for the king, Hilkiahfs son Eliakim, who managed the household, Shebnah the scribe, and Asaphfs son Joah the recorder, went out to them.
19Rab-shakeh told them, gTell Hezekiah right now, eThis is what the great king, the king of Assyria says:
gWhy are you so confident? 20Youfre saying\but theyfre only empty words\eI have enough advice and resources to conduct warfare!f
gNow who are you relying on, that you have rebelled against me? 21Look, youfre trusting on Egypt to lean on like a staff, but itfs a crushed reed, and if you lean on it, it will collapse and pierce your hand. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is just like that to everyone who relies on him!
22gOf course, you might tell me, eWe rely on the Lord our God!f But isnft it he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has demolished, all the while telling Jerusalem, eYoufre to worship in front of this altar in Jerusalem?f
23gCome now, and make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria, and Ifll give you 2,000 horses, if you can furnish them with riders. 24How can you refuse even one official from the least of my masterfs servants and rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
25gNow then, havenft I come up\apart from the Lord\to attack and destroy this place? The Lord told me, eGo up against this land and destroy it!fhfh
26At this, Hilkiahfs son Eliakim, Shebnah, and Joah asked Rab-shakeh, gPlease speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it, but donft speak the language of Judah to us within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.h
27But Rab-shakeh spoke to them, gHas my master sent me to talk about this just to your master and to you, and not also to the men who are sitting on the wall, who will soon be eating their own feces and drinking their own urine\along with you?h 28Then Rab-shakeh stood up and cried out loud, gListen to what the great king, the king of Assyria has to say. 29This is what the king says:
eDonft let Hezekiah deceive you, because he will prove to be unable to deliver you from my control. 30And donft let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by telling you, eThe Lord will certainly deliver us and this city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.f
31eDonft listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: gMake peace with me and come out to me! Each of you will eat from his own vine. Each will eat from his own fig tree. And each of you will drink water from his own cistern 32until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, one overflowing with grain and new wine, a land filled with bread and vineyards, with olive trees and honey, so you may live and not die.h
eBut donft listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying gThe Lord will deliver us!h 33Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land from control by the king of Assyria? 34Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sephar-vaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my control? 35Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered their land from my control, so that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from me?fh
36But the people remained silent and did not answer with even so much as a word, because the kingfs order was, gDonft answer him.h
37But Hilkiahfs son Eliakim, who managed the household, Shebna the scribe, and Asaphfs son Joah the recorder came back to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him what Rab-shakeh had said.
Chapter 19
1When King Hezekiah heard Eliakimfs report, he tore his clothes, put on a sackcloth covering, entered the Lordfs Temple, 2and sent Eliakim, the household supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, all of them covered in sackcloth, to Amozfs son, the prophet Isaiah. 3They announced to him:
gThis is what Hezekiah says: eToday is a day of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy, because children are about to be born, but there is no strength to bring them to birth. 4Perhaps the Lord your God will take note of everything that Rab-shakeh has said, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to taunt the living God, and then he will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore offer a prayer for the survivors who remain.fh
5That is how the King Hezekiahfs servants approached Isaiah.
6In reply, Isaiah responded to them, gHerefs how youfre to report to your master:
gThis is what the Lord says: eNever be afraid of the words that you have heard by which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7Look! Ifm going to cause an attitude to grow within him so that hefll hear a rumor and return to his own territory, where Ifll make him die by the sword in his own land!fhh
8So Rab-shakeh returned and found the king of Assyria at war with Libnah, because Rab-shakeh had heard that the king had left Lachish. 9When he heard what was being said about King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, gLook! He has come out to attack you!h he again sent messengers to Hezekiah. The messengers were told, 10gThis is what you are to say to King Hezekiah of Judah:
eDonft let your God in whom you trust deceive you by telling you gJerusalem wonft be turned over to the control of Assyriafs king.h 11eLook! youfve heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands\they completely destroyed them! Will you be spared? 12Did the gods of those nations whom my ancestors destroyed deliver them, including Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and Edenfs descendants in Telassar? 13Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?fh
14Hezekiah took the messages from the couriers, read them, and went up to the Lordfs Temple, and laid them out in the presence of the Lord. 15Then Hezekiah prayed in the presence of the Lord, gLord God of Israel! You live between the cherubim! You alone are the God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have fashioned the heavens and the earth. 16Turn your ear, Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to the message sent by Sennacherib to insult the living God! 17Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated nations and their territories, 18throwing their gods into the fire, since they werenft gods but rather were the product of menfs handiwork, wood and stone. And so they destroyed them. 19Now, Lord our God, Ifm praying that you will deliver us from his control, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God!h
20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz send word to Hezekiah, gThis is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: eBecause you have prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria, I have listened.f 21This is what the Lord has spoken against him:
eShe despises and mocks you,
this virgin daughter of Zion!
Behind your back she shakes her head,
this daughter of Jerusalem!
22Who are you reproaching and blaspheming?
Against whom have you raised your voice?
And against whom have you lifted up your eyes in arrogance?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
23By your messengers you have insulted the Lord.
You have claimed,
gWith my many chariots
I ascended the heights of the mountains,
including the remotest regions of Lebanon;
I cut down its tall cedars
and the best of its cypress trees.
I entered its most remote lodging place
and its most fruitful forest.
24I myself dug for and drank foreign water.
With the sole of my foot I dried up all the streams of Egypt!f
25geDidnft you hear?
I determined it years ago!
I planned this from ancient times,
and now Ifve brought it to pass,
to turn fortified cities
into piles of ruins
26while their inhabitants, lacking strength,
stand dismayed and confused.
They were like vegetation out in the fields,
and like green herbs\
just as grass that grows on a housetop
dries out before it can grow.
27geBut when you sit down,
when you go out,
and when you come in,
Ifm aware of it!
28Because of your rage against me,
your complacency has reached my ears.
Ifll put my hook into your nostrils
and my bit into your mouth.
Then Ifll turn you back on the road
by which you came.
29gThis will serve as a sign for you: youfll eat this year from what grows by itself, in the second year what grows from that, and in the third year youfll sow, reap, plant vineyards, and enjoy their fruit. 30Those who survive from Judahfs household will again put down deep roots and bear fruit extensively, 31because a remnant will go out from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord will bring this about.
32gTherefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: eNot only will he not approach this city or shoot an arrow in its direction, he wonft approach it with so much as a shield, nor will he throw up a siege ramp against it. 33Hefll return on the same route by which he came\he wonft come to this city,f declares the Lord. 34gI will defend this city and preserve it for my own reasons, and because of my servant David.h
35That very night, the angel of the Lord went out to the camp of the Assyrian army and killed 185,000 men. Early the next morning, when the army of Israel arose, all 185,000 soldiers were dead. 36As a result, King Sennacherib of Assyria left and returned to Nineveh where he lived. 37Later on, as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with a sword and fled into the territory of Ararat. Then Sennacheribfs son Esarhaddon became king in his place.
Chapter 20
1During this time, Hezekiah became sick with a fatal illness, so Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, approached him and told him, gThis is what the Lord says: ePut your household in order, because you are dying. You will not survive.fh
2So Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. 3gRemember me, Lord,h he said, ghow I have walked in your presence with integrity, with an undivided heart, and I have accomplished what is good in your sight.h And Hezekiah wept deeply.
4Before Isaiah had left the middle court, this message from the Lord came to him. 5gReturn to Hezekiah,h he said, gand tell the Commander-in-Chief of my people: eThis is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: gIfve heard your prayer and Ifve observed your tears. Look! Ifm healing you. Three days from now youfll go visit the Lordfs Temple. 6Furthermore, Ifll add fifteen years to your life. Ifll deliver you and this city from domination by the king of Assyria, and Ifll defend this city for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.hfh
7Isaiah said, gTake a fig cake.h So some attendants took it, laid it on Hezekiahfs boil, and he recovered.
8Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, gWhat is to be the sign that the Lord is healing me and that Ifll be going up to the Lordfs Temple three days from now?h
9So Isaiah replied, gThis will be your sign from the Lord that the Lord will do what he has promised. Shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?h
10Hezekiah answered, gItfs an easy thing for a shadow to lengthen ten steps. So let the shadow go backward ten steps.h
11So Isaiah cried out to the Lord, who brought the shadow back ten steps after it had gone down the stairway of Ahaz.
12Some time later, Berodach-baladan, the son of King Baladan of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, because he had heard that Hezekiah had been ill. 13Hezekiah listened to the entourage and showed them his entire treasury, including the silver, gold, spices, the precious oil, his armory, and everything that was inventoried in his treasuries. There was nothing in his household or in his holdings that Hezekiah did not show them.
14Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, gWhat did these men have to say, and where did they come from?h
Hezekiah replied, gThey came from a country far away\from Babylon.h
15He asked, gWhat did they see in your household?h
Hezekiah answered, gThey have seen everything. In my household there is nothing in my treasuries that I havenft shown them.h
16Then Isaiah replied to Hezekiah, gListen to this message from the Lord: 17eWatch out! The days are coming when everything thatfs in your house\everything that your ancestors have saved up right to this day\will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,f declares the Lord. 18eSome of your descendants\your very own seed, whom you will father\will be carried away to become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.fh
19At this, Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, gWhat youfve spoken from the Lord is good,h because he had been thinking, gWhy not, as long as therefs peace and security in my lifetimec?h
20Now the rest of Hezekiahfs actions, as well as his glorious deeds, including how he constructed the pool and the conduit to bring water into the city, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 21Hezekiah died, as did his ancestors, and his son Manasseh became king in his place.
Chapter 21
1Manasseh began to reign at the age of twelve, and he reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Hephzibah. 2He did what the Lord considered to be evil, following the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord had expelled in full view of the people of Israel. 3He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He erected altars for Baal, crafted an Asherah, just as King Ahab of Israel had done, and worshipped and served the stars of heaven. 4He also built altars in the Lordfs Temple, about which the Lord had said, gIn Jerusalem I will place my Name.h 5He built two altars to every star in the heavens in the two courts of the Lordfs Temple. 6He made his son into a burnt offering, practiced witchcraft, used divination, and consorted with mediums and spirit-channelers. He practiced many things that the Lord considered to be evil and provoked him.
7He also erected the carved image of Asherah that he had made inside the Temple about which the Lord had spoken to David and to his son Solomon, gI will put my Name forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all of the tribes of Israel. 8And I will not make Israelfs feet to wander anymore from the land that I have given to their ancestors, if they will only be careful to do everything that I have commanded them according to the entire Law that my servant Moses commanded them.h 9But they would not listen. Manasseh led them astray to practice more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed in the presence of the Israelis.
10So the Lord announced through his prophets, 11gBecause King Manasseh of Judah has committed these despicable things, acting more sinfully than did all of the Amorites who preceded him, including making Judah sin with its idols, 12therefore this is what the Lord God of Israel says: eLook! Ifm going to bring such a disaster to Jerusalem and Judah that both ears of those who hear about it will ring. 13Ifll stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line that is Samaria and the plumb line that is Ahabfs dynasty. Then Ifll wipe Jerusalem like one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down! 14I will abandon the survivors of my heritage and hand them over to their enemies. They will become war booty and spoil to all of their enemies 15because they have done what I consider to be evil and they have provoked me from the day their ancestors left Egypt right up to this day!fh
16In addition to this, Manasseh shed lots of innocent blood\until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he caused Judah to sin by practicing what the Lord considered to be evil. 17The rest of Manassehfs deeds, including everything that he accomplished and the sin that he practiced, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 18Manasseh died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried in the garden at his home in the Garden of Uzza. His son Amon became king in his place.
19Amon began to reign at the age of 22, and ruled for two years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his father Manasseh had done, 21because he completely adopted his fatherfs lifestyle, serving the same idols his father had served and worshiped. 22As a result, he abandoned the Lord God of his ancestors and did not walk in the Lordfs way. 23Later on, Amonfs staff conspired against him and killed the king inside his own home. 24But afterward, the people of the land executed everyone who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land installed his son Josiah to be king in his place.
25Now the rest of Amonfs activities that he undertook are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 26He was buried in his own grave in the Garden of Uzza, and his son Josiah became king in his place.
Chapter 22
1Josiah was an eight year old child when he began to reign, and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, living the way his ancestor David had lived, turning neither to the right nor to the left.
3Eighteen years after King Josiah had begun to reign, the king sent Azaliahfs son Shaphan, grandson of Meshullam the scribe, to the Lordfs Temple. He told him, 4gGo to the high priest Hilkiah, so he can count the money that has been brought into the Lordfs Temple by the doorkeepers who have been gathering it from the people. 5Have them deliver it to the workmen who are supervising the Lordfs Temple, so that they may pay it over to the workmen who serve in the Lordfs Temple to repair its damages, 6including paying the carpenters, builders, and masons, as well as buying timber and pre-carved stone to repair the Temple. 7But you wonft need to force them to be accountable for money already paid to them, since theyfre faithful.h
8Later on, Hilkiah the high priest informed Shaphan the scribe, gIfve discovered the Book of the Law in the Lordfs Temple.h Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he began to read it.
9Shaphan the scribe reported to king Josiah, he brought up the matter to him and told him, gYour servants have distributed the money that was found in the Temple by giving it to the workmen who supervise the Lordfs Temple.h 10Then Shaphan the scribe informed the king, gHilkiah the priest has given me a book.h Then Shaphan read from it in the kingfs presence.
11When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes 12and issued these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Shaphanfs son Ahikam, Micaiahfs son Achbor, Shaphan the scribe, and the kingfs servant Asaiah: 13gGo ask the Lord for me, for the people, and for all of Judah about whatfs written in this book that has been discovered, because the Lordfs anger is burning against us, since our ancestors have not listened to the words written in this book and have not lived according to everything that is written concerning us.h
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophet Huldah, the wife of Tikvahfs son Shallum, the grandson of Harhas and supervisor of the royal wardrobe, who lived in the Second Quarter in Jerusalem. They spoke with her, 15and she told them, gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eTell the man who sent you to me, 16eThis is what the Lord says: gLook! Ifm bringing disaster on this place and on its inhabitants\everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read\17because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods, they have provoked me to anger with everything that they have done. Therefore my anger is kindled against this place and it wonft be quenched!h 18eNevertheless, tell the king of Judah who sent you to ask the Lord about this: gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eNow about what youfve heard, 19because your heart was sensitive, and you humbled yourself in the Lordfs presence when you heard what I had to say against this place and against its inhabitants\that they would become a desolation and a curse\and you have torn your clothes and cried out before me, be assured that I have truly heard you,f declares the Lord.h 20eTherefore, look! I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be placed in your grave in peace. Your eyes will never see all the evil that I will bring on this place.fhfh
Chapter 23
1At this, the king sent for and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2The king went up to the Lordfs Temple, accompanied by all the men of Judah, everyone who lived in Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and everyone\including those who were unimportant and those who were important\and he read to them everything written in the Book of the Covenant that had been discovered in the Lordfs Temple. 3The king stood beside a pillar and made a covenant in the presence of the Lord, to follow after the Lord, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all of his heart and soul, and to carry out what was written in the covenant contained in the book. All the people consented to enter into the covenant.
4The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the secondary order, and the doorkeepers to take out of the Lordfs Temple all of the implements that had been crafted for Baal, for Asherah, and for every star in the heavens. Then he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried the ashes to Bethel. 5The king unseated the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places throughout the cities of Judah and in the environs surrounding Jerusalem, including those who had been burning incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations, and to every star in the heavens. 6He brought the Asherah from the Lordfs Temple to the Kidron Brook outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Kidron brook, pulverized the ashes to dust, and scattered it over the graves of the common people.
7He also demolished the temples of the cultic male prostitutes that had been operating in the Lordfs Temple, where the women had been doing weaving for the Asherah. 8Then he gathered together all the priests from the cities of Judah and defiled the high places from Geba to Beer-sheba, where the priests had burned incense. He also demolished the high places of the gates that had been erected to the left as one enters the city gate\that is, near the entrance operated by Joshua, the governor of the city. 9Nevertheless, the priests of the high places did not approach the Lordfs altar in Jerusalem, but instead they ate unleavened bread given to them by their relatives.
10He also defiled Topheth, which is located in the Ben-hinnom Valley, so that no one would force his son or daughter to pass through the fire in dedication to Molech. 11He abolished the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun at the entrance to the Lordfs Temple, near the offices of Nathan-melech, the official, that was in the precincts. He also set fire to the chariots of the sun.
12The king demolished the rooftop altars on top of Ahazfs upper chamber that the kings of Judah had erected, as well as the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the Lordfs Temple. He pulverized them where they stood and cast their dust into the Kidron Brook. 13The king defiled the high places which faced Jerusalem on the south side of Corruption Mountain, which King Solomon of Israel had constructed for Ashtoreth, the Sidonian abomination, for Chemosh, the Moabite abomination, and for Milcom, the Ammonite abomination. 14He broke the pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherim, and filled their locations with human bones.
15Furthermore, he even broke down the altar that had been at Bethel as well as the high place constructed by Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who had caused Israel to sin. He demolished its stones, pulverized them to dust, and burned the Asherah. 16As Josiah turned around, he observed the graves located there on the mountain, so he sent for and recovered the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar to defile it, in keeping with the message from the Lord that the godly man had proclaimed when he was declaring these things. 17He asked, gWhat is this monument that Ifm looking at?h
The men who lived in that city answered him, gItfs the grave of that godly man who came from Judah and predicted these things that youfve done against the altar at Bethel!h
18Josiah replied, gLeave him alone. No one is to disturb his bones.h So they preserved his bones undisturbed, along with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria. 19Josiah also removed all of the temples on the high places that had been in the cities of Samaria and that the kings of Israel had erected, thereby provoking the Lord. He treated Samaria just as he had Bethel. 20After he had slaughtered all the priests who served at the high places and burned their bones on those high places, he returned to Jerusalem.
21After this, the king commanded all of the people, gCelebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, just as itfs prescribed in this Book of the Covenant.h 22From the days of the judges who ruled in Israel, no Passover had been celebrated like this, not even in all the reigns of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. 23In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Josiah, this Passover was observed in Jerusalem to honor the Lord. 24Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums, the necromancers, the household gods, the idols, and every despicable thing that could be seen in the territory of Judah and in Jerusalem, so that he might confirm the words of the Law that had been written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the Lordfs Temple. 25There had been no king like him before him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength, in obeying everything in the Law of Moses. No king arose like Josiah after him.
26Even so, the Lord did not turn away from his fierce and great anger that burned against Judah because of everything with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27The Lord said, gIfm going to remove Judah from my sight as well, just as Ifve removed Israel. I will abandon Jerusalem, this city that Ifve chosen, as well as the Temple about which Ifve spoken eMy Name shall remain there.fh
28Now the rest of Josiahfs actions, including everything that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 29During his reign, Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, marched out toward the Euphrates River to meet the king of Assyria. King Josiah went out to engage him in battle, but Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo as soon as he saw him. 30Josiahfs servants drove his corpse in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in a tomb made for him.
The people of the land took Josiahfs son Jehoahaz, anointed him, and installed him as king in his fatherfs place. 31Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king. He reigned three months in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Hamutal. She was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just as all of his ancestors had done. 33Pharaoah Neco placed him in custody at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he would not reign in Jerusalem, and imposed a tribute of 100 talents of silver and a talent of gold.
34Pharaoh Neco installed Josiahfs son Eliakim as king to replace his father Josiah and changed his name to Jehoiakim. He transported Jehoahaz off to Egypt, where he died. 35As a result, Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold tribute to Pharaoh, but he passed on the costs to the inhabitants of the land in taxes, in keeping with Pharaohfs orders. He exacted the silver and gold from the people who lived in the land, from each according to his assessment, in order to pay it to Pharaoh Neco. 36Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Zebidah. She was the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37Eliakim practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his ancestors had done.
Chapter 24
1During his lifetime, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim, who became his vassal for three years, after which he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled. 2The Lord sent raiding parties from the Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, in keeping with the message from the Lord that he had spoken through his servants, the prophets. 3It was truly by the command of the Lord against Judah that it came, in order to remove them from his sight, because of every sin that Manasseh had committed, 4as well as for the innocent blood that he had shed. He had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord would not forgive them. 5Now the rest of Jehoiakimfs actions, and everything that he undertook, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 6Jehoiakim died, as did his ancestors, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. 7The king of Egypt did not leave his territory again, because the king of Babylon had taken everything that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
8Jehoiachin became king at the age of eighteen years, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem. His mother was named Hausa. She was the daughter of Elzaphan of Jerusalem. 9He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his ancestors had done. 10At that time, the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem and the city was placed under siege. 11King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up against the city, along with his servants, who besieged it. 12King Jehoiachin of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon, as did his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers, during the eighth year of his reign.
13Nebuchadnezzar carried off from there all of the treasures of the Lordfs Temple, along with the treasures in the kingfs palace. He cut into pieces all the gold vessels in the Lordfs Temple that King Solomon of Israel had made, just as the Lord had said would happen. 14Then Nebuchadnezzar sent away into exile all of Jerusalem\all the captains, all the valiant soldiers, 10,000 captives, and all of the craftsmen and ironworkers. Nobody remained except the poorest people of the land. 15He sent Jehoiachin into exile to Babylon, along with the kingfs mother, the kingfs wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16All 7,000 of the most valiant soldiers, 1,000 of the craftsmen and ironworkers, all physically fit and trained for battle were brought by the king of Babylon into exile in Babylon.
17The king of Babylon installed Jehoiachinfs uncle Mattaniah as king in his place and then changed his name to Zedekiah. 18Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Hamutal. She was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19Zedekiah practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just as Jehoiakim had done, 20because through the Lordfs anger these things happened to Jerusalem and Judah until he threw them from his presence. Zedekiah then rebelled against the king of Babylon, 
Chapter 25
1so on the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiahfs reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his entire army approached Jerusalem, attacked it, encamped against it, and built a siege wall that surrounded the city. 2The city remained under siege until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah. 3By the ninth day of the fourth month, the resulting famine had become so severe in the city that no food remained for the people who lived in the land. 4The city was breached, and the entire army left during the night through the gate that stood between the two walls beside the royal garden, even though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city. They escaped through the Arabah, 5but the Chaldean army pursued the king and overtook him in the Jericho plains, where his entire army was scattered. 6The Chaldeans captured the king, brought him to Riblah, where the king of Babylon determined his sentence. 7They executed Zedekiahfs sons in his presence, blinded Zedekiah, bound him with bronze chains, and transported him to Babylon.
8On the seventh day of the fifth month, which was during the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzarfs reign as king of Babylon, captain of the guard Nebuzaradan, a servant of the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem, 9set fire to the Lordfs Temple, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He even set fire to the lavish homes. 10The Chaldean army that accompanied the captain of the guard demolished the walls that surrounded Jerusalem. 11Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried the survivors of the people who remained in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude into exile. 12However, the captain of the guard left some of the poor people of the land to work as vinedressers and farmers.
13The Chaldeans also broke into pieces and carried back to Babylon the bronze pillars that stood in the Lordfs Temple, along with the stands and the bronze sea that used to be in the Lordfs Temple. 14They also confiscated the pots, shovels, snuffers, spoons, and the rest of the bronze vessels that were used in ministry. 15The captain of the guard also confiscated the fire pans, basins, and whatever had been crafted of pure gold and pure silver. 16The bronze contained in the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands that Solomon had crafted for the Lordfs Temple could not be inventoried for weight. 17The height of one of the pillars was 24 feet, and the capital on top of it was four and a half feet high. A latticework carved in the form of pomegranates encircled the capital, crafted completely out of brass. The second pillar was identical to the first.
18The captain of the guard arrested Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, three temple officials, 19one overseer from the city who supervised the soldiers, five of the kingfs advisors who had been discovered in the city, the scribe who served the army captain who mustered the army of the land, and 60 men of the land who were discovered in the city. 20Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them to the king of Babylon at Riblah, 21where the king of Babylon executed them in the land of Hamath. And so Judah was transported into exile from the land.
22Now as for the people who remained in the land of Judah whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had left behind, he appointed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, to rule. 23When all the captains of the armies, along with their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, these men visited Gedaliah at Mizpah: Nethaniahfs son Ishmael, Kareahfs son Johanan, Tanhumeth the Netophathitefs son Seraiah, and Jaazaniah, who was descended from the Maacathites. 24Gedaliah made this promise to them and to their men: gDonft be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well with you.h 25Nevertheless, seven months later Nethaniahfs son Ishmael, the grandson of Elishama from the royal family, came with ten men and attacked Gedaliah. As a result, he died along with the Jews and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26Then all the people, including those who were insignificant and those who were important, fled with the captains of the armed forces to Egypt, because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
27Later on, after King Jehoiachin of Judah had been in exile for 37 years, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, during the first year of his reign King Evil-merodach of Babylon released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 28He spoke kindly to him, and elevated his position above the thrones of the kings with him in Babylon. 29Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes and had regular meals in the kingfs presence every day for the rest of his life, 30and a regular stipend was provided to him by the king in accordance with his needs for as long as he lived.
First Chronicles
Chapter 1
1Adam fathered Seth, who fathered Enosh, 2who fathered Kenan, who fathered Mahalalel, who fathered Jared, 3who fathered Enoch, who fathered Methuselah, who fathered Lamech, 4who fathered Noah, who fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5Japhethfs descendants were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
6Gomerfs descendants were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.
7Javanfs descendants were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8Hamfs descendants were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9Cushfs descendants were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca.
Raamahfs descendants were Sheba and Dedan.
10Cush fathered Nimrod. He became the first powerful ruler on the earth.
11Mitzraim fathered the Ludim, the Anamim, the Lehabim, the Naphtuhim, 12the Pathrusim, the Casluhim (from whom the Philistines descended), and the Caphtorim.
13Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn, as well as Heth, 14and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 15the Hivites, the Archites, the Sinites, 16the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.
17Shemfs descendants were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18Arpachshad fathered Shelah and Shelah fathered Eber. 19Eber fathered two sons. The name of the one was Peleg (because the earth was divided during his lifetime) and his brother was named Joktan. 20Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab\all of these were Joktanfs descendants.
24In summary, Shem fathered Arpachshad, who fathered Shelah, 25who fathered Eber, who fathered Peleg, who fathered Reu, 26who fathered Serug, who fathered Nahor, who fathered Terah, 27who fathered Abram\that is, Abraham.
28Abrahamfs descendants were Isaac and Ishmael. 29These are their genealogies: the firstborn Ishmael fathered Nebaioth, and then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah\these are the Ishmaelites.
32The descendants born to Keturah, Abrahamfs mistress, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The descendants of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. 33The descendants of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the descendants of Keturah.
34Abraham fathered Isaac. Isaacfs descendants were Esau and Israel.
35Esaufs descendants were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
36Eliphazfs descendants were Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.
37Reuelfs descendants were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38Seirfs descendants were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
39Lotanfs descendants were Hori and Homam. Lotanfs sister was Timna.
40Shobalfs descendants were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam.
Zibeonfs descendants were Aiah and Anah.
41Anahfs descendant was Dishon.
Dishonfs descendants were Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
42Ezerfs descendants were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan.
Dishanfs descendants were Uz and Aran.
43Herefs a list of kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelis, beginning with Beorfs son Bela (his city was named Dinhabah). 44After Bela died, Zerahfs son Jobab from Bozrah succeeded him.
45After Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him.
46After Husham died, Bedadfs son Hadad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him. His city was named Avith.
47After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him.
48After Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River succeeded him.
49After Shaul died, Achborfs son Baal-hanan succeeded him.
50After Baal-hanan died, Hadad succeeded him. His city was named Pai, and his wifefs name was Mehetabel. She was the daughter of Matred, who was the daughter of Me-zahab. 51Then Hadad died.
The clans of Edom included the clans of Timna, Aliah, Jetheth, 52Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54Magdiel, and Iram\these are the clans of Edom.
Chapter 2
1Herefs a list of Israelfs sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
3Judahfs three sons Er, Onan, and Shelah were born to him through Bath-shua, a Canaanite. Er, Judahfs firstborn, became wicked in the Lordfs sight, so he put him to death. 4Judahfs daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah, so Judah had five sons in all.
5Perezfs sons were Hezron and Hamul.
6Zerah had five sons in all: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara.
7Carmifs son was Achar, who became Israelfs troublemaker by transgressing the Lordfs commandment regarding things that were to be destroyed.
8Ethanfs son was Azariah.
9Hezronfs sons born to him were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, who was leader of the descendants of Judah.
11Nahshon fathered Salma, Salma fathered Boaz, 12Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse. 13Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab his second born, Shimea his third born, 14Nethanel his fourth born, Raddai his fifth born, 15Ozem his sixth born, David his seventh born; 16along with their sisters Zeruiah and Abigail.
Zeruiahfs three sons were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. 17Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
18Hezronfs son Caleb had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel.
21Later, Hezron married the daughter of Machir, who had fathered Gilead. He married her when he was 60 years old, and she bore him Segub. 22Segub fathered Jair, who had 23 towns in the land of Gilead. 23But Geshur and Aram took 60 towns from Gilead, including Havvoth-jair and Kenath, along with their villages. All these were descendants of Machir, who fathered Gilead.
24After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, Abijah wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur, who fathered Tekoa.
25The descendants of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
26Jerahmeel also had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.
27The descendants of Ram, firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
28Onamfs descendants were Shammai and Jada.
Shammaifs descendants were Nadab and Abishur.
29Abishurfs wife was named Abihail. She bore him Ahban and Molid.
30Nadabfs descendants were Seled and Appaim. Seled died childless.
31Appaimfs son was Ishi. Ishifs son was Sheshan. Sheshanfs son was Ahlai.
32Shammaifs brother Jadafs descendants were Jether and Jonathan, but Jether died childless.
33Jonathanfs descendants were Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.
34Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. However, Sheshan had an Egyptian slave named Jarha. 35So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his slave Jarha, and she bore him Attai.
36Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad. 37Zabad fathered Ephlal, Ephlal fathered Obed, 38Obed fathered Jehu, Jehu fathered Azariah, 39Azariah fathered Helez, Helez fathered Eleasah, 40Eleasah fathered Sismai, Sismai fathered Shallum. 41Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama.
42Jerahmeelfs brother Calebfs descendants were his firstborn Mesha, who fathered Ziph.
The descendants of Mareshah, who fathered Hebron, were as follows:
43Hebronfs descendants were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
44Shema fathered Raham, who fathered Jorkeam.
Rekem fathered Shammai. 45Shammaifs descendants included Maon, who fathered Beth-zur. 46Calebfs mistress Ephah also bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez.
Haran fathered Gazez. 47Jahdaifs descendants were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. 48Calebfs mistress Maacah bore Sheber, Tirhanah, 49and Shaaph, who fathered Madmannah. Sheva fathered Machbenah and Gibe. Calebfs daughter was Achsah. 50These were Calebfs descendants.
The son? of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, was Shobal, who fathered Kiriath-jearim, 51Salma, who fathered Bethlehem, and Hareph, who fathered Beth-gader.
52Shobal, who fathered Kiriath-jearim, had other sons, including Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. 53The families of Kiriath-jearim included the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. The Zorathites and the Eshtaolites came from them.
54Salmafs descendants were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
55The families of the scribes who lived at Jabez included the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, who fathered the house of Rechab.
Chapter 3
1These are Davidfs descendants who were born to him in Hebron: Amnon his firstborn by Ahinoam the Jezreelite, Daniel his second born by Abigail the Carmelite, 2Absalom his third born by Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur, Adonijah his fourth born by Haggith, 3Shephatiah his fifth born by Abital, and Ithream his sixth born by his wife Eglah. 4These six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months.
He reigned 33 years in Jerusalem. 5These four children were born to David by Bath-shua daughter of Ammiel while he was living in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 6followed by nine more: Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. 9All these were Davidfs sons, besides children born to his mistresses. Tamar was their sister.
10Solomonfs descendants included Rehoboam, his son Abijah, his son Asa, his son Jehoshaphat, 11his son Joram, his son Ahaziah, his son Joash, 12his son Amaziah, his son Azariah, his son Jotham, 13his son Ahaz, his son Hezekiah, his son Manasseh, 14his son Amon, and his son Josiah.
15Josiahfs descendants included Johanan his firstborn, his second born Jehoiakim, his third born Zedekiah, and his fourth born Shallum.
16Jehoiakimfs descendants included his son Jeconiah, and his son Zedekiah.
17The descendants of Jeconiah, who was taken captive to Babylon, included his son Shealtiel, 18Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
19Pedaiahfs descendants included Zerubbabel and Shimei.
Zerubbabelfs descendants included Meshullam and Hananiah, along with Shelomith their sister 20and five others: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed.
21Hananiahfs descendants included Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, and his son Shecaniah.
22Shecaniahfs son was Shemaiah, and the six sons of Shemaiah were Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.
23The three sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.
24The seven sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.
Chapter 4
1Judahfs descendants were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
2Shobalfs son Reaiah fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.
3These were the descendants of the ancestor of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and their sisterfs name was Hazzelelponi.
4Penuel fathered Gedor and Ezer fathered Hushah.
These were the descendants of Hur, Ephrathahfs firstborn, who fathered Bethlehem: 5Tekoafs father Ashhur had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6Naarah bore him these sons: Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari.
7The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.
8Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Harumfs son Aharhel.
9Jabez enjoyed more honor than his relatives\his mother named him Jabez, she said, gbecause I bore him in pain.h
10Later on, Jabez called on the God of Israel, asking him, gcwhether you would bless me again and again, enlarge my territory, keep your power with me, keep me from evil, and keep me from harm!h And God granted what he had requested.
11Chelub, Shuhahfs brother, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. 12Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, who fathered Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah.
13Kenazfs descendants were Othniel and Seraiah.
Othnielfs descendants were Hathath 14and Meonothai, who fathered Ophrah.
Seraiah fathered Joab, who fathered the Ge-harashim, because they became artisans.
15The descendants of Jephunnehfs son Caleb were Iru, Elah, and Naam.
Elahfs son was Kenaz.
16Jehallelelfs descendants were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
17Ezrahfs descendants were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon.
Meredfs wife conceived Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, who fathered Eshtemoa. 18Then his Judean wife bore Jered, who fathered Gedor and then Heber, who fathered Soco and Jekuthiel, who fathered Zanoah. These are the descendants of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married.
19The descendants of Hodiahfs wife, Nahamfs sister, fathered Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
20Shimonfs descendants were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon.
Ishifs descendants were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.
21The descendants of Judahfs son Shelah were Er, who fathered Lecah, Laadah (who fathered Mareshah and the families who belonged to the guild of linen workers at Beth-ashbea), 22Jokim, the men who lived in Cozeba, Joash, and Saraph (who married Moabite families), and Jashubi-lehem. (The records are ancient.) 23These people were potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah in service to their king, who lived there.
24Simeonfs descendants were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul,? 25his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma.
26Mishmafs descendants were his son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei.
27Shimei had 16 sons and six daughters, but his relatives did not have many children, nor did their entire family multiply like the Judeans did. 28They lived in Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David began to reign.
32Their cities were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, for a total of five cities, 33along with all their settlements that surrounded these cities as far as Baal\this is their settlement history.
They kept this genealogical record for themselves: 34Meshobab, Jamlech, Amaziahfs son Joshah, 35Joel, Joshibiahfs son Jehu (who was the grandson of Seraiah and great-grandson of Asiel), 36Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37Shiphifs son Ziza (who was the grandson of Shiphi, who was fathered by Allon, who was fathered by Jedaiah, who was fathered by Shimri, who was fathered by Shemaiah)\38these people, enumerated by name, were leaders in their respective families, and their clans grew to be very abundant.
39They journeyed as far as the entrance of Gedor on the east side of the valley in order to find pasture for their flocks. 40They discovered abundant and excellent grazing lands there, where the land was very broad, secure, and tranquil, because the former inhabitants there were descendants of Ham. 41Later on during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, these people, enumerated by name, came and attacked both their homes and the Meunim who had settled there and who remain exterminated to this day. They settled down there, taking their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42Some of them, that is, 500 Simeonite men, went to Mount Seir. Under the leadership of Ishifs sons Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, 43they destroyed the survivors of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.
Chapter 5
1Here is a record of the descendants of Reuben, Israelfs firstborn. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his fatherfs marriage bed, his birthright was transferred to the descendants of Israelfs son Joseph. As a result, Reuben is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. 2Even though Judah became prominent among his relatives\that is, the Commander-in-chief will be his descendant\nevertheless the right of the firstborn went to Joseph.)
3The descendants of Reuben, Israelfs firstborn, included Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
4Joelfs descendants were his son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, 5his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, 6and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria carried away into exile, and who was a governor of the descendants of Reuben.
7His relatives, listed by families when the genealogy was enrolled according to their generations, included the chief, Jeiel, Zechariah, 8and Azazfs son Bela, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of Joel, who lived in Aroer, near Nebo and Baal-meon. 9He also lived eastward as far as the entrance to the wilderness this side of the Euphrates River, because their cattle had increased in the territory of Gilead. 10During the reign of Saul they declared war on the Hagrites, who fell in battle by their hand. They lived in their tents throughout all of east Gilead.
11Gadfs descendants lived beside them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: 12They included Joel their chief, Shapham their second in command, Janai, and Shaphat, who lived in Bashan. 13Their seven relatives, according to the households of their clans, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14These were the descendants of Hurifs son Abihail, who was fathered by Jaroah, who was fathered by Gilead, who was fathered by Michael, who was fathered by Jeshishai, who was fathered by Jahdo, and who was fathered by Buz: 15Abdielfs son Ahi, who was the grandson of Guni, was chief in their clan. 16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and in all the surrounding suburbs of Sharon as far as their borders. 17All of them were enrolled by genealogies during the reign of King Jotham of Judah and during the reign of King Jeroboam of Israel.
18The descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh produced 44,700 valiant soldiers expert in shield, sword, and bow. Trained in warfare, they were equipped to serve at a momentfs notice. 19They fought in battle against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20When they received assistance against them, the Hagrites and all of their allies were handed over to their control, because they cried out to God during the battle. He honored their entreaty, because they had placed their trust in him. 21They captured 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 war captives from their possessions. 22Many fell slain, because the battlefs outcome was directed by God. They lived in their territory until the exile.
23The half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land, spread out from Bashan to Baal-hermon, including Senir and Mount Hermon. 24These were the leaders of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel\they were mighty warriors, well known men, and leaders of their clans. 25But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors by prostituting themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had exterminated right in front of them. 26So the God of Israel incited King Pul of Assyria (also known as King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria), who took them prisoner and brought the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the Gozan River, where they remain to this day.
Chapter 6
1Levifs descendants included Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 2Kohathfs sons included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3Amramfs descendants included Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaronfs sons included Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, 5Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, 6Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, 7Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 8Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, 9Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan, 10and Johanan fathered Azariah, who served as priest in the Temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. 11Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 12Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, 13Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, 14Azariah fathered Seraiah, and Seraiah fathered Jehozadak. 15The Lord sent Jehozadak, Judah, and Jerusalem into exile, using Nebuchadnezzar to do it.
16Levifs descendants included Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17These are the names of Gershomfs descendants: Libni and Shimei. 18Kohathfs sons included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19Merarifs sons included Mahli and Mushi.
These are the clans of the descendants of Levi according to their ancestry: 20Gershomfs clan included his son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah, 21his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.
22Kohathfs descendants included Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, 23his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir, 24his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.
25Elkanahfs descendants included Amasai and Ahimoth, 26his son Elkanah, his son Zophai, his son Nahath, 27his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.
28Samuelfs descendants included Joel his firstborn and his second son Abijah.
29Merarifs descendants included Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, 30his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.
31These are the men to whom David handed responsibility for music in the Temple of the Lord, after the ark came to rest there. 32They ministered in song in front of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They served in accordance with orders of service designated for them.
33These are the men who served, including their descendants: From the descendants of Kohath, there was Heman the singer, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Samuel, 34who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Jeroham, who had been fathered by Eliel, who had been fathered by Toah, 35who had been fathered by Zuph, who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Mahath, who had been fathered by Amasai, 36who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Azariah, who had been fathered by Zephaniah, 37who had been fathered by Tahath, who had been fathered by Assir, who had been fathered by Ebiasaph, who had been fathered by Korah, 38who had been fathered by Izhar, who had been fathered by Kohath, who had been fathered by Levi, who had been fathered by Israel.
39There was also his brother Asaph, who stood to Hemanfs right. Asaph had been fathered by Berechiah, who had been fathered by Shimea, 40who had been fathered by Michael, who had been fathered by Baaseiah, who had been fathered by Malchijah, 41who had been fathered by Ethni, who had been fathered by Zerah, who had been fathered by Adaiah, 42who had been fathered by Ethan, who had been fathered by Zimmah, who had been fathered by Shimei, 43who had been fathered by Jahath, who had been fathered by Gershom, and who had been fathered by Levi.
44To Hemanfs left were their relatives who were Merarifs sons: Ethan, who had been fathered by Kishi, who had been fathered by Abdi, who had been fathered by Malluch, 45who had been fathered by Hashabiah, who had been fathered by Amaziah, who had been fathered by Hilkiah, 46who had been fathered by Amzi, who had been fathered by Bani, who had been fathered by Shemer, 47who had been fathered by Mahli, who had been fathered by Mushi, who had been fathered by Merari, who had been fathered by Levi, 48along with their relatives, descendants of Levi who had been appointed for all the service of the tent of the Temple of God.
49Meanwhile, Aaron and his sons presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, carrying out the work of the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel in accordance with everything that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
50These are Aaronfs sons: his son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, 51his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah, 52his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, 53his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.
54These are the settlement locations allotted within their borders to Aaronfs descendants in the Kohathite clan since the lot was cast in their favor first. 55Hebron in the territory of Judah was allotted to them, along with its surrounding suburbs. 56The fields adjacent to the city and its villages were allotted to Jephunnehfs son Caleb. 57They allotted these cities of refuge to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, Libnah with its surrounding suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its surrounding suburbs, 58Hilen with its surrounding suburbs, Debir with its surrounding suburbs, 59Ashan with its surrounding suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its surrounding suburbs. 60From the tribe of Benjamin were allotted Geba with its surrounding suburbs, Alemeth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anathoth with its surrounding suburbs. All their towns allotted to their families totaled thirteen.
61Ten towns were allocated to the rest of the descendants of Kohath by lot out of the family of the tribe, that is, the half-tribe of Manasseh. 62To the descendants of Gershom according to their families were allotted 13 towns in Bashan from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh. 63The descendants of Merari were allotted 12 towns according to their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 64So the people of Israel gave the descendants of Levi the towns with their surrounding suburbs, 65allocating these towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
66A few of the families of Kohathfs descendants had towns of their territory allotted from the tribe of Ephraim. 67They were given these cities of refuge: Shechem with its surrounding suburbs in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its surrounding suburbs, 68Jokmeam with its surrounding suburbs, Beth-horon with its surrounding suburbs, 69Aijalon with its surrounding suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its surrounding suburbs, 70and (from of the half-tribe of Manasseh), Aner with its surrounding suburbs, and Bileam with its surrounding suburbs for the rest of the Kohathite families.
71From the half-tribe of Manasseh the descendants of Gershom were allotted Golan in Bashan with its surrounding suburbs and Ashtaroth with its surrounding suburbs. 72From the tribe of Issachar were allotted Kedesh with its surrounding suburbs, Daberath with its surrounding suburbs, 73Ramoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anem with its surrounding suburbs. 74From of the tribe of Asher were allotted Mashal with its surrounding suburbs, Abdon with its surrounding suburbs, 75Hukok with its surrounding suburbs, and Rehob with its surrounding suburbs. 76From the tribe of Naphtali were allotted Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding suburbs, Hammon with its surrounding suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its surrounding suburbs. 77From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the descendants of Merari were allotted Rimmono with its surrounding suburbs, and Tabor with its surrounding suburbs, 78across the Jordan from Jericho, that is, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben were allotted Bezer in the steppe with its surrounding suburbs, Jahzah with its surrounding suburbs, 79Kedemoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Mephaath with its surrounding suburbs. 80From the tribe of Gad were allotted Ramoth in Gilead with its surrounding suburbs, Mahanaim with its surrounding suburbs, 81Heshbon with its surrounding suburbs, and Jazer with its surrounding suburbs.
Chapter 7
1The four descendants of Issachar included Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. 2Tolafs descendants included Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, leaders of their ancestral house of Tola, who were valiant warriors during their lifetimes. During the life of David, they numbered 22,600. 3Uzzi fathered Izrahiah, and Izrahiah fathered Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah, all five of them leaders. 4In addition to them, according to their ancestral records were 36,000 members of their trained army by their generations, because they had many wives and children. 5As recorded in their genealogy, a total of 87,000 trained warriors belonged to all of the clans of Issachar.
6Benjaminfs three descendants included Bela, Becher, and Jediael.
7Belafs five descendants included Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, who were leaders of their ancestral households. Valiant warriors, their enrollment totaled 22,034 according to their genealogies.
8Becherfs descendants included Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were descendants of Becher, 9and their genealogical enrollment totaled 20,200 valiant warriors, delineated according to their generations as leaders of their ancestral households.
10Jediael fathered Bilhan, and Bilhanfs descendants included Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11All these were descendants through Jediael according to the heads of their ancestral households. Their valiant warriors totaled 17,200 equipped and ready for battle.
12In addition, Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, and the Hushites were descended from Aher.
13Naphtalifs descendants included Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, descended through Bilhah.
14Manassehfs descendants included Asriel, whom his Aramean mistress bore, along with Machir, who fathered Gilead. 15Machir chose wives for his sons Huppim and for Shuppim. He had a sister named Maacah. His second son was named Zelophehad, and Zelophehad fathered only daughters. 16Machirfs wife Maacah bore a son whom she named Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. 17Ulamfs son was Bedan. These were the children of Machirfs son Gilead, who was also a descendant of Manasseh. 18His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19Shemidafs sons included Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
20Ephraimfs descendants included Shuthelah, his son Bered, his son Tahath, his son Eleadah, his son Tahath, 21his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah, his son Ezer, and Elead. The people of Gath, who were native to the land, killed them when they came down to raid their cattle. 22So their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. 23Later, Ephraim had marital relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son, whom he named Beriah, because his household had been visited with disaster.
24His daughter Sheerah built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, along with Uzzen-sheerah. 25Rephah was also his descendant, as were Resheph, Telah, Tahan, 26Ladan, Ammihud, Elishama, 27Nun, and Joshua. 28Their possessions and settlements included Bethel and its towns, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its towns to the west, Shechem and its towns as far as Ayyah and its towns 29along the borders of the descendants of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, and Dor and its towns. In these lived the descendants of Israelfs son Joseph.
30Asherfs descendants included Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.
31Beriahfs descendants included Heber and Malchiel, who fathered Birzaith. 32Heber fathered Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua.
33Japhletfs descendants included Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the descendants of Japhlet.
34Shemerfs descendants included Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.
35His brother Helemfs descendants included Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
36Zophahfs descendants included Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.
38Jetherfs descendants included Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.
39Ullafs descendants included Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.
40All of these were men of Asher, leaders of ancestral households, choice valiant mighty warriors, and chiefs among princes. Their enrolled genealogies for battle conscription totaled 26,000 men.
Chapter 8
1Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel his second born, Aharah his third born, 2Nohah his fourth born, and Rapha his fifth born.
3Belafs descendants included Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
6Ehudfs descendants, who were leaders of their ancestral households in Geba and who were taken into exile to Manahath, included: 7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera (also known as Heglam), who fathered Uzza and Ahihud.
8Shaharaim fathered sons in the land of Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. 9By his wife Hodesh he fathered Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons and leaders of ancestral households.
11He also fathered his sons Abitub and Elpaal by Hushim.
12Elpaalfs descendants included Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod, along with its towns), 13Beriah and Shema, leaders of ancestral households in Aijalon who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath, 14Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15Zebadiah, Arad, and Eder.
16Beriahfs descendants included Michael, Ishpah, and Joha.
17Elpaalfs descendants included Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab.
19Shimeifs descendants included Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath.
22Shashakfs descendants included Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25Iphdeiah, and Penuel.
26Jerohamfs descendants included Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri.
28All of these were the leaders of ancestral households, chiefs according to their generations. They lived in Jerusalem.
29Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife was named Maacah. 30His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32and Mikloth, who fathered Shimeah. Now these also lived with their relatives across town in Jerusalem from their other relatives.
33Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
34Jonathan fathered Merib-baal and Merib-baal fathered Micah.
35Micahfs descendants included Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.
36Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. 37Moza fathered Binea, and Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
38Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan\all of these were the sons of Azel. 39The sons of his brother Eshek included Ulam his firstborn, Jeush his second, and Eliphelet his third. 40Ulamfs descendants were valiant warriors and archers. They had 150 children and grandchildren, all descendants of Benjamin.
Chapter 9
1All of Israel was enumerated by genealogy and recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel as Judah was being taken captive into exile to Babylon due to their disobedience. 2The first to settle on their own property in their own towns of Israel were priests, descendants of Levi, and the Temple Servants.
3In Jerusalem there lived some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh including 4Ammihudfs son Uthai, who was the grandson of Omri, who was the great-grandson of Imri, who was fathered by Bani from the descendants of Judahfs son Perez. 5From the descendants of Shilon there was Asaiah the firstborn, along with his descendants. 6From the descendants of Zerah there was Jeuel, along with 690 of their relatives. 7From the descendants of Benjamin there was Meshullamfs son Sallu, who was also the grandson of Hodaviah and great-grandson of Hassenuah, 8Jerohamfs son Ibneiah, Uzzifs son Elah, who was also Michrifs grandson, and Shephatiahfs son Meshullam, who was the grandson of Reuel and great-grandson of Ibnijah, 9along with 956 of their relatives according to their generations. All of these were leaders of families according to their ancestral households.
10From the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11and Hilkiahfs son Azariah, who was fathered by Meshullam, who was fathered by Zadok, who was fathered by Meraioth, who was fathered by Ahitub, the Chief Operating Officer of the Temple of God. 12There was Jerohamfs son Adaiah, who was fathered by Pashhur, who was fathered by Malchijah, and Adielfs son Maasai, who was fathered by Jahzerah, who was fathered by Meshullam, who was fathered by Meshillemith, who was fathered by Immer, 13along with 1,760 of their relatives, who were leaders of their ancestral households, valiant and qualified to serve in the Temple of God.
14From the descendants of Levi there was Hasshubfs son Shemaiah, who was the grandson of Azrikam, who was fathered by Hashabiah, from the descendants of Merari; 15along with Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Micafs son Mattaniah, who was the grandson of Zichri and great-grandson of Asaph, 16and Shemaiahfs son Obadiah, who was the grandson of Galal, who was fathered by Jeduthun, and Asafs son Berechiah, who was the grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17The gatekeepers included Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and other relatives. Shallum was the leader. 18He used to be stationed in the Kingfs Gate on the east side as one of the gatekeepers of the camp belonging to the descendants of Levi. 19Korefs son Shallum, who was the grandson of Ebiasaph and the great-grandson of Korah, and the descendants of Korah (who were relatives of his ancestral house) were over the service responsibilities and served as guardians of the entrances of the Tent, just as their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of the Lord and guardians of the entrance. 20Eleazarfs son Phinehas used to be Commander-in-Chief over them\the Lord was with him. 21Meshelemiahfs son Zechariah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 22All these, who had been set apart as gatekeepers at the entrances, numbered 212 and had been enrolled by genealogies in their villages.
David and Samuel the seer installed them in their positions of trust, 23so they and their descendants were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the House of the Tent, as guardians. 24The guardians were stationed on four sides\east, west, north, and south. 25Their relatives who lived in their villages were required to visit every seven days to be with them in turn, 26because the four senior gatekeepers (who were descendants of Levi) had been placed in charge of the chambers and the treasury of the Temple of God. 27They spent the night near the Temple of God, since they had been entrusted to guard it. They were in charge of opening it every morning.
28Some were responsible for the service utensils, and they were required to take an inventory of them when they were brought in and out. 29Others were responsible for the furniture and for all of the holy utensils, including the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices. 30Other descendants of the priests prepared the mixed spices. 31Mattithiah, a descendant of Levi and firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of making the offering cakes. 32Some of their Kohathite relatives were responsible to prepare the rows of bread for each Sabbath. 33These singers, leaders of ancestral households of the descendants of Levi, were living in the chambers of the Temple. Freed from other service responsibilities, they were on duty day and night. 34These leaders of the descendants of Levi, enrolled according to their genealogies, lived in Jerusalem.
35Jeiel, who fathered Gibeon, lived in the city of Gibeon. His wife was named Maacah. 36His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38Mikloth fathered Shimeam. They lived across town from their relatives in Jerusalem. 39Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 40Jonathan fathered Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah.
41Micahfs descendants included Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza, and 43Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 44Azel had six descendants with these names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan\these were the descendants of Azel.
Chapter 10
1The Philistines were fighting against Israel, and each soldier of Israel fled before the Philistines. They fell slain on the mountain of Gilboa. 2The Philistines followed after Saul and after his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saulfs sons. 3The heaviest fighting was against Saul, and when the archers who were shooting located Saul, he was gravely wounded by them.
4Saul ordered his armor bearer, gDraw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised people will come and abuse me.h
But his armor bearer did not want to do it because he was very frightened, so Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 6Therefore Saul, his three sons, and all his entire household died together. 7When that part of the army of Israel that was in the valley saw that the rest of the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and occupied them.
8The Philistines came to strip the dead the next day, and they found Saul dead on Gilboa mountain, along with his sons. 9They stripped him, took his head and armor, and sent messengers throughout the territory of the Philistines to report the news to their idols and to the people. 10Then they put Saulfs armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his skull to the wall of the temple of Dagon.
11When all the residents of Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12every valiant soldier got up, removed the bodies of Saul and his sons, took them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted for seven days. 13So Saul died for his transgressions; that is, he acted unfaithfully to the Lord by transgressing the message from the Lord (which he did not keep), by consulting a medium for advice, 14and by not seeking counsel from the Lord, who therefore put him to death and turned the kingdom over to Jessefs son David.
Chapter 11
1Later on, all of Israel gathered together at Hebron in order to tell David, gLook, wefre your own flesh and blood! 2Even back when Saul was ruling as king, you kept on leading the army of Israel out to battle and bringing them in again. The Lord your God told you, eYou yourself will shepherd my people Israel and will be Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel.fh 3So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where David entered into a covenant in the presence of the Lord. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel, just as the Lord had sent word through Samuel.
4Later, David and all of Israel marched to Jerusalem (then known as Jebus, where the Jebusites lived when they inhabited the land). 5The inhabitants of Jebus told David, gYoufre not coming in here!h Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, now known as the city of David.
6David had announced, gWhoever first attacks the Jebusites will be appointed chief and commander.h When Zeruiahfs son Joab went up first, he became chief. 7David occupied the fortress, so it was named the City of David after him. 8He built up the walls surrounding the city in a complete circle from the terrace ramparts, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9David became more and more prestigious because the Lord of the Heavenly Armies was with him.
10These are the leaders of the elite warriors who were strong supporters of David in his kingdom, along with all of Israel, in keeping with the message from the Lord concerning Israel. 11This record of the warriors who were for David included Hachmonifs son Jashobeam, leader of the platoons, who killed 300 with his spear in a single encounter.
12Next to him among the Three was Dodo the Ahohitefs son Eleazar. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were there to engage them in battle. There was a field planted with barley, and the army had run away from the Philistines, 14but they took a defensive stand in the middle of the field and killed the Philistines while the Lord saved them by means of a great victory.
15Later, the Three platoon leaders went down to Davidfs hideout at the cave of Adullam when the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants. 16David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17David expressed a longing, gOh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well thatfs by the city gate!h 18So the Three broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, poured it out in the Lordfs presence, and 19said in response, gMay God forbid me to do this! I wonft drink the blood of these men, will I? After all, they risked their lives to bring it to me.h Thatfs why he wouldnft drink it. The Three warriors did these things.
20Joabfs brother Abishai was the lieutenant in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. 21He was more well-known than the Three, but he never attained the stature of the Three.
22Jehoiadafs son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named Ariel from Moab and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. 23He also killed a soldier from Egypt of enormous height\seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian carried a spear comparable in size to a weaverfs beam, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptianfs hand and killed him with his own spear. 24Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors. 25He was well known among the platoons, but he didnft measure up to the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.
26The elite forces included Asahel (Joabfs brother), Dodofs son Elhanan from Bethlehem, 27Shammoth from Haror, Helez the Pelonite, 28Ikkeshfs son Ira from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, 29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30Maharai from Netophah, Baanahfs son Heled from Netophah, 31Ribaifs son Ithai from Gibeah, controlled by the descendants of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32Hurai from the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33Azmaveth from Baharum, Eliahba from Shaalbon, 34Hashem the Gizonite, Shagee the Hararitefs son Jonathan, 35Sachar the Hararitefs son Ahiam, Urfs son Eliphal, 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37Hezro from Carmel, Ezbaifs son Naarai, 38Joel (Nathanfs brother), Hagrifs son Mibhar, 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth, who was the armor-bearer for Zeruiahfs son Joab, 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41Uriah the Hittite, Ahlaifs son Zabad, 42Shiza the Reubenitefs son Adina, a leader of the descendants of Reuben, along with thirty others with him, 43Maacahfs son Hanan, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Hotham the Aroeritefs sons Shama and Jeiel, 45Shimrifs son Jediael and his brother Joha the Tizite, 46Eliel the Mahavite, Elnaamfs sons Jeribai and Joshaviah, Ithmah the Moabite, 47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Chapter 12
1Herefs a list of those who came to David at Ziklag when he was unable to travel freely due to Saul son of Kish. They were among the elite soldiers who assisted him in battle. 2Equipped as archers, they could use both their right and left hands to shoot arrows and hurl stones. As descendants of Benjamin, they were Saulfs relatives. 3Their leaders were Shemaahfs sons Ahiezer and Joash from Gibeah, Azmavethfs sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah, Jehu from Anathoth, 4Ishmaiah from Gibeon (who was one of the elite among the Thirty and in charge over them), Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad from Gederah, 5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the descendants of Korah, 7and Jerohamfs sons Joelah and Zebadiah from Gedor.
8Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks and as agile as a gazelle on a mountain slope. 9Their leader was Ezer, Obadiah was second, Eliab third, 10Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh. 14These descendants of Gad were army leaders. The least of them was equal to a hundred other soldiers and the greatest to a thousand. 15These men crossed the Jordan in the first month of the year during flood season and chased out everyone in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
16Later, some descendants of Benjamin and Judah approached David at his stronghold, 17and David went out to meet them. He told them, gIf youfve come in peace to be of help to me, then youfll have my commitment. But if youfve come to betray me to my enemies, even though Ifm innocent of wrongdoing, then may the God of our ancestors watch and judge.h
18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, leader of the Thirty, and he said,
gDavid, we belong to you;
wefre with you, son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to the one who helps you!
For your deliverer is your God.h
So David received them and assigned them to be officers over troops. 19Some of the descendants of Manasseh joined David when he was going to fight against Saul, accompanied by the Philistines. Even so, David was of no help to them, because the Philistine rulers were counseled to send him away. They told themselves, gHefs going to go over to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.h
20As he traveled toward Ziklag, these descendants of Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders in charge thousands in Manasseh. 21They helped David against raiders, since they were all warriors and commanders in the army. 22Indeed people kept coming to David every day to help him, until his army became a great, vast army.
23What follows is a listing of the divisions of battle-ready troops who joined David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, in accordance with what the Lord had spoken. 24The army of Judah, equipped with both shields and spears, numbered 6,800 warriors, 25the elite warriors of Simeon numbered 7,100, 26and the descendants of Levi numbered 4,600.
27Jehoiada, a senior officer in the house of Aaron, brought with him 3,700. 28Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.
29The tribe of Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of Saulfs dynasty.
30The tribe of Ephraim supplied 20,800 valiant soldiers who were well known in their ancestral households.
31The half-tribe of Manasseh supplied 18,000, who had been appointed specifically to come and establish David as king.
32The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do.
33The tribe of Zebulun supplied 50,000 experienced troops, trained in the use of every kind of war weapon, in order to help David with undivided loyalty.
34The tribe of Naphtali supplied 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 troops armed with shields and spears.
35The tribe of Dan supplied 28,600 battle-ready troops.
36The tribe of Asher supplied 40,000 experienced, battle-ready troops.
37The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan supplied 120,000 men armed with every kind of war weapon.
38All these warriors arrived in battle order at Hebron, fully intending to establish David as king over all Israel. Furthermore, all of the rest of Israel were united in their intent to make David king. 39They spent three days eating and drinking with David, since their relatives had supplied provisions for them.
40Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.
Chapter 13
1Later, David conferred with every officer in charge of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds. 2Then he addressed the entire community of Israel, gIf it seems good to you and something from the Lord our God, letfs spread word to all of our relatives who remain throughout the entire land of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi in the cities and pasture lands, so they can gather together with us. 3Then letfs bring the Ark of God back to us, because we didnft consult it during Saulfs reign.h 4The entire community consented, because doing so pleased all the people. 5So David assembled all of Israel\from the Shihor River of Egypt to Lebo-hamath\in order to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6David, accompanied by all of Israel, went up to Baalah (the former name of Kiriath-jearim), which belonged to Judah, to bring from there the Ark of God, the Lord, who sits enthroned on the cherubim, and who is called the Name. 7They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart, bringing it from Abinadabfs home, with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart. 8David and all of Israel were dancing in the presence of God with all of their might with songs, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9As they approached Chidonfs threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark, and he died right there in the presence of God.
11David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed Uzzah. As a result, that place was called Perez-uzzah to this day. 12But David feared God that day, and asked gHow am I to bring the Ark of God to me?h 13As a result, David would not take the ark into the city of David for it to be in his care. Instead, he took it to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14So the Ark of God remained in the care of Obed-edomfs household for three months, and God blessed Obed-edomfs household, along with everyone associated with it.
Chapter 14
1After this, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar logs, stone masons, and wood workers, to construct a palace for him. 2David realized that the Lord was affirming him as king over Israel, and that his government was being exalted in order to benefit his people Israel. 3But while he was living in Jerusalem, David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 4Herefs a list of the children whom he fathered while in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8When the Philistines learned that David had been anointed king over all of Israel, all of the Philistines invaded to look for David. David heard about it and went out to fight them. 9Meanwhile, the Philistines had invaded and raided the Rephaim Valley. 10So David asked God, gAm I to go out against the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?h
gGo out,h the Lord replied to him, gand Ifll put them right into your hand.h
11So David went out to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. David observed, gLike an overwhelming flood, God has overwhelmed my enemies, using me to do it.h Thatfs why that place is called Baal-perazim. 12The Philistines abandoned their gods there, so David ordered that their idols be incinerated.
13Later the Philistines invaded the Rephaim Valley again. 14When David asked God about it, God told him, gDonft directly attack them. Instead, go around them and come up against them opposite those balsam trees. 15When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, because God will have gone out ahead of you to destroy the Philistine army.h 16So David did just as God had ordered, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17Then Davidfs reputation spread through all of the neighboring countries, and the Lord caused all nations to be afraid of David.
Chapter 15
1David built palaces for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the Ark of God and erected a tent for it. 2Then David ordered that the Ark of God was to be carried by no one except the descendants of Levi, because the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve him forever. 3David assembled all of Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its proper place that he had prepared for it.
4David also assembled the descendants of Aaron, who were descendants of Levi, 5including Uriel their leader from the descendants of Kohath, along with 120 of his relatives, 6from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah their leader, along with 220 of his relatives, 7from the descendants of Gershom, Joel their chief, along with 130 of his relatives, 8from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah their leader, along with 200 of his relatives, 9from Hebronfs descendants, Eliel their leader, along with 80 of his relatives, 10and from Uzzielfs descendants, Amminadab their leader, along with 112 of his relatives.
11Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the descendants of Levi Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab 12and addressed them: gAs leaders of your Levitical families, set yourselves apart, both you and your relatives, so you can be qualified to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place Ifve prepared for it. 13Because you didnft carry it from the very first, the Lord our God attacked us, since we didnft care for it appropriately.h 14So the priests and descendants of Levi set themselves apart to carry the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15The descendants of Levi carried the Ark of God the way Moses had commanded and in accordance with the command from the Lord\that is, with poles on their shoulders.
16David also told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint their relatives as singers, to play musical instruments such as harps, lyres, and cymbals, and to keep sounding aloud with joyful voices. 17So the descendants of Levi appointed Joelfs son Heman, his relative Berechiahfs son Asaph, as well as certain relatives of Merarifs sons, including Kushaiahfs son Ethan, 18their second order relatives Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, as well as the trustees Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19The singers included Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (who played bronze cymbals). 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps to accompany the women singers, 21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led on lyres, sounding the octaves. 22Chenaniah, music leader for the descendants of Levi, served as music director, because he was expert at it. 23Berechiah and Elkanah served as gatekeepers for the ark. 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were appointed to sound the trumpets before the Ark of God, and Obed-edom and Jehiah were trustees for the ark.
25Then David, the elders of Israel, and the leaders of groups of thousands proceeded to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Obed-edomfs house, rejoicing as they went. 26As God helped the descendants of Levi who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27David wore a robe made from fine linen, as did all of the descendants of Levi who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music and choir director. David also wore a linen ephod. 28All of Israel were bringing up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, accompanied by shouting, sounding of horns, trumpets, and cymbals, along with loud music on harps and lyres. 29But as the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord approached the city of David, Saulfs daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David dancing and cavorting around, and she despised him in her heart.
Chapter 16
1They brought the Ark of God, placed it within the tent that David had erected, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of God. 2After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3and distributed a loaf of bread, a date bar, and a raisin bar to every person in Israel\that is, to each man and to each woman. 4In the presence of the ark of the Lord, he appointed some of the descendants of Levi to minister continually by remembering, giving thanks, and praising the Lord God of Israel. 5Their director Asaph played cymbals, and next to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who played harps and lyres. 6The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel continually played the trumpets in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of God.
7On that very day, David composed this psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord just for Asaph and his companions:
8Give thanks to the Lord,
calling on his name.
Make what he has done known among the people.
9Sing to him,
sing psalms to him,
and think about all of his miraculous deeds.
10Find joy in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who keep on seeking the Lord rejoice.
11Seek the Lord and his strength.
Always look to him.
12Keep remembering the awesome deeds that he has done,
along with his miracles
and the rulings that he has handed down,
13you descendants of his servant Israel,
you descendants of Jacob,
the ones he has chosen.
14He is the Lord our God.
His justice is in all of the land.
15Remember his covenant forever,
his promise that he made to the thousandth generation,
16the covenant that he made with Abraham,
and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob in the form of an ordinance,
an eternal covenant to Israel,
18when he told Israel,
gTo you I will give the land of Canaan
as your joyful inheritance.h
19When you were few in number\
very few, and strangers at that\
20wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another,
21he did not let anyone wrong them.
He warned kings on their behalf,
22gDonft touch my chosen ones,
and donft hurt my prophets!h
23Let all the earth sing to the Lord!
Day after day proclaim his deliverance!
24Declare his glory among the nations,
and his miraculous deeds to all people,
25because the Lord is great,
and he is praised greatly!
He is feared above every god.
26For all of the gods of the other nations are mere idols,
but the Lord fashioned the heavens!
27Splendor and majesty surround him,
and strength and joy fill his palace.
28Let the families of earth recognize the Lord\
that he is glorious and powerful.
29Recognize the glory that is due the Lord!
Bring your offering,
and come into his presence,
worshiping the Lord in all of his holy splendor.
30Tremble in his presence, all the earth!
Surely the inhabited world stands firm\
it cannot be moved.
31Let the heavens rejoice,
and the earth be glad!
Say to the nations,
gThe Lord reigns!h
32Let the sea roar
along with everything that fills it!
Let the fields exult,
along with everything in them!
33Then let the trees in the forest sing out in praise,
for the Lord is coming to judge the world.
34Give thanks to the Lord,
because he is good
and because his gracious love is eternal!
35Call out, gSave us, God, you who delivers us!
Gather us and rescue us from the nations!
We will thank your holy name
and rejoice as we praise you!
36Praise the Lord God of Israel,
who lives from eternity to eternity!
Then all of the people shouted gAmen!h and praised the Lord.
37Later David left the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord so Asaph and his fellow descendants of Levi could serve the ark there continually each day, doing whatever was required. 38Obed-edom and 68 of his relatives remained also, with Jeduthunfs son Obed-edom and Hosah serving as trustees. 39He left Zadok the priest and his relatives at the Tent of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon, where they ministered in the Lordfs presence, 40sacrificing the regular burnt offerings regularly each morning and evening to the Lord on the altar dedicated to that purpose, doing everything written in the Law of the Lord, just as he had commanded Israel.
41David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, because ghis gracious love is eternal.h 42They accompanied their songs of praise to God with trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments while Jeduthunfs children served as trustees. 43After this, everyone left for their own homes and David went home to bless his own household.
Chapter 17
1After David had settled down to live in his palace, he spoke with the prophet Nathan. gLook, here I am living in this cedar palace, but the ark of the Lordfs covenant remains surrounded by curtains!h
2gDo everything you have in mind,h Nathan replied to David, gbecause God is with you.h
3But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from God:
4gGo tell David, my servant, eThis is what the Lord says:
gegYou wonft be building a house for me to inhabit, will you? 5After all, I havenft lived in a house from the day I brought out Israel until today. Instead, Ifve lived from tent to tent and from one place to another. 6Wherever Ifve moved within all of Israel, did I ever ask even one judge of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, eWhy havenft you built me a cedar house?fhf
7gNow therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gI took you from the pasture myself\from tending sheep\to become Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel.
8gegFurthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make your reputation great, like the reputation of the great ones who have lived on earth. 9I will establish a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will not oppress them as happened in the past, 10during the time I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. Ifll also grant you deliverance from all your enemies.
gegIfm also announcing to you that the Lord also will himself build a house for you. 11It will come about that when your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who is related to one of your sons, and I will fortify his kingdom. 12He will build a temple dedicated to me, and I will make his throne last forever. 13I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me. I will never remove my gracious love from him as I did from the one who preceded you. 14I will confirm him in my Temple and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will remain secure forever.hfh
15Using precisely these words, Nathan communicated this complete oracle to David.
16Then King David went in, sat down in the presence of the Lord, and said:
gWho am I, Lord God, and what is my household, since you have brought me to this? 17Furthermore, this is a small thing to you, God, and yet you have spoken concerning your servantfs household for a great while to come, and you have seen in me the fulfillment of manfs purpose, Lord God.
18gWhat more can David say to you about how you are honoring your servant, and you surely know your servant. 19Lord, for the sake of your servant, and consistent with your heart, you have done all of these great things and are now making these great things known.
20gLord, there is no one like you, and we have heard from no god other than you. 21What other one nation on the earth is like your people Israel, God, which you have redeemed from slavery to become your own people, making a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You did awesome miraculous deeds, driving out nations that stood in their way. 22You took your people Israel to be your very own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
23gAnd now, Lord, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and his household be done forever\and let it be done just as youfve promised. 24May your name be made great and honored forever: The Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, is God for Israel, and may the family of David your servant stand before you forever.
25gBecause of you, my God, I have been bold to pray to you, as you have told your servant that you will build him a dynasty. 26And now, Lord, you are God, and you have promised all of these good things to your servant. 27Furthermore, it has pleased you to bless the dynasty of your servant, so that it will continue in place forever in your presence, because when you, Lord, grant a blessing, it is an eternal blessing.h
Chapter 18
1After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and then took possession of Gath and its towns from Philistine control. 2He also conquered Moab, placing them in servitude and making them pay tribute.
3David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, which is near Hamath, while he was going about establishing his hegemony as far as the Euphrates River. 4David confiscated 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and hamstrung all of the chariot horses except for a reserve force of 100 chariots. 5When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6David later erected garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans were placed under servitude to David, to whom they paid tribute. 7David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezerfs officials and took them to Jerusalem. 8David also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, cities under Hadadezerfs control. Later on, Solomon crafted the bronze sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels for the Temple.
9When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered King Hadadezer of Zobahfs entire army, 10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to meet and congratulate him, because he had fought against and defeated Hadadezer. Since Hadadezer had often been to war against Tou, he sent all sorts of gold, silver, and bronze goods 11to King David, which David also dedicated to the Lord, along with silver and gold that he confiscated from all the surrounding nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12Zeruiahfs son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 13He erected garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
14So David reigned over all of Israel, administering justice and equity to all of his people. 15Zeruiahfs son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahiludfs son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist, 16Ahitubfs son Zadok and Abiatharfs son Ahimelech were priests, Shavsha was his personal secretary, 17Jehoiadafs son Benaiah supervised the special forces and mercenaries, while Davidfs sons worked as chief officials in service to the king.
Chapter 19
1Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died and his son succeeded him, 2so David told himself, gI will be loyal to Nahashfs son Hanun, since his father showed loyal, gracious love to me.h So David sent a delegation to console him about his loss of his father.
But when Davidfs delegation arrived to visit Hanun in Ammonite territory to console him, 3the Ammonite officials asked Hanun, gDo you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived to search, overthrow, and scout the land, hasnft it?h 4So Hanun arrested Davidfs delegation, shaved off their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace.
5After they had departed, David was informed about the men, so he sent word to them, since they had been deeply humiliated. He told them, gStay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.h
6When the Ammonites realized that they had created quite a stink with David, Hanun and the Ammonites spent 1,000 silver talents to hire chariots and mercenaries from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. 7They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who arrived and encamped at Medeba. The Ammonites also were mustered and came out to battle from their home cities. 8In response, David sent out Joab and his entire army of elite soldiers. 9The Ammonites went out in battle formation in front of the entrance to the city while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open fields.
10When Joab observed that the battle lines were set up to oppose him both in front and behind, he appointed some special forces from Israel and arrayed them to oppose the Arameans, 11putting the rest of his forces under command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them to oppose the Ammonites. 12He told Abishai, gIf the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you are to help me. If the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will help you. 13Be strong, be courageous on behalf of our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what he thinks is best.h 14So Joab and the soldiers who were with him attacked the Arameans in battle formation, and the Arameans retreated in front of him. 15When the Ammonites saw the Arameans retreating, they also retreated from Joabfs brother Abishai back to the city and Joab left for Jerusalem. 16After the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for the Arameans who lived beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach was leading them as commander of Hadadezerfs army.
17When David learned this, he mustered all of Israel, crossed the Jordan, approached the Arameans, and drew up his forces against them. After David had assembled in battle array against the Arameans, the Arameans attacked him. 18The Arameans retreated from Israel, and Davidfs forces killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers, 40,000 soldiers, and Shophach, the commander of their army. 19When Hadadezerfs officials saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sought terms of peace with David and became subservient to him. After this, the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.
Chapter 20
1Later the next spring, at the time that kings go out to fight, Joab led out the army, ravaged the territory of the Ammonites, and then went out and attacked Rabbah, while David remained behind in Jerusalem. Joab besieged Rabbah and conquered it. 2David confiscated the crown of their king from his head, and found that its weight was 75 pounds in gold. A precious stone had been set in it, and it was placed on Davidfs head. He also confiscated a great amount of war booty that had been plundered from the city, 3brought back the people who had lived in it, and put them to conscripted labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. David did this to every Ammonite city, and then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.
4Afterwards, war broke out against the Philistines at Gezer, where Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, defeating the Philistines. 5There was also another battle against the Philistines, when Jairfs son Elhanan killed Lahmi the Gittite, Goliathfs brother, whose spear was as big as a weaverfs beam. 6There was also a battle at Gath, where there was a very tall man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot\for a total of 24 digits\who was a descendant of the Rephaim. 7When he challenged Israel, Shimeifs son Jonathan, Davidfs nephew, killed him. 8These descendants from the giants in Gath died at the hands of David and his servants.
Chapter 21
1Then Satan attacked Israel by inciting David to enumerate a census of Israel. 2David ordered Joab and the commanders of the army, gGo take a census of Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report so I can be aware of the total number.h
3But Joab replied, gMay the Lord increase the population of his people a hundredfold! Your majesty, all of them are your majestyfs servants, arenft they? So why should your majesty demand this? Why should he bring guilt to Israel?h
4But the kingfs order overruled Joab, so Joab left, traveled throughout all of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem 5to report the total population count to David. Throughout all of Israel there were 1,100,000 men trained for war. In Judah there were 470,000 men trained for war. 6Levi and Benjamin were not included in the census, because what the king had commanded was unethical to Joab.
7God considered this behavior to be evil, so he attacked Israel. 8David responded to God, gI sinned greatly by behaving this way. But now I am asking you, please remove the guilt of your servant, since I have acted very foolishly.h
9So the Lord responded through Gad, Davidfs seer. 10gGo and tell David, eThis is what the Lord says: gIfm holding three choices out for you: pick one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you.hfh
11Gad went to David and told him, gThis is what the Lord says: eMake a choice for yourself: 12Either three years of famine, or three months of reversals as you are swept away by your enemies while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or three days with the sword of the Lord, consisting of pestilence infecting the land, with the angel of the Lord wreaking destruction from border to border throughout all of Israel.f Decide right now what I am to answer to the one who sent me.h
13So David replied to Gad, gThis is a very bad choice for me to make! Let me now please fall into the hand of the Lord, because his mercy is very great, but may I never fall into human hands!h
14Then the Lord sent a pestilence to Israel, and 70,000 men died in Israel. 15God also sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as he was about to do so, the Lord looked and withdrew the calamity by saying to the destroying angel, gEnough! Stop what youfre doing!h
So the angel of the Lord remained standing near the threshing floor that belonged to Ornan the Jebusite. 16David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
17David told God, gWasnft I the one who ordered the census of the population? Wasnft it I who sinned and acted wickedly? Now as for these sheep, what have they done? Lord God, please let your hand be against me and my ancestral household, but donft let your people be ravaged by plague!h
18The angel of the Lord told Gad to tell David that David was to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor that belonged to Ornan the Jebusite. 19So David went up, obeying Gadfs directive that he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20Ornan turned around and saw the angel. While his four sons with him ran away to hide, Ornan continued to thresh wheat. 21As David approached Ornan, Ornan looked around and observed David, left the threshing floor, and fell to the ground before David with his face on the ground.
22David told Ornan, gGive me the threshing floor as a site to build an altar to the Lord on it. Give it to me at its full price, so the plague may be averted from the people.h
23But Ornan replied to David, gTake it! Let your majesty the king do whatever seems like a good idea to him. Look here! Ifm giving the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing machinery for the wood, and the wheat for a grain offering. Ifm giving all of it.h
24But King David told Ornan, gNo. I will buy them for the full price because I will not offer to the Lord what is yours or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.h
25So David paid Ornan 600 shekels weight worth in gold for the site, 26built an altar to the Lord there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called out to the Lord, and he answered him from heaven with fire on the altar of burnt offerings. 27After this, the Lord spoke to the angel, who then sheathed his sword.
28From that time on, after David had observed that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he made his sacrifices there. 29Meanwhile, the tent of the Lord that Moses had crafted in the desert, along with the altar of burnt offerings, were being stored at the high place in Gibeon at that time, 30but David was not going before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword carried by the angel of the Lord.
Chapter 22
1David said, gThis is where the Lord Godfs Temple will be, along with the altar of burnt offerings for Israel.h
2David subsequently issued orders to conscript the resident aliens who lived in the land of Israel and appointed stonecutters to prepare stones for building a temple for God. 3David also provisioned abundant supplies of iron for nails to build the doors for gates and to build clamps. Furthermore, he provided so much bronze it wasnft inventoried, 4as well as an innumerable amount of cedar logs, since the Sidonians and Tyrians brought vast amounts of cedar to David.
5David thought, gMy son Solomon is young and inexperienced. The temple that will be built for the Lord is to be magnificent, well known, and internationally honored, so I will complete preparations for it.h So before his death, David finished providing a great quantity of materials for it.
6Later, David called for his son Solomon and directed him to build a temple to the Lord God of Israel. 7David addressed Solomon: gI have attempted to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God. 8But this message from the Lord came to me, telling me
eYou have shed a lot of blood and fought great battles. You wonft be building a house for my name, since you have shed so much blood on the earth in my sight. 9But look! A son born to you will live comfortably, because I will give him rest from all his enemies that surround him on every side, since his name will be gSolomonh\I will give peace and quiet for Israel during his lifetime. 10He will build a temple to my name. He will be a son to me, I myself will be a father to him, and I will secure his royal throne in Israel forever.f
11So now, my son, may the Lord be with you, so that you are successful in constructing the Temple of the Lord your God, just as he has spoken about you.
12gOnly may the Lord give you discretion and understanding as he places you in charge over Israel, so you can keep the Law of the Lord your God. 13Then you will be successful, if you keep on observing the statutes and ordinances that the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong, be courageous, and never give in to fear or dismay. 14At great effort I have provided for the Temple of the Lord 100,000 gold talents, 1,000,000 silver talents, as well as bronze and iron beyond calculation, since there is so much of it. Ifve also provided timber and stone, but youfll need to obtain more. 15You already have plenty of workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and an innumerable group of artisans who are skilled at working in 16gold, silver, bronze, and iron. So begin the work, and may the Lord be with you.h
17David also issued these orders to all of the leaders of Israel to assist his son Solomon: 18gIsnft the Lord your God with you? Hasnft he surrounded you with comfort? He has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my control, and the land lies subdued both in the Lordfs presence and before his people. 19So set your minds and hearts to seek the Lord your God, to get up, and to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be stored in a temple built for the name of the Lord.h
Chapter 23
1After David had reached old age, and had completed his reign, he set his son Solomon as king over Israel. 2David then gathered together all of the leaders of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi. 3descendants of Levi 30 years old and above were counted for a total of 38,000. 4g24,000 of these,h David said, gare to be set in charge of the work of the Temple of the Lord, with 6,000 serving as officers and judges, 5with 4,000 gatekeepers, and with 4,000 offering praises to the Lord with the musical instruments that I have had crafted.h
6David divided them into divisions based on Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Levifs sons.
7The descendants of Gershon?? were Ladan and Shimei. 8The three descendants of Ladan included Jehiel (their chief), Zetham, and Joel. 9The three descendants of Shimei included Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the heads of families of Ladan.
10The descendants of Shimei included Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were sons of Shimei. 11Jahath served as chief and Zizah was second in rank, but since Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, they were enrolled as a single family unit.
12The four descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 13The descendants of Amram included Aaron and Moses. Aaron had been set apart to consecrate the most holy things, with the intent that he and his sons should present offerings in the Lordfs presence forever, ministering to him and pronouncing blessings in his name forever.
14Meanwhile, as for Moses the man of God, his sons were considered among the tribe of Levi. 15The descendants of Moses included Gershom and Eliezer. 16The descendants of Gershom included Shebuel as their chief.
17The descendants of Eliezer included Rehabiah as their chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.
18The descendants of Izhar included Shelomith their chief.
19The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth.
20The descendants of Uzziel included Micah their chief and Isshiah their second in rank.
21The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The descendants of Mahli included Eleazar and Kish, 22but Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters. Their relatives (the descendants of Kish) married them. 23The three descendants of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.
24These were the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral households, with family heads documented according to the names of persons 20 years and older who were appointed to perform work in service to the Temple of the Lord.
25For David had said gThe Lord God of Israel has granted rest to his people, and he has taken Israel as his eternal residence. 26Therefore the descendants of Levi are no longer to carry the Tent or its service implements.h 27Since, according to Davidfs final instructions, the list above contains the total number of descendants of Levi from the age of 20 years and upward, 28David issued these orders:
gInstead, they are to assist by lending a hand to the descendants of Aaron regarding service to the Temple of the Lord relating to the courts, the chambers, purification of everything pertaining to holiness, and to anything else pertaining to service on behalf of the Temple of God, 29including assisting with the rows of showbread, selecting flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, baked offerings, and oil-based offerings, no matter what the quantity or sizes. 30They are to take their stand morning by morning, thanking and praising the Lord right through until the evening, 31whenever burnt offerings are presented to the Lord, whether on Sabbaths, New Moons, or scheduled festivals, regularly in the Lordfs presence in accordance with the number required to conduct their service. 32By doing this, they will fulfill their obligation as trustees over the Tent of Assembly and the Sanctuary, attending to the needs of their relatives, who are descendants of Aaron, in keeping with their service on behalf of the Temple of the Lord.h
Chapter 24
1With respect to the descendants of Aaron, classes of service were organized for Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, the descendants of Aaron. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, leaving no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar became priests. 3Along with Zadok, one of Eleazarfs descendants, and Ahimelech, one of Ithamarfs descendants, David organized their service according to their assigned responsibilities.
4More leaders were located among Eleazarfs descendants than among those of Ithamar, so sixteen leaders were appointed from the leaders of the ancestral households of Eleazarfs descendants and eight from those of Ithamar. 5They were chosen by impartial lottery, since there were trustees of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazarfs descendants and among Ithamarfs descendants. 6Nethanelfs son Shemaiah, a Levitical scribe, made an official record of them for the king, the officers, Zadok the priest, Abiatharfs son Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral households of both the priests and the descendants of Levi. One ancestral house was chosen for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.
7The first lottery was chosen in favor of Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, 8 third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, 9the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, 11the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18the twenty-third for Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19These were appointed to enter the Temple of the Lord according to their protocols established by their ancestor Aaron, as commanded by the Lord God of Israel.
20Now with respect to the descendants of Levi there remained Shubael from the descendants of Amram and Jehdeiah from the descendants of Shubael; 21with respect to Rehabiah, Isshiah their chief from the descendants Rehabiah; 22with respect to the Izharites, Shelomoth, Jahath from the descendants of Shelomoth; 23with respect to the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth; 24with respect to the descendants of Uzziel, Micah; with respect to the descendants of Micah, Shamir; 25with respect to Micahfs brother Isshiah; with respect to the descendants of Isshiah, Zechariah; 26with respect to Merarifs sons, Mahli and Mushi; with respect to the sons of Jaaziah, Beno; 27with respect to the sons of Merari, Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri; 28with respect to Mahli, Eleazar, who had no sons; 29with respect to Kish, Jerahmeel, one of the descendants of Kish; 30and with respect to the descendants of Mushi, Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral households. 31These individuals also cast lots corresponding to their relatives, Aaronfs descendants, in the presence of King David, Zadok, and Ahimelech, and in the presence of the heads of the ancestral households of the priests and of the descendants of Levi, and the eldest was treated as impartially as was the younger brother.
Chapter 25
1Along with officers in his army, David consecrated to assist in service to the descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun those who prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals.
The list of those who participated in this service included: 2from the descendants of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph mentored by Asaph himself, who prophesied under the supervision of the king; 3from Jeduthun, these six of his descendants: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, mentored by their father Jeduthun, who played a lyre and prophesied, giving thanks and praise to the Lord; 4from Heman, these descendants: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5All of these were descendants of Heman the kingfs seer, according to Godfs promise to exalt him, since God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6They were all under their fatherfs supervision regarding music in the Temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the Temple of God.
Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under command of the king. 7They and their relatives who had been skillfully trained in singing to the Lord, numbered 288. 8Their duties, whether significant or insignificant, whether performed by teacher or pupil alike, were assigned by lottery.
9Asaphfs first lottery was cast in favor of Joseph; the second went to Gedaliah, that is, to him, to his relatives, and his sons, for a total of twelve; 10the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 11the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 12the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 13the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 14the seventh to Jesharelah,?? his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 15the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 16the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 17the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 18the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 19the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 20the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 21the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 22the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 23the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 24the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 25the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 26the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 27the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 28the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 29the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 30the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 31the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve.
Chapter 26
1The guild of trustees included, from the descendants of Korah, Korefs son Meshelemiah from Asaphfs descendants; 2Meshelemiahfs sons Zechariah, his firstborn, Jediael his second, Zebadiah his third, Jathniel his fourth, 3Elam his fifth, Jehohanan his sixth, and Eliehoenai his seventh; 4Obed-edomfs sons Shemaiah, his firstborn, Jehozabad his second, Joah his third, Sachar his fourth, Nethanel his fifth, 5Ammiel his sixth, Issachar his seventh, and Peullethai his eighth, since God had blessed him.
6Furthermore, his son Shemaiah had sons born to him who wielded authority in their ancestral households, since they were mighty men of valor. 7These sons of Shemaiah included Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant, able men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8All of these sons of Obed-edom, along with their sons and brothers, were valiant men, fully qualified for duty\62 descendants of Obed-edom. 9Meshelemiah had 18 sons and brothers who were valiant men. 10Hosah, one of Merarifs sons, had these sons: Shimri their chief (though not the firstborn, his father had appointed him chief), 11Hilkiah his second, Tebaliah his third, and Zechariah his fourth, with a total of 13 sons and brothers of Hosah
12With respect to their leaders, these courses of trustees had responsibilities, along with their relatives, regarding ministry within the Temple of the Lord 13assigned by lottery according to their ancestral households, whether large or small alike, for their gate assignments. 14The lot for the eastern gate fell to Shelemiah. They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, who was a wise counselor, and his lot indicated the northern gate. 15Obed-edomfs lot indicated the south gate, and his sons were also allotted responsibility for the storehouse. 16For Shuppim and Hosah the lot indicated the west at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road.
Each guard corresponding to each guard, 17on the east six descendants of Levi were assigned for each day, on the north four for each day, on the south four for each day (as well as two pairs of guards assigned to the storehouse), 18and for the colonnade on the west four were assigned at the road and two at the colonnade. 19These were the ranks of trustees assigned among the descendants of Korah and the sons of Merari.
20Now with respect to the descendants of Levi, Ahijah was responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of God, including the treasuries containing dedicated gifts. 21With respect to the descendants of Ladan, the Gershonite descendants pertaining to Ladan, the heads of families pertaining to Ladan the Gershonite, there was Jehieli. 22The descendants of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord.
23From the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were assigned 24Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom and a descendant of Moses (as chief officer in charge of the treasuries) 25and his brothers from Eliezer, including his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.
26Shelomoth and his brothers were responsible for all of the treasuries of dedicated gifts given by King David, by the heads of families, by the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and by the leading army officers. 27They dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the Temple of the Lord from spoils of war. 28Furthermore, everything that Samuel the seer, Kishfs son Saul, Nerfs son Abner, and Zeruiahfs son Joab had dedicated\all of their dedicated gifts\were under the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.
29From the descendants of Izhar, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned as officers and judges with responsibilities relating to external duties. 30From the descendants of Hebron, Hashabiah and his relatives\1,700 outstanding men\were assigned oversight of Israel west of the Jordan regarding all of the Lordfs work and services on behalf of the king.
31From the descendants of Hebron, Jerijah was assigned chief of the descendants of Hebron. During the fortieth year of Davidfs administration, a search was made by genealogical record, family by family, to find men of great ability, including those found at Jazer in Gilead. 32King David appointed Jerijah, his relatives, and 2,700 competent men who were each family heads, to oversee the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding everything pertaining to God as well as matters relating to the king.
Chapter 27
1The Israelis, according to the number of the leaders of their families, the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and their leaders who served the king on behalf of the army divisions of 24,000 soldiers on duty month by month throughout the year, consisted of the following.
2Zabdielfs son Jashobeam was responsible for the first division of 24,000 soldiers for the first month. 3A descendant of Perez, he was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.
4Dodai the Ahohite was responsible for the division of the second month. Mikloth served as chief officer of his division, consisting of 24,000 soldiers.
5Jehoiadafs son Benaiah the priest was commander of the third division for the third month, consisting of 24,000 soldiers. 6This was the same Benaiah who was one of the elite men of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was responsible for his division.??
7Joabfs brother Asahel was fourth for the fourth month, assisted by his son Zebadiah, with 24,000 soldiers in his division.
8The fifth commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000 soldiers.
9Ikkeshfs son Ira from Tekoa was sixth for the sixth month; there were 24,000 soldiers in his division.
10Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite, was seventh for the seventh month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
11Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite, was eighth for the eighth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
12Abiezer from Anathoth, a descendant of Benjamin, was ninth for the ninth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
13Mahari from Netophah, a Zerahite, was tenth for the tenth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
14Benaiah from Pirathon, an Ephraimite, was eleventh for the eleventh month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
15Heldai the Netophathite, from Othniel, was twelfth for the twelfth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
16Wielding the scepters of Israel for the descendants of Reuben, there was Zichrifs son Eliezer as chief officer; for the descendants of Simeon there was Maacahfs son Shephatiah; 17for Levi there was Kemuelfs son Hashabiah; for Aaron there was Zadok; 18for Judah there was Elihu, one of Davidfs brothers; for Issachar there was Michaelfs son Omri; 19for Zebulun there was Obadiahfs son Ishmaiah; for Naphtali, there was Azrielfs son Jerimoth; 20for the descendants of Ephraim, there was Azaziahfs son Hoshea; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, there was Pedaiahfs son Joel; 21for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, there was Zechariahfs son Iddo; for Benjamin, there was Abnerfs son Jaasiel; 22for Dan, there was Jerohamfs son Azarel. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23David did not complete a census of those younger than 20 years of age, since the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. 24Zeruiahfs son Joab began the census, but never completed it. Nevertheless, God became angry with Israel because of this, so the number was never entered into the official records of the Annals of King David.
25Adielfs son Azmaveth was responsible for the kingfs treasuries. Uzziahfs son Jonathan was in charge of treasuries located in the country, in cities, in villages, and in towers. 26Chelubfs son Ezri supervised the field workers who tilled the soil. 27Shimei the Ramathite supervised the vineyards. In charge over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28Baal-hanan the Gederite supervised the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah. Joash supervised the oil reserves. 29Shitrai the Sharonite supervised the herds that were pastured in Sharon. Adlaifs son Shaphat supervised the herds in the valleys. 30Obil the Ishmaelite supervised the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite supervised the donkeys. Jaziz the Hagrite supervised the flocks. 31All of these served as stewards over King Davidfs property.
32Davidfs uncle Jonathan was a counselor, since he was a man of understanding and a scribe, and Hachmonifs son Jehiel was an attendant to the kingfs sons. 33Ahithophel served as an advisor to the king, Hushai the Archite was the kingfs trusted associate, 34and under Ahithophel there was Benaiahfs son Jehoiada and Abiathar. Joab served as commander of the kingfs army.
Chapter 28
1David gathered together all of the leaders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, division officers who reported to the king, the commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, the supervisors of the property and livestock that belonged to the king and to his sons, along with all of the officers of the palace, the elite forces, and all of the soldiers.
2King David rose to his feet and said, gMy fellow citizens, may I have your attention. I intended to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, for a footstool of our God, so I began preparations for its construction. 3But then God told me, eYou will not build a temple to my name, because you are a man of war, and you have committed bloodshed.f 4Nevertheless, the Lord God of Israel chose me from my entire ancestral household to be king over Israel forever, since he had chosen Judah as Commander-in-Chief. In my ancestor Judahfs household, from my fatherfs household, and from among my fatherfs sons it pleased him to make me king over all of Israel.
5gNow out of all of my sons (since the Lord has given me many of them), he has selected my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord, ruling over Israel. 6He told me,
eI chose your son Solomon to be the one who will construct my Temple and my courts, because I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. 7I will establish his kingdom forever, assuming he remains strongly committed to carry out my commandments and ordinances, as he is doing today.f
8Therefore, in the presence of all of Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and while our God is listening, observe and search through all of the commandments of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land, leaving it for an inheritance forever to benefit your descendants who come after you.h
9gNow as for you, my son Solomon, get to know the God of your father. Serve him with a sound heart and a devoted soul, because the Lord is searching every heart, every plan and thought. He will be found by you, assuming you are seeking him, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you forever. 10So keep watching, because the Lord has chosen you to build the Temple of his sanctuary. So be strong, and get to work!h
11At this point in his address, David transferred to his son Solomon the construction plans for the Hall of Justice, its buildings, its treasure vaults, its upper rooms, its inner chambers, the housing for the Mercy Seat, 12and the plans for everything else that he had in mind for the courtyards of the Temple of the Lord. Included were plans for all of the surrounding vaults and treasuries of the Temple of God intended for storage of dedicated gifts, 13for use by the ranks of priests and descendants of Levi, for all the work of service responsibilities in the Temple of the Lord, and for all of the utensils used in the work of the Temple of the Lord. 14David also transferred to him by weight the gold that was to be used to craft the service utensils, the silver that was to be used to craft the service utensils, 15the gold for the golden lamp stands and their lamps, the silver for a lamp stand and its lamps (each according to its intended use in the service), 16the gold by weight for each table of the rows of bread, the silver for the silver tables, 17pure gold for the forks, the basins, the cups, the golden bowls (along with enough gold by weight for each one), enough weight for each of the silver bowls, 18refined gold for the altar of incense, by weight, along with his plans for crafting the golden chariot for the cherubim that spread out their wings to cover the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord.
19gAll of these things the Lord made clear to me in writing at his direction\the construction plans for all of the building.h
20David continued with these words for his son Solomon: gBe strong and courageous, and get to work. Never be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor will he abandon you right up to your completion of the work for the service of the Temple of the Lord. 21Now look! Here are the ranks of the priests and the descendants of Levi for the entire service of the Temple of God, and in all of the work there will be all types of volunteers who have skills for anything needed for the services. Furthermore, the officers and all of the people will be at your complete command.h
Chapter 29
1Then King David addressed the entire assembly: gMy son Solomon, the one whom God alone has chosen, is still young and inexperienced, and the task is great, since this structure will be a citadel to the Lord God and not for human beings. 2To the extent that I have been able to do so, I have provided supplies for the Temple of my God, including gold for what is to be made of gold, silver for what is to be made of silver, bronze for what is to be made of bronze, iron for what is to be made of iron, wood for what is to be made of wood, and great quantities of onyx, precious stones, antimony, colored stones, all types of other semi-precious stones, and plenty of marble.
3gIn addition to everything that I have supplied for the Temple, it pleases me to provide my own treasure of gold and silver, so because of my love for the Temple of my God I hereby give to the Temple of my God the following: 4 3,000 gold talents imported from Ophir, 7,000 talents of refined silver for gilding the walls of the Temple 5and for all the work to be undertaken by skilled artists, gold for what is to be made of gold, and silver for what is to be made of silver. Who then, will be dedicating the productivity of his own work to the Lord today?h
6So the leaders of the ancestral households presented their voluntary offerings, as did the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the officials in charge of the kingfs business. 7They presented 5,000 gold talents and 10,000 gold darics for the work of the Temple of God, 10,000 silver talents, 18,000 bronze talents, and 100,000 iron talents. 8Whoever owned precious stones gave them to the treasury of the Temple of the Lord, in care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9Then the people rejoiced because they had given voluntarily, since with a devoted heart they had freely given to the Lord.
King David also rejoiced greatly. 10Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of the entire assembly. David said,
How blessed you are, Lord,
the God of our ancestor Israel,
from eternity to eternity!
11To you, Lord, belongs the greatness, and the valor,
and the splendor, and the endurance, and the majesty
because all that is in heaven
and on earth is yours.
To you belongs the kingdom, Lord,
and you are exalted as head over all.
12Both wealth and honor proceed from you,
and you are ruling over them all.
You control power\
you control who is made great,
and how everyone becomes strong.
13And so, our God, we are giving you thanks,
and we are praising your wonderful name!
14But who am I,
and who are my people,
that we make such voluntary offerings as these?
For all things come from you,
and from your own hand we are giving to you.
15For we are aliens and vagrants in your presence,
as were all of our ancestors.
Our days on the earth pass away like shadows,
and we have no hope.
16Lord our God, all of this abundance that we have given
for building a temple for your great name
was provided by you
and all of it belongs to you.
17And I know, God,
that it is you who searches the heart
and you who finds pleasure in righteousness.
With a righteous heart I have freely given all these things,
and now I have seen all of these people of yours
giving freely and joyfully to you!
18Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors,
keep your purposes and thoughts
constantly in the hearts of your people
and direct their hearts toward you,
19granting to my son Solomon to keep with a devoted heart
your commands, your decrees, and your statutes,
carrying out all of them,
and that he may build the Temple
for which I have made the preparations.
20Then David told the entire assembly, gBless the Lord your God, please.h So the entire assembly blessed the Lord God of their ancestors, bowing their heads and falling in the Lordfs presence and before the king. 21The next day, they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord amounting to 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, along with their libations. Sacrifices were abundant throughout all Israel, 22and they ate and drank in the Lordfs presence with great joy.
They crowned Davidfs son Solomon king a second time and anointed him to serve as Commander-in-Chief to the Lord and Zadok to serve as priest. 23So Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in the place of his father David. He prospered, and all of Israel obeyed him. 24All of the officials, all of the valiant soldiers, and all of King Davidfs sons submitted to King Solomonfs control, 25and the Lord exalted Solomon magnificently in the sight of all Israel, bestowing upon him royal majesty such as had not been given to any king in Israel before him.
26Jessefs son David reigned as king over all of Israel, 27serving as king over Israel for 40 years. He reigned for seven years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28He died at a good old age, having lived a full life, replete with riches and honor, and with his son Solomon reigning in his place. 29The activities of David the king are recorded in the History of Samuel the Seer, in the History of Nathan the Prophet, and in the History of Gad the Seer, 30including details regarding his reign, his power, the circumstances that attended his life, Israel, and all of the kingdoms of the countries that surrounded him.
Second Chronicles
Chapter 1
1As Davidfs son Solomon consolidated his administration, the Lord his God was with him to make him very successful. 2Solomon addressed the entire nation of Israel, including the commanders of thousands and hundreds, the judges, all the other leaders of Israel, and all of the heads of the ancestral houses of Israel.
3Solomon, along with the whole assembly with him, met at the high place in Gibeon because thatfs where Godfs Tent of Meeting that the Lordfs servant Moses had constructed in the wilderness was located. 4Nevertheless, David had brought the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, after having erected a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5Also, the bronze altar that Urifs son Bezalel, Hurfs grandson had erected, was in place in front of the Lordfs tent. Solomon and the assembly sought the Lord there. 6Solomon approached the presence of the Lord at the bronze altar that had been placed at the Tent of Meeting and offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it.
7That very night God appeared to Solomon and told him, gAsk what I am to give you.h
8Solomon replied to God, gYou showed great gracious love to my father David, and have established me as king in his place. 9Now, Lord God, your promise to my father David is fulfilled, because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give me wisdom now, so I may go in and out among this people, because who can rule this great people that belongs to you?
11God told Solomon, gSince you had this in mind, to ask neither to focus on riches, wealth, honor, or the lives of those who hate you, nor have you requested a long life, but instead you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so that you may rule my people over whom I have established you as king, 12wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. Furthermore, I will give you riches, wealth, and honor\such as none of the kings owned who lived before you and none after you are to ever attain their equal.h
13So Solomon returned from the Tent of Meeting at the high place in Gibeon to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel. 14Solomon amassed both chariots and horsemen: he owned 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, stationing them in armories and with the king in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and made cedar trees as plentiful as sycamore trees that grow in the Shephelah. 16Solomonfs horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the kingfs procurement officials obtained them from Kue at great price. 17Chariots were imported from Egypt for 600 shekels each, and horses cost 150 shekels each, and then they exported them to all of the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.
Chapter 2
1Now Solomon was determined to build a temple dedicated to the Name of the Lord as well as his own royal palace. 2So Solomon conscripted 70,000 men to do heavy work, 80,000 men to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to supervise them. 3Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram of Tyre:
gJust as you did with my father David, sending him cedars to build him a palace to live in, do the same for me. 4Look, Ifm building a temple dedicated to the name of the Lord my God, to his glory, so we can burn fragrant incense in his presence, display rows of the bread of his presence continually, and make burnt offerings in the morning, evening, on Sabbath days, during New Moon festivals, and during appointed festivals scheduled by the Lord our God. This is mandated forever in Israel.
5gThe Temple that Ifm building will be great, because the greatness of our God surpasses that of all gods. 6But who can build a temple for him, since neither heaven nor the highest of the heavens can contain him? So who am I, that I should build a temple to him, except to burn incense in his presence?
7gAt any rate, send me an individual who is a skilled craftsman in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as in purple, crimson, and blue materials, who knows how to craft engravings, so he may work with the craftsmen whom I have assembled in Judah and Jerusalem, as provided for by my father David. 8Also send me cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, since Ifm aware that your servants know how to cut down timber from Lebanon. My servants will accompany your servants 9to prepare an abundant amount of timber for me, because the Temple that Ifm building is to be great and awesome.
10gNow look! I will pay your servants, the lumberjacks who prepare the timber, 20,000 measures of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.h
11In a letter that he sent to Solomon, King Hiram of Tyre wrote, gBecause he loves his people, the Lord has placed you as king over them.h 12Hiram also wrote:
gBlessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth. He gave King David a wise son, who is acquainted with discretion and understanding, and who is building a temple to the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.
13Now Ifm sending along Hiram-abi, a skilled craftsman, who is very creative. 14He is the son of a mother from the tribe of Dan, and his father is from Tyre. Hefs skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and timber, as well as in purple, blue, linen, and crimson materials. He is skilled in engravings, and can craft any design to which he may be assigned. He will work with your skilled artisans and with all of your craftsmen who have been assigned by my lord David, your father.
15gSo then, may my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, oil, and wine about which he has spoken. 16Wefll cut down the timber you need from Lebanon and transport it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so you can move it to Jerusalem.h
17Solomon took a census of all the non-Israeli men who lived in the land of Israel, after the census that his father David had taken, and 153,600 were counted. 18He conscripted 70,000 of them to do heavy work, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 men to supervise the people.
Chapter 3
1So Solomon began construction of the Lordfs Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah where the Lord had appeared to his father David, that is, where David had prepared Ornan the Jebusitefs threshing floor. 2He began construction on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign.
3These are the foundations that Solomon set in place for Godfs Temple. The length in terms of the former standard measurements: 90 feet; its width: 30 feet. 4A portico extended in front of the Temple for its entire width of 30 feet, and was 180 feet high. Inside he had it overlaid with pure gold. 5The main room of the Temple was trimmed with a wainscoting composed of cypress wood, overlaid with fine gold ornamented with palm trees and chains. 6The Temple was adorned with precious stones, including gold from the Orient. 7The Temple was overlaid with gold, including the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors. Cherubim were engraved on the walls. 8With respect to the Most Holy Place in the Temple, its length across the width of the Temple was 30 feet, and its width extended 30 feet.
Solomon overlaid it with 45,000 pounds of pure gold. 9The gold nails weighed 50 shekels. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold. 10He crafted two cherubim from wood, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place in the Temple. 11The wingspan of the cherubim was 30 feet; the wing of one, seven and a half feet long, touched the wall of the Temple, and its other wing, seven and a half feet long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12The wing of the other cherub, seven and a half feet long, touched the opposite wall of the Temple and its other wing, seven and a half feet long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13The wings of these cherubim extended for 30 feet as they stood on their feet and faced the front of the Temple. 14He constructed the veil from blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, embroidering cherubim on it. 15He also made two pillars 52 and a half feet high for the front of the Temple, topped by a capital that was seven and a half feet high. 16He crafted chains for the inner sanctuary and placed them on top of the pillars, attaching 100 pomegranates to each of the chains. 17He set up the pillars at the front of the Temple, one on the south side of the entrance and the other on the north side of the entrance. He named the south pillar Jachin and the north pillar Boaz.
Chapter 4
1Solomon also constructed a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high. 2He crafted a circular sea of cast metal 15 feet from rim to rim and seven-and-a-half feet tall. A line 45 feet long surrounded it. 3Underneath, figurines resembling oxen encircled the circular sea beneath it, ten oxen every one and a half feet and encircling the sea completely. The oxen were in two rows, cast all at the same time. 4The sea stood on top of twelve oxen, three of which faced to the north, three of which faced to the west, three of which faced to the south, and three of which faced toward the east. The sea was placed on top of the oxen, with all of their hindquarters turned inwards. 5It was three inches thick, with its brim fashioned like the brim of a cup. Similar in shape to a lily blossom, it could hold 18,000 gallons. 6Solomon also made ten wash basins, placing five on the right side and five on the left. The basins were intended for use to rinse burnt offerings, and the sea was intended for use by the priests to wash in.
7Solomon made ten gold lamp stands as he had been directed and set them in the Temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. 8He also made ten tables and placed them in the Temple, five on the right side and five on the left side. He also constructed 100 gold basins. 9He made the court of the priests, the great court, and doors for the court, overlaying their doors with bronze. 10He set the sea at the southeast corner of the Temple.
11Hiram-abi crafted the pots, shovels, and basins, thus completing the work that he did for King Solomon on the Temple of God; 12that is, the two pillars, the bowls, the two capitals on top of the pillars, the two lattice works that covered the two bowls for the capitals that were on top of the pillars; 13the 400 pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework having two rows of ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of each pillar); 14the ten stands with their ten basins; 15the large bronze basin called the Sea with the twelve oxen underneath, 16along with its pots, shovels, forks, and all of its other implements that Hiram-abi made from polished bronze for King Solomon and the Lordfs Temple. 17The king had them forged in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah in the Jordan plain. 18Solomon made so many utensils in such great quantities that the weight of the bronze was never fully recorded.
19Solomon also made these items for Godfs Temple: the golden altar, the tables for the Bread of the Presence, 20the lamp stands and their lamps made of pure gold to burn in front of the inner sanctuary, as required, 21the pure gold ornaments in the shape of flowers, the lamps, and the tongs (all made of the purest gold), 22the gold trimming instruments, basins, pans, censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (that is, the Most Holy Place), and for the doors to the main hall of the Temple.
Chapter 5
1As soon as Solomon had completed the Lordfs Temple, he installed the holy items that had belonged to his father David, including the silver, gold, and all the other items in the treasure rooms of Godfs Temple. 2Then Solomon called Israelfs elders together, including all the leaders of the tribes and families of Israel. They met in Jerusalem to transfer the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Zion, the city of David. 3All the men of Israel assembled in front of the king during the Festival of Tents that takes place in the seventh month of the year.
4As soon as all of Israelfs elders had arrived, the descendants of Levi lifted the ark 5and carried it, the tent where God met with his people, and all of the sacred implements that belonged in the tent. The Levitical priests carried these up to the city of David. 6King Solomon and all the Israelis who had assembled together proceeded ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and oxen than could be counted or recorded due to the number of sacrifices.
7The priests transported the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to the place created for it within the inner sanctuary of the Temple, into the Most Holy Place under the wings of the cherubim. 8The wings of the cherubim extended over where the ark and its carrying poles had been placed, 9but the poles were long enough for their ends to extend to the front of the inner sanctuary, even though they could not be seen from outside. They remain there to this day. 10There was nothing in the ark except for the two tablets that Moses had placed there while Israel was encamped at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelis after he had brought them out of the land of Egypt.
11After this, the priests vacated the Holy Place. (Meanwhile, all the priests who were participating consecrated themselves, irrespective of their Levitical divisions. 12All the musicians who were descendants of Levi, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives wore linen and played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. Accompanied by 120 priests who played trumpets, 13the trumpeters and musicians played in union, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. They praised the Lord loudly and sang, gHe is good, and his gracious love is eternal,h accompanied by the trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments.) As they did this, a cloud filled the Temple, that is, the Lordfs Temple, 14and the priests were unable to complete their duties because of the cloud, since the glory of the Lord had filled Godfs Temple.
Chapter 6
1Then Solomon said, gThe Lord has said that he lives shrouded in darkness. 2Now I have constructed a magnificent temple dedicated to you that will serve as a place for you to inhabit forever.h
3Then the king turned to face the entire congregation of Israel while the congregation of Israel remained standing. 4Then Solomon prayed:
gBlessed is the Lord God of Israel, who made a commitment to my father David and then personally fulfilled what he had promised when he said:
5eFrom the day I brought out my people from the land of Egypt I never chose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple where my name might reside. And I never chose any man to become Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel. 6But I have chosen Jerusalem, where my name will reside. And I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.f
7gMy father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8The Lord told my father David:
eTherefore, since you determined to build a temple for my name, you acted well, because it was your choice to do so. 9Nevertheless, you are not to build the Temple, but your son who will be born to you is to build a temple for my name.f
10gThe Lord has brought to fulfillment what he promised, and now here I stand, having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11I have placed in it the ark in which the covenant that the Lord made with the Israelis is stored.h
12Then Solomon took his place in front of the Lordfs altar in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands. 13Solomon had a bronze platform constructed seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high. He had it erected in the middle of the courtyard, and stood on it. Then he knelt down on his knees in front of the entire congregation of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, 14and said:
gLord God of Israel, there is no one like you, God of heaven and earth, who watches over his covenant, showing gracious love to your servants who live their lives in your presence with all their hearts. 15It is you, Lord God, who has kept your promise to my father, your servant David, that you made to him. Indeed, you made a commitment to my father David and then personally fulfilled what you had promised today.
16gNow therefore, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise that you made to my father, your servant David, when you said, eYou are to not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants will watch their lives, to live according to my Law, just as you have lived in my presence.f
17gNow therefore, Lord God of Israel, may your promise that you made to your servant David be fulfilledc 18and yet, will God truly reside on earth with human beings? Look! Neither the sky nor the highest heaven can contain you! How much less this Temple that I have built! 19Pay attention to the prayer of your servant and to his request, Lord my God, and listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20Let your eyes always look toward this Temple day and night, toward the location where you have said you would place your name. Listen to the prayer that your servant prays in this direction. 21Listen to the requests from your servant and from your people Israel as they pray in this direction, and listen from the place where you reside\from heaven!\then hear and forgive.
22gIf a man sins against his neighbor and he is required to take an oath, and he then comes to take an oath in front of your altar in this Temple, 23then listen from heaven, act, and judge your servants, recompensing the wicked by bringing back to him the consequences of his choices and by justifying the righteous by recompensing him according to his righteousness.
24gIf your people Israel are defeated in a battle with their enemy because they have sinned against you, when they return to you and confess to you, pray, and in this Temple they ask you to show grace to them, 25then hear from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and return them to the soil that you gave to them and to their ancestors.
26gWhen the skies remain closed, and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and they pray in the direction of this place, confessing your name and turning from their sin when you afflict them, 27then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. Indeed, teach them the best way to live and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as an inheritance.
28gIf a famine comes to the land, or if there comes plant diseases, mildew, locusts, or grasshoppers, or if their enemies attack them in their settlements of the land, no matter what the epidemic or illness is, 29whatever prayer or request is made, no matter whether itfs made by a single man or by all of your people Israel, each praying out of his own illness and anguish and stretching out their hands toward this Temple, 30then hear from heaven, the place where you reside, and forgive, repaying each person according to all of his ways, since you know their hearts\for you alone know the hearts of human beings\ 31so they will fear you and live life your way as long as they live in the land that you have given to our ancestors.
32gNow concerning the foreigner who is not from your people Israel, when he comes from a land far away for the sake of your great name, your mighty acts, and your obvious power, when they come and pray in the direction of this Temple, 33then hear from heaven where you reside, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the people of the earth may know your name, fear you as do your people Israel, and so they may know that this Temple that I have built is called by your name.
34gWhen your people go out to war against their enemies, no matter what way you send them, and they pray to you in the direction of this city that you have chosen and in the direction of the Temple that I have built for your name, 35then hear their prayer and their request from heaven, and fight for their cause.
36gWhen they sin against you\because there isnft a single human being who doesnft sin\and you become angry with them and deliver them over to their enemy, who takes them away captive to a land thatfs near or far away, 37if they turn their hearts back to you in the land where they have been taken captive, repent, and pray to you\even if they do so in the land where they have been taken captive\confessing, eWe have sinned, we have committed abominations, and practiced wickedness,f 38if they return to you with all of their heart and with all of their soul in the land where they have been taken captive, as they pray in the direction of their land that you have given to their ancestors and to the city that you have chosen, and to the Temple that I have built for your name, 39then hear their prayer and requests from heaven, where you reside, and fight for their cause, forgiving your people who have sinned against you.
40gAnd now, my God, please let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers that are uttered in this place.
41gAnd now may the Lord God arise, to your place of rest, you, and the ark of your power! Let your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and cause your godly ones to find their joy in what is good.
42gLord God, do not turn your face away from your anointed one. Remember your gracious love to your servant David.h
Chapter 7
1As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire descended from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. 2The priests could not enter into the Temple because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lordfs Temple. 3When all of the Israelis saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord resting on the Temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshipped, and gave thanks to the Lord,
gBecause he is good;
because his gracious love is eternal.h
4Then the king and all the people kept on offering sacrifices in the presence of the Lord. 5King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, which is how the king and all of the people dedicated Godfs Temple. 6The priests stood in waiting at their assigned places, along with the descendants of Levi who carried musical instruments used in service to the Lord that King David had made for giving thanks to the Lord\because his gracious love is eternal\whenever David, accompanied by priests sounding trumpets, offered praises while all of Israel stood in the assembly.
7Solomon also dedicated the middle of the court in front of the Lordfs Temple by offering there burnt offerings and fat from peace offerings because the bronze altar that Solomon had made could not contain the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat portion offerings. 8At that time Solomon also held a week-long festival attended by all of Israel. The assembly was very large, and included people from as far away as Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9On the day after the festival ended, they convened a solemn assembly, because they had been dedicating the altar for seven days and observing the festival for seven days. 10On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, King Solomon sent the people back home, and they returned rejoicing and in good spirits because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David, to Solomon, and to his people Israel. 11And so Solomon completed the Lordfs Temple, bringing to completion everything that he had planned on doing for the Lordfs Temple and for his own palace.
12Later, the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night and told him:
gI have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for a sacrificial temple to me. 13Whenever I close the skies so there is no rain, or whenever I command locusts to lay waste to the land, or whenever I send epidemics among my people, 14when my people humble themselves\the ones who are called by my name\and pray, seek me, and turn away from their evil practices, I myself will listen from heaven, I will pardon their sins, and I will restore their land.
15gNow therefore my eyes will remain open and my ears will remain listening to the prayers that are offered in this place. 16Furthermore, I have chosen and have set apart for myself this Temple, intending my name to reside there forever. My eyes and my heart will reside there every day. 17Now as for you, if you commune with me like your father did, doing everything that I have commanded you, including obeying my statutes and my legal decisions, 18then I will make your royal throne secure, just as I agreed to do for your father David when I said, eYou are to not lack a man to rule over Israel.f
19gBut if you turn away and abandon my statutes and my commands that I have given you, and if you walk away to serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will tear them up by the roots from the ground that I had given them! And as for this Temple that I have set apart for my name, I will throw it out of my sight and make it the butt of jokes and a means of ridicule among people worldwide!
21gFurthermore, even though this Temple seems so exalted, everyone who passes by it will be so astounded that they will ask, eWhy did the Lord do this to this land and to this Temple?f 22They will answer, eBecause they abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who brought them from the land of Egypt, adopted other gods, worshiped them, and served them, therefore the Lord has brought all of this disaster on them.fh
Chapter 8
1It took Solomon 20 years to build the Lordfs Temple and his own palace. 2During this time, he also rebuilt the towns that Hiram had restored to him, and he settled Israelis in them. 3After this, Solomon traveled to Hamath-zobah and captured it. 4Then he rebuilt Tadmor in the desert, along with supply centers that he had built in Hamath. 5He also built upper and lower Beth-horon as fortified cities, installing walls, gates, and bars, 6and he rebuilt Baalath and its supply centers that belonged to Solomon, along with all the cities that he utilized to garrison his chariots and cavalry forces. Solomon was pleased also to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in every territory that he controlled.
7All of the survivors who remained living in the land but who were not Israelis (including Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) 8were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not eliminated. Solomon put them to work as conscripted laborers, which they continue to do to this day. 9However, Solomon never made conscripted laborers from among the Israelis, but they did serve as his army, as his chief captains, and as commanders in charge of his chariots and cavalry. 10King Solomon appointed 250 chief officers to command his army. 11Later, Solomon moved Pharaohfs daughter from the City of David to the palace that he had constructed to house her, because he reasoned, gMy wife isnft going to live in the palace where King David of Israel lived, because wherever the ark of the Lord entered is holy.h
12Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the Lordfs altar that he had built in front of the porch of the Temple, 13acting in compliance with the daily rule by offering them in conformity to commands issued by Moses for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, the three annual festivals (the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Tents). 14Following proscriptions laid down by his father David, Solomon appointed divisions of priests for their service as well as descendants of Levi for duties of praise and ministry before the priests consistent with the daily rules. Furthermore, because David, the man of God, had commanded it, Solomon also appointed gatekeepers to serve by divisions at every gate of the Temple. 15They scrupulously adhered to the orders issued by the king to the priests and descendants of Levi in everything, including matters pertaining to operation of the treasuries.
16And so Solomon completed all of the work, from the day that the foundation stone of the Lordfs Temple was laid until the Lordfs Temple was completely finished. 17After this, Solomon visited Ezion-geber and Elath at the seashore in the land of Edom. 18Hiram sent Solomon ships and servants who were expert mariners, and they sailed with Solomonfs servants to Ophir, where they brought back 33,750 pounds of gold for Solomon.
Chapter 9
1When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomonfs reputation, she traveled to Jerusalem and tested him with difficult questions. She brought along a large retinue, camels laden with spices, and lots of gold and precious stones. Upon her arrival, she spoke with Solomon about everything that was on her mind. 2Solomon answered all of her questions. Because nothing was hidden from Solomon, he hid nothing from her. 3When the queen of Sheba had seen Solomonfs wisdom for herself, the palace that he had built, 4the food set at his table, his servants who waited on him, his ministers in attendance and how they were dressed, his personal staff and how they were dressed, and even his personal stairway by which he went up to the Lordfs Temple, she was breathless!
5gEverything I heard about your wisdom and what you have to say is true!h she gasped, 6gbut I didnft believe it at first! But then I came here and Ifve seen it for myself! Itfs amazing! I wasnft told half of whatfs really great about your wisdom. Youfre far better in person than what the reports have said about you! 7How blessed are your staff! And how blessed are your employees who serve you continuously and get to listen to your wisdom! 8Blessed be the Lord your God, who is delighted with you! He set you in place on his throne to be king for the Lord your God. He made you king over them so you could carry out justice and implement righteousness, because your God loves Israel and intends to establish them forever.h
9Then she gave the king 9,000 pounds of gold, a vast quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices comparable to those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 10Hiramfs servants and Solomonfs servants, who brought gold from Ophir, also presented algum wood and other precious stones. 11The king used the algum wood to have steps made for the Lordfs Temple and for the royal palace, as well as lyres and harps for the choir, and nothing like that wood had been seen before in the territory of Judah. 12In return, King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and requested in addition to what she had brought for the king. Afterward, she returned to her own land, accompanied by her servants.
13Solomon received in any given year about 49,950 pounds of gold, 14not including revenue from traders and merchants. In addition, all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the nation brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, overlaying each shield with the gold from 600 gold pieces, 16and 300 shields from beaten gold, overlaying each shield with the gold from 300 gold pieces. The king put them in his palace in the Lebanon forest. 17The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. 18Six steps led up to the throne. A golden footstool was attached to the throne, which had armrests on each side of the seat and two lions standing on either side of each armrest. 19Twelve lions were placed on both sides of the six steps leading to the throne, and nothing comparable was made for any other kingdom. 20All of King Solomonfs drinking vessels were made of gold, and all the vessels in his palace in the Lebanon forest were made of pure gold. Silver was never considered to be valuable during the lifetime of Solomon, 21because the king had ships that sailed to Tarshish accompanied by Hiramfs servants. Once every three years ships from Tarshish returned, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
22As a result, King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in regards to wealth and wisdom. 23All the kings of the earth continued to seek audiences with Solomon so they could hear the wise things that God had put in his heart. 24Everyone kept on bringing gifts on an annual basis, including items made of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules. 25Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, along with 12,000 cavalry soldiers. He stationed them in various chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26King Solomon ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River west to the land of the Philistines and as far south as the boundary with Egypt.
27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and made cedar trees as abundant as sycamore trees in the Shephelah. 28They also kept bringing horses to Solomon from Egypt and from all of the surrounding countries.
29Now the rest of Solomonfs accomplishments, from first to last, are written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer pertaining to Nebatfs son Jeroboam, are they not? 30Solomon reigned for 40 years in Jerusalem over all of Israel. 31Then Solomon died, as had his ancestors, and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.
Chapter 10
1Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, because all of Israel went there to install him as king. 2Nebatfs son Jeroboam heard about it in Egypt, where he had fled to get away from Solomon the king. Jeroboam returned from Egypt 3after being summoned. When Jeroboam and all of Israel arrived, they spoke to Rehoboam, 4gYour father made our burdens unbearable. Therefore you must lighten your fatherfs requirements and his heavy burden that he placed on us, and wefll serve you.h
5gCome back again in three days,h Rehoboam told them. So the people left 6while King Rehoboam conferred with his advisors who had worked with his father Solomon during his administration. He asked them, gWhat is your advice as to what response I should return to these people?h
7In reply, they told him, gIf you will be kind to this people, please them, and speak appropriately to them with kind words, theyfll serve you forever.h
8But Rehoboam ignored the counsel that his elder advisors had given him. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him and worked for him. 9As a result, he asked them, gWhatfs your advice, so we can give an answer to these people who have asked me, ePlease lighten the burden that your father put on usf?h
10gThis is what you should tell the people who asked you eYour father made our burden heavy, but you must make it lighter for us!fh the young men who had grown up with Rehoboam replied. gTell them eMy little finger will be thicker than my fatherfs whole body! 11Not only that, but since my father loaded you down heavily, Ifm going to add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, Ifm going to do so with scorpions!fh
12So Jeroboam and all the people went back to Rehoboam on the third day, just as they had been directed when the king said, gCome back again in three days.h 13But the king answered them strictly and ignored the counsel of his elders. 14Instead, Rehoboam spoke to them along the lines of what the younger men suggested. He told them gMy father burdened you heavily, but I will add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, I will, too\with scorpions!h
15The king would not listen to the people because the turn of events was from God, so that the Lord might fulfill his prediction that he spoke through Nebatfs son Ahijah the Shilonite. 16All of Israel\since the king wasnft going to listen to them\the people responded to the king, gWhatfs the point in following David? We have no inheritance in the descendants of Jesse. Letfs go home, Israel! David, take care of your own household!f So all of Israel left for home. 17And so Rehoboam ruled over the Israelis who lived in the cities of Judah.
18King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of conscripted labor, but the Israelis stoned him to death, and King Rehoboam had to jump in his chariot and flee back in a hurry to Jerusalem. 19Thatfs how Israel came to be in rebellion against Davidfs dynasty to this day.
Chapter 11
1When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he gathered together 180,000 specially chosen soldiers from the households of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2But a message from the Lord came to Shemaiah, a man of God: 3gTell Solomonfs son Rehoboam, king of Judah and all of Israel in Judah and Benjamin: 4eThis is what the Lord says: gYou are not to fight or even to approach your relatives in battle. Every soldier is to return to his own home, for this development comes from me.hfh So they listened to what the Lord had to say and called off their attack on Jeroboam.
5Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem and built defensive fortification cities throughout Judah, 6including Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were all fortified cities throughout Judah and Benjamin. 11He also strengthened the fortified cities, assigned officers to them, and stockpiled food, oil, and wine. 12He also stockpiled shields and spears in every city and fortified them greatly to secure his rule over Judah and Benjamin.
13The priests and descendants of Levi throughout Israel also supported him in their districts, 14because the descendants of Levi left their pasture lands and their property to live in Judah and Jerusalem, since Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from participating in priestly services to the Lord. 15Jeroboam had appointed his own priests to serve at the high places and to serve the satyrs and calves that he had made. 16As a result, anyone from all of the tribes of Israel who was determined to seek the Lord God of Israel followed the descendants of Levi to Jerusalem so they could sacrifice to the Lord God of their ancestors, 17and they continued to strengthen the kingdom of Judah, supporting Solomonfs son Rehoboam for three years, by living the way David and Solomon did for three years.
18Rehoboam married Mahalath, the daughter of Davidfs son Jerimoth, along with Abihail, the daughter of Jessefs son Eliab, 19who bore him these sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20After this he married Absalomfs daughter Maacah, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21Rehoboam loved Absalomfs daughter Maacah more than he did all of his wives and mistresses. (He married eighteen wives and 60 concubines, fathering 28 sons and 60 daughters.) 22Later, Rehoboam appointed Abijah, his son from Maacah, as senior family leader among his brothers, since he intended to establish Abijah as king. 23Rehoboam was wise to distribute some his children throughout all of the territories of Judah and Benjamin, placing them in all of the fortified cities. He allotted them abundant supplies of food and sought many wives for them.
Chapter 12
1At the height of his power, after he had consolidated his rule, Rehoboam abandoned the Lordfs Law, along with all of Israel with him. 2Because he had been unfaithful to the Lord, during the fifth year of King Rehoboamfs reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem 3with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 cavalry. The Lubim, Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians who invaded from Egypt with Shishak were innumerable. 4Shishak captured the fortified cities of Judah and invaded as far as Jerusalem.
5Right then, Shemaiah the prophet approached Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he told them, gThis is what the Lord says: eYou abandoned me, so Ifve abandoned you to Shishak.fh
6In response, the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and declared, gThe Lord is righteous.h
7When the Lord observed that they had humbled themselves, the Lord spoke to Shemaiah, gThey have humbled themselves, so I wonft destroy them. Instead, Ifll grant them some deliverance by not pouring out my indignation on Jerusalem, using Shishak to do it. 8Nevertheless, they will become his slaves so they may learn to differentiate between what it means to serve me and to serve the kingdoms of these nations.h 9So King Shishak of Egypt invaded Jerusalem and looted the treasure stores in the Lordfs Temple and in the royal palace. He took everything, including the golden shields that Solomon had made. 10After this, King Rehoboam made shields out of bronze to take their place, committing them to the care and custody of the commanders of those who guarded the entrance to the royal palace. 11As often as the king entered the Lordfs Temple, the guards came and transported the shields to the Temple and then brought them back to the guardfs quarters. 12After he had humbled himself, the Lord stopped being angry with him, and did not destroy Rehoboam completely. Furthermore, conditions became good in Judah.
13King Rehoboam consolidated his reign in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that that Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to establish his name. Rehoboamfs mother was Naamah from Ammon. 14He practiced evil by not setting his heart to seek the Lord. 15Now Rehoboamfs accomplishments, from first to last, are written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, enrolled by genealogy, are they not? 16Later, Rehoboam died, as had his ancestors, and his son Abijah became king to replace him.
Chapter 13
1During the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 2He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Urielfs daughter Micaiah from Gibeah.
A war started between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3Abijah started the battle with an army of 400,000 specially chosen valiant soldiers, but Jeroboam opposed him with 800,000 specially chosen valiant soldiers. 4Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and announced:
gListen to me, Jeroboam and Israel! 5Donft you know that the Lord God of Israel assigned the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a salt covenant? 6Even so, Nebatfs son Jeroboam, who used to serve Davidfs son Solomon, rose in rebellion against his own master! 7Useless troublemakers soon gathered around him, who turned out to be too strong for Rehoboam, because he was young, timid, and unable to withstand them.
8gSo now you think youfll be able to withstand the Lordfs kingdom as controlled by Davidfs descendants, just because you have a large crown and have brought with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. 9Havenft you already driven away the Lordfs priests, the descendants of Aaron and the descendants of Levi? Havenft you established your own priests like the people of other lands?
10gNow as far as wefre concerned, the Lord is our God, and we havenft abandoned him. The descendants of Aaron are ministering to the Lord as priests, and the descendants of Levi continue their work. 11Every morning and evening, theyfre offering burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord, the showbread is set out on the pure table, and they take care of the golden lamp stand so its lamps can continue to burn every evening. We continue to be faithful over what the Lord our God entrusted to us, but you have abandoned him. 12Now listen! God is with us to lead us, and his priests are about to sound their battle trumpets against you. Descendants of Israel, donft fight against the Lord God of your ancestors, because you wonft succeed!h
13But Jeroboam had sent an ambush to attack from the rear, so Israel was in front of Judah, with the ambush set in place behind them. 14When the army of Judah turned around to look, they were being attacked from both front and rear, so they cried out to the Lord while the priests sounded their trumpets. 15Then the army of Judah sounded a war cry, and God routed Jeroboam and the entire army of Israel in front of Abijah and Judah. 16When the descendants of Israel ran away from the army of Judah, God handed them over to the army of Judah. 17Abijah and his army defeated them in a tremendous slaughter that resulted in 500,000 special forces from Israel being slain. 18And so the descendants of Israel were defeated at that time. The descendants of Judah were victorious because they trusted in the Lord God of their ancestors. 19After this Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.
20Jeroboam never recovered his strength for the rest of Abijahfs life. The Lord struck Jeroboam, and he died, 21but Abijah continued to grow more powerful. He took fourteen wives for himself and fathered twenty two sons and sixteen daughters. 22The rest of Abijahfs accomplishments, his lifestyle and his memoirs are recorded in the Midrash of the Prophet Iddo.
Chapter 14
1Then Abijah died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of David. Abijahfs son Asa reigned in his place, and during his lifetime the land enjoyed rest for ten years.
2Asa practiced what the Lord his God considered to be right 3by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down the sacred pillars, cutting down the Asherim, and 4commanding Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to keep the Law and the commandments. 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all of the cities of Judah. As a result, the kingdom enjoyed rest under Asafs leadership.
6Asa built fortified cities throughout Judah while the land lay undisturbed, because the Lord had given him peace so that no one went to war against him during those years. 7He had told Judah, gLetfs build up these cities, surrounding them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land still belongs to us, because we have kept on seeking the Lord our God. We have sought him out, and he has given us rest all around us.h So the people built and prospered. 8Asa kept a standing army of 300,000 soldiers from Judah equipped with large shields and spears, as well as 280,000 soldiers from Benjamin, also bearing shields and wielding bows. All of them were valiant soldiers.
9Sometime later, Zerah the Ethiopian went to war against him at Mareshah with an army of one million troops and 300 chariots. 10Asa went out to engage him in battle, and they drew up their battle lines at Mareshah in the Zephathah Valley. 11Asa cried out to the Lord his God, telling him, gLord, there is no one except for you to help between the powerful and the weak. So help us, Lord God, because wefre depending on you and have come against this vast group in your name. Lord, you are our God. Let no mere mortal man defeat you!h
12So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians right in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away. 13Asa and his army pursued the Ethiopians as far as Gerar. So many Ethiopians died that their army could not recover, because it had been shattered in the Lordfs presence and in the presence of his army. The Israelis carried off a lot of plunder, too, 14They attacked all the cities that surrounded Gerar, because fear of the Lord had overwhelmed them. The Israelis spoiled all the cities, because there was a lot to plunder in them. 15They also attacked the tents of those who owned livestock and carried off lots of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Chapter 15
1After this, the Spirit of God came to rest on Odedfs son Azariah, 2so he went out to meet Asa and rebuked him:
gListen to me, Asa, Judah, and Benjamin! The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will allow you to find him, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you. 3Israel lived for years without the true God, priests to teach them, and the Law, 4but they turned to the Lord God of Israel in their distress. When they sought him, he let them become reacquainted with him.
5gDuring those days, it wasnft safe for anyone to come and go, because many civil disturbances afflicted everyone who lived in the territories. 6Nation battled nation, and city fought city, because God was afflicting them all with every kind of distress. 7Now as for you, be strong and never be discouraged, because there will be reward for your work.h
8Encouraged by what Odedfs son Azariah the prophet had said in his prophecy, Asa removed the detestable idols from throughout the entire territories of Judah and Benjamin, and from the cities that he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He repaired the Lordfs altar that stood in front of the vestibule of the Lordfs Temple. 9Then he gathered together all of Judah, Benjamin, and people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were living among them, since many people had defected to him from Israel when they learned that the Lord his God was with him. 10They all assembled in Jerusalem during the third month of the fifteenth year of Asafs reign. 11They sacrificed to the Lord that day 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil that they had brought with them. 12They also entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their ancestors with all their heart and soul, 13and they further agreed that whoever would refuse to seek the Lord God of Israel was to be executed, whether important or unimportant, man or woman. 14They also made a vow to the Lord with loud voices, shouting, trumpets, and horns. 15Everybody in Judah was very glad to make their oath, because they had made their vow with all their heart and had sought him with all of their might, and they found him! The Lord also gave them rest in their surrounding lands.
16King Asa removed his mother Maacah from her position as Queen Mother because she had made a detestable image dedicated to Asherah. He cut down his motherfs idol, crushed it, and burned it at the Kidron Brook. 17Nevertheless, the high places were not removed from Israel, even though Asafs heart was blameless all of his life. 18Asa brought into Godfs Temple the things that his father had dedicated, as well as his own dedicated gifts such as silver, gold, and temple service implements. 19Asa experienced no more war until the end of the thirty-fifth year of his reign.
Chapter 16
1During the thirty-sixth year of Asafs reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and interdicted Ramah by building fortifications around it so no one could enter or leave to join King Asa of Judah. 2But Asa removed some silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lordfs Temple and from his royal palace and sent them to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who lived in Damascus. 3gLetfs make a treaty between you and me,h he said, gjust like the one between my father and your father. Notice that Ifve sent you silver and gold to break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so hefll retreat from his attack on me.h
4So King Ben-hadad did just what King Asa had asked: he sent his commanding officers to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Bel-maim, and all of the storage centers in Naphtali. 5When Baasha learned of the attack, he withdrew from Ramah and stopped his interdiction. 6Then King Asa brought his entire army of Judah to carry away the building stones and the timber that Baasha had been using to surround Ramah, and he used those materials to fortify Geba and Mizpah.
7Right about then, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and rebuked him. gBecause you have put your trust in the king of Aram and have not relied on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your control. 8Werenft the Ethiopians and the Libyans a vast army with many chariots and cavalry? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your control! 9The Lordfs eyes keep on roaming throughout the earth, looking for those whose hearts completely belong to him, so that he may strongly support them. But because you have acted foolishly in this, from now on you will have wars.h 10In response, Asa flew into a rage and locked up the seer in stocks in the palace prison because of what Hanani had told him. Asa also tortured some of the people of Israel at that time.
11Now the accomplishments of Asa from first to last are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa suffered from a foot disease. Even though he suffered greatly, he never sought the Lord, but instead looked to doctors. 13As a result, in the forty-first year of his reign, Asa died, as had his ancestors, 14and he was buried in his own tomb that he had prepared for himself in the city of David. He was laid out on a bier that had been filled with various spices prepared by morticians, and the mourners built a massive bonfire to honor his memory.
Chapter 17
1Asafs son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king, and he consolidated his authority over Israel 2by placing troops in all of the fortified citadels through Judah and by establishing garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities that his father Asa had captured.
3The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example set during his ancestor Davidfs preliminary years by not pursuing the Baals. 4Instead, Jehoshaphat sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike Israel. 5Therefore the Lord secured Jehoshaphatfs kingdom under his control, with all of Judah paying him tribute, and Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and greatly respected. 6He remained committed to following the Lord, and he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
7During the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach throughout the cities of Judah. 8They were accompanied by the descendants of Levi, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah. These descendants of Levi were accompanied by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9They taught throughout Judah from a copy of the Book of the Law of the Lord that they took with them as they passed through all the cities of Judah, teaching among all the people.
10Because they were afraid of the Lord, none of the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah dared go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and Arabians brought him flocks of 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 12As a result, Jehoshaphat grew more and more powerful, and built up fortresses and storage centers throughout Judah. 13He placed a large amount of supplies into storage throughout the cities of Judah and stationed soldiers\all of them valiant men\in Jerusalem. 14Herefs how they were mustered, listed according to their ancestral houses and listed by commanders of thousands: Adnah commanded 300,000 elite forces. 15Near him was Johanan, commander of 280,000 16and next to him was Zichrifs son Amasiah, who had volunteered to serve the Lord. He commanded 200,000 elite forces. 17There was also Eliada from Benjamin, himself a valiant soldier. He was accompanied by 200,000 expert archers bearing shields. 18Near him was Jehozabad, who was accompanied by 180,000 soldiers equipped for warfare. 19These men served the king, and there were others whom the king garrisoned inside fortified cities throughout all of Judah.
Chapter 18
1After Jehoshaphat had become wealthy and was enjoying abundant honor, he allied himself to Ahab. 2After a few years, he visited Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered lots of sheep and oxen for him, and the people who were with him persuaded Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth-gilead. 3King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah, gWill you join me in attacking Ramoth-gilead?h
gIfm with you,h Jehoshaphat replied. gand my army is with you. Wefll join you in the battle.h 4But then Jehoshaphat asked the king of Israel, gPlease ask for a message from the Lord, first.h
5So the king of Israel gathered together 400 prophets and asked them, gShould we go attack Ramoth-gilead, or should I call off the attack?h
gGo attack them,h they all said, gbecause God will drop them right in the kingfs hand.h
6But Jehoshaphat asked, gIsnft there a prophet of the Lord left here that we could talk to?h
7gThere is still one man left by whom we could ask the Lord what to do,h the king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, gbut I hate him because he wonft prophesy anything good about me. Instead, he always prophesies evil. He is Imlafs son Micaiah.h
But Jehoshaphat rebuked Ahab, gKings should never talk like that.h
8Nevertheless, the king of Israel called an officer and ordered him, gBring me Imlafs son Micaiah quickly.h
9Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were each sitting on their own thrones, arrayed in their robes, and sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance to the city gate of Samaria, and all of the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 10Chenaanahfs son Zedekiah made iron horns for himself and told them, gThis is what the Lord says, eWith these horns you are to gore the Arameans until they are eliminated!fh
11All the other prophets were saying similar things, like gGo up to Ramoth-gilead and you will be successful, because the Lord will hand it over to the king!h
12Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, gLook, everything that the other prophets were saying has been unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably.h
13gAs the Lord lives,h Micaiah replied, gIfll say what my God tells me to say.h
14When Micaiah approached the king, the king asked him, gMicaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?h
gGo to war,h Micaiah replied, gand you will be successful, because the Lord will hand it over to the king!h
15When he heard this, the king asked him, gHow many times do I have to ask you? Tell me nothing but the truth, and do it in the name of the Lord!h
16And so Micaiah replied:
I saw all of Israel
scattered on the mountains
like sheep without a shepherd.
And the Lord told me,
eThese have no master,
so let them each return to his own home in peace.fh
17Then the king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, gDidnft I tell you that he wouldnft prophesy anything good about me, but only evil?h
18But Micaiah responded, gTherefore, listen to what the Lord has to say. I saw the Lord, sitting on his throne, and the entire Heavenly Army was surrounding him on his right hand and on his left hand.
19gThe Lord asked, eWho will tempt King Ahab of Israel to attack Ramoth-gilead, so that he will die there?f And one was saying one thing and one was saying another.
20gBut then a spirit approached, stood in front of the Lord, and said, eI will entice him.f
gAnd the Lord asked him, eHow?f
21geI will go,f he announced, eand I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all of his prophets!f
gSo the Lord said, eYoufre just the one to deceive him. You will be successful. Go and do it.f
22Now therefore, listen! The Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouth of all of these prophets of yours, because the Lord has determined to bring disaster upon you.h
23As if on cue, Chenaanahfs son Zedekiah approached Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. Then he asked him, gHow did the Spirit of the Lord move from me to speak to you?h
24Micaiah replied, gYoufll learn the answer to that question when the day comes that you run away to hide yourself in a closet!h
25Then the king of Israel ordered, gTake Micaiah and place him in the custody of Amon, the city governor. Hand him over to Joash, the kingfs son. 26Give him this order: ePlace him in prison on survival rations only until I come back safely.fh
27gIf you return alive,h Micaiah responded, gthen the Lord has not spoken by me.h Then he added, gListen, everybody!h
28So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah both attacked Ramoth-gilead. 29The king of Israel suggested to Jehoshaphat, gIfll go into battle in disguise, but you keep your royal uniform on.h So the king of Israel disguised himself and they both went into the battle.
30Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: gDonft attack unimportant soldiers or ranking officers. Go after only the king of Israel.h 31So when the chariot commanders observed Jehoshaphat, they said by mistake, gItfs the king of Israel!h and they turned aside to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord, who helped him, and God diverted them from him. 32When the chariot commanders saw that their target was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.
33Meanwhile, somebody drew his bow and struck the king of Israel at a weak spot where his armor plates joined, so he instructed his chariot driver, gTurn around and take me out of the battle, because Ifve been severely wounded.h 34The battle continued on for the rest of the day while the king of Israel propped himself up in front of the Arameans until the sun set, at which time he died.h
Chapter 19
1After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2where Hananifs son Jehu, the seer, went out to meet him. He asked king Jehoshaphat, gShould you be helping those who are wicked, yes or no? Should you love those who hate the Lord? Wrath is headed your way directly from the Lord because of this. 3Nevertheless, a few good things have been found in you, in that you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have disciplined yourself to seek God.h
4Jehoshaphat continued to live in Jerusalem, but he travelled again throughout the people from Beer-sheba to Mount Ephraim, bringing them back to the Lord God of their ancestors 5and appointing judges throughout the land in all of the walled cities of Judah, city by city. He issued this reminder to the judges:
6gPay careful attention to your duties, because you are judging not only for the sake of human beings but also for the Lord\and he is present with you as you make your rulings. 7So let the fear of the Lord rest upon you, be on your guard, and act carefully, because with the LORD our God there is neither injustice, nor partiality, nor bribery.h
8In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat also appointed certain descendants of Levi, priests, and family leaders of Israel to render verdicts for the Lord and to decide difficult cases. Their offices were in Jerusalem. 9He issued this reminder to them:
gYou are to carry out your duties in the fear of the Lord, serving him faithfully with your whole heart. 10No matter what case comes before you from your fellow citizens who live in their own cities, whether itfs a dispute between blood relatives or a dispute regarding the Law and the commands, statutes, or verdicts, you are to warn the parties so that they do not become guilty in the Lordfs presence and so that anger does not come upon you and your fellow citizens. 11Take notice, please, that Amariah the Chief Priest is presiding over all cases that pertain to the Lord, Ishmaelfs son Zebadiah is presiding as ruler of the household of Judah with respect to all cases that pertain to the national government, and the descendants of Levi will preside over your other civil cases. Serve courageously, and the Lord will be with the upright.h
Chapter 20
1Sometime after these events, the Moabites and the Ammonites, accompanied by some other descendants of Ammon, attacked Jehoshaphat and started a war. 2Jehoshaphatfs military advisors came and informed him, gWefve been attacked by a vast invasion force from Aram, beyond the Dead Sea. Be advised\theyfve already reached Hazazon-tamar, also known as En-gedi.h
3In mounting fear, Jehoshaphat devoted himself to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a period of fasting throughout all of the territory of Judah, 4and the tribe of Judah assembled together to seek the Lord. People came from all of the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.
5Jehoshaphat stood among the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lordfs Temple in the vicinity of the new court 6and said:
gLord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven, are you not? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, donft you? In your own hands you grasp both strength and power, donft you? As a result, no one can oppose you, can they? 7You are our God, who expelled the former inhabitants of this land right in front of our people Israel, arenft you? Then you gave it to your friend Abrahamfs descendant forever, didnft you? 8They lived in it and have built there a sanctuary for your name, where they said, 9eIf evil comes upon us, such as war as punishment, disease, or famine and we stand in your presence in this Temple (because your Name is in this Temple) and cry out to you in our distress, then you will hear and deliver.f 10Now therefore look! The Ammonites, the Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir, whom you would not permit Israel to attack when they arrived from the land of Egypt\since they turned away from them and did not eliminate them\ 11Look how theyfre rewarding us! Theyfre coming to drive us from your property that you gave us to be our inheritance. 12Our God, you are going to punish them, arenft you? We have no strength to face this vast multitude that has come against us, nor do we know what to do, except that our eyes are on you.h
13All of Judah was standing in the Lordfs presence, along with their little babies, their wives, and their children.
14Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Zechariahfs son Jahaziel, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a descendant of Levi from the descendants of Asaph in the middle of the assembly, and he said:
15gPay attention, everyone in Judah, in Jerusalem, and you, too, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: eStop being afraid, and stop being discouraged because of this vast invasion force, because the battle doesnft belong to you, but to God. 16Tomorrow you are to go down to attack them. Pay attention, now\theyfll be coming up near the ascent of Ziz. Youfll find them at the end of the valley that looks out over the Jeruel wilderness. 17You wonft be fighting in this battle. Take your stand, but stand still, and watch the Lordfs salvation on your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem! Never fear and never be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, since the Lord is with you.fh
18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the assembled inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem fell face down in the Lordfs presence and worshipped the Lord. 19Descendants of Levi from the descendants of Kohath and from the descendants of Korah stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel in a very loud voice that ascended to heaven.
20The army got up early the next morning and headed out into the wilderness of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat stood up and addressed them. gListen to me, you inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem,h he said. gHave faith in the Lord your God and youfll be established! Have faith in his prophets and youfll succeed!h 21After he had consulted with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed some choir members to sing to the Lord and to praise him in sacred splendor as they marched out in front of the armed forces. They kept saying
gGive thanks to the Lord,
because his gracious love is eternal!h
22Right on time, as they began to sing and praise, the Lord ambushed the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who had attacked Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them, and after they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they worked on destroying one another!
24When the army of Judah arrived at the remotest watchtower in the wilderness, they looked around at the invasion force, and to their surprise, there were dead bodies lying all around on the ground\not one had escaped! 25Later on, when Jehoshaphat and his army arrived to collect the spoils of war, they discovered there were far more goods, garments, and other valuable items to collect than they could carry off in a single day. There was so much material that it took three days to finish their collection efforts.
26Three days later, they assembled together in the Beracah Valley, where they blessed the Lord, which is why the name of that place is called Beracah Valley to this day. 27Then they all returned with joy to Jerusalem, every soldier from Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at the head of the procession, because the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28They proceeded directly to the Lordfs Temple, carrying lyres, harps, and trumpets. 29Fear of God seized all of the kingdoms in the surrounding territories when they heard that the Lord had battled Israelfs enemies. 30As a result, Jehoshaphatfs kingdom enjoyed peace, because his God had provided rest for him all around.
31Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, having become king at the age of 35. He reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. His motherfs name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 32He followed the example of his father Asa and never departed from it, practicing what the Lord considered to be right. 33However, the high places were not removed, since the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors. 34The rest of Jehoshaphatfs accomplishments, from first to last, are recorded in the annals of Hananifs son Jehu, which appears in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
35Sometime later, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a military alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, acting wickedly by doing so. 36He also agreed with King Ahaziah to build ships to sail toward Tarshish, which they built in Ezion-geber. 37But Dodavahufs son Eliezer from Mareshah prophesied in opposition to Jehoshaphat, gBecause you have entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your efforts.h So the ships were destroyed and were never able to sail for Tarshish.
Chapter 21
1Jehoshaphat died, as had his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David alongside his ancestors. His son Jehoram became king in his place. 2Jehoshaphatfs sons, Jehoramfs brothers, included Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel.
3Their father gave them many gifts made of silver, and gold, as well as valuable things, along with fortified cities in Judah, but he passed the kingdom to Jehoram because Jehoram was his firstborn. 4But after Jehoram had assumed the throne and consolidated his rule over his fatherfs kingdom, he executed all of his brothers, along with some of the rulers of Israel. 5Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. 6He lived like the kings of Israel, following the example of Ahabfs dynasty, since he had married Ahabfs daughter, and he practiced what the Lord considered to be evil. 7Nevertheless, the Lord was unwilling to destroy Davidfs dynasty because of the covenant that he had made with David, especially since he had promised to give him and to his sons the reigning presence of an heir forever.
8Nevertheless, Edom revolted against Judahfs rule and set up their own king to rule them during Jehoramfs reign. 9So Jehoram invaded Edom with his commanders and his chariots by night and killed the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders. 10Edom remains in revolt against Judah to this day. Libnah revolted against Jehoramfs rule, too, because he had abandoned the Lord God of his ancestors. 11In addition to all of this, he built high places in the mountains of Judah, led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into cultic sexual immorality, and made Judah go astray.
12After this, a letter arrived from Elijah the prophet. It said:
gThis is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: eYou havenft lived like your father Jehoshaphat and like King Asa of Judah. 13Instead, you have lived like the kings of Israel by causing Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit cultic sexual immorality\just like Ahabfs dynasty did! And youfve killed your brothers who were better than you\your own fatherfs dynasty! 14Look whatfs going to happen! The Lord is going to strike your people, your children, your wives, and everything you own with a massive tragedy. 15And as for you, you will suffer from a serious disease of your bowels. Eventually, day-by-day you will excrete your own bowels because of this disease.h
16The Lord also provoked the attitude of the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians against Jehoram, 17and they attacked Judah, invading it and carried off everything he owned in his royal palace, along with all of his sons and wives except for his youngest son Jehoahaz.
18After all of this happened, the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable illness. 19Two years later, in due course his bowels came out because of his sickness and he died in agony. His people lit no memorial bonfire for him as they had done for his ancestors. 20Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years. He left this earth\to nobodyfs regret\and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Chapter 22
1The residents of Jerusalem made Jehoramfs son Ahaziah king in his place after the raiding party that had invaded the city with the Arabs had killed all of the older sons. Thatfs how Jehoramfs son Ahaziah became king of Judah. 2Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, Omrifs granddaughter.
3He followed the example of Ahabfs dynasty because his mother gave him evil counsel. 4So he practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just like Ahabfs dynasty had done, because after his father died, he was given advice that resulted in his destruction. 5He followed their counsel and accompanied Ahabfs son Joram, king of Israel, to wage war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded Joram, 6so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that he had received at Ramah in the battle against King Hazael of Aram. King Ahaziah of Judah, Jehoramfs son, went to visit Ahabfs son Joram, because he was wounded.
7God used Ahaziahfs visit to Joram to destroy Ahaziah. As soon as he arrived, Ahaziah went out with Joram to attack Nimshifs son Jehu, whom the Lord had appointed to eliminate Ahabfs dynasty. 8And thatfs exactly what happened. While Jehu was punishing Ahabfs dynasty, he located the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziahfs brothers who were ministering to Ahaziah, and he put them to death. 9Jehu also searched for Ahaziah, had him apprehended while Ahaziah was hiding out in Samaria, and had Ahaziah brought to him. Jehu had Ahaziah executed and buried. It was said of Jehu, gHe is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all of his heart.h As a result, there was no one left in the household of Ahaziah strong enough to reign in the kingdom.
10As soon as Ahaziahfs mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she set out to destroy the entire royal family of Judah. 11However, the kingfs daughter Jehoshabeath took Ahaziahfs son Joash away from the kingfs children who were about to be assassinated and hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thatfs how King Jehoramfs daughter Jehoshabeath, who was also the priest Jehoiadafs wife and Ahaziahfs sister, hid him from Athaliah. As a result, she was not able to kill him. 12Joash remained with them for six years, hidden in Godfs Temple while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Chapter 23
1Seven years later, Jehoiada mustered up some courage and made a deal with the officers who commanded units of hundreds of soldiers, including Jehoramfs son Azariah, Jehochananfs son Ishmael, Obedfs son Azariah, Adaiahfs son Maaseiah, and Zichrifs son Elishaphat. 2They traveled throughout Judah and gathered together the descendants of Levi from all the cities of Judah, along with the Israeli family leaders. 3Everybody went to Jerusalem, and the whole group made a covenant with the king in Godfs Temple, where Jehoiada addressed them:
gLook! The kingfs son is going to rule, just as the Lord promised Davidfs descendants. 4So herefs what youfll need to do: One third of you priests and descendants of Levi who are on duty during the Sabbath will serve as guards at the temple gates. 5Another third of you priests and descendants of Levi will take your places in the royal palace, while another third of you priests and descendants of Levi will stand near the Foundation Gate. The rest of you will remain in the courtyard of the Lordfs Temple. 6Nobody is to enter the Lordfs Temple except for the priests and descendants of Levi who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially holy, but all the rest of the people must observe the Lordfs instructions. 7The descendants of Levi will surround the king, brandishing weapons in their hands, and anybody who enters the Temple will be killed. Stay near the king wherever he enters and leaves.h
8What Jehoiada the priest ordered is precisely what the descendants of Levi and all of Judah did. Each of them took the men who were on duty on the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not release the divisions from service, 9and Jehoiada the priest issued the spears and shields that King David had placed in storage in Godfs Temple to the officers in charge of the units of hundreds. 10He set the rest of the people to serve as guards for the king, and each one brandished weapons in his hand, from the south side of the Temple to the north side of the Temple, around the altar, and surrounding the palace. 11Then he brought out the kingfs son, put a crown on him, and presented him with the Testimony,
12When Athaliah heard all the commotion of the people running around and praising the king, she went straight to the Lordfs Temple to confront the people. 13She looked around, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the gate, accompanied by officers and trumpeters who stood beside the king, along with all the people of the land rejoicing and sounding trumpets while singers lead the celebration with their musical instruments. Athaliah tore her robes and yelled gTreason! Treason!h
14But Jehoiada the priest summoned the captains of hundreds who had been appointed in charge over the army and ordered them, gBring her out between the ranks, and execute anyone who follows her.h The priest also told them, gDonft execute her in the Lordfs Temple.h 15So they arrested her when she arrived at the entrance to the Horse Gate near the royal palace, and then they executed her there.
16After this, Jehoiada drew up a covenant between himself as an individual with all the people, and between himself as king, that they would be the Lordfs people. 17Then all the people went to the temple of Baal, broke its altars and idols to pieces, and executed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. 18Jehoiada also placed the offices of the Lordfs Temple under the authority of the Levitical priests whom David had assigned over the Lordfs Temple, just as is required by the Law of Moses, to offer the Lordfs burnt offerings with joy and singing, just as David had ordered. 19Jehoiada also stationed inspectors at the Lordfs Temple so that no one would enter who was ritually unclean in any manner. 20He also took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the peoplefs governors, and all the people of the land, and they all marched with the king from the Lordfs Temple through the upper gate to the royal palace, where they installed the king on his royal throne. 21There all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city stayed quiet, because they had executed Athaliah with a sword.
Chapter 24
1Joash was seven years old when he began his reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Zibiah. She was from Beer-sheba. 2Joash practiced what the Lord considered to be right during the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest, 3who found two wives for him, so he fathered sons and daughters.
4Later on, Joash decided to rebuild the Lordfs Temple, 5so he assembled the priests and descendants of Levi and ordered them, gGo throughout the cities of Judah and take up a collection from all of Israel for the annual upkeep of the Temple of your God. And make sure that you act quickly.h But the descendants of Levi did not act quickly, 6so the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and asked him, gWhy havenft you required the descendants of Levi to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the Lordfs servant, and the assembly of Israel for the Tent of Testimony?h
7Because that wicked woman Athaliahfs family members had broken into the Temple of God and used the consecrated implements of the Lordfs Temple for service to the Baals, 8the king issued an order and a chest was made and set outside the entrance gate to the Lordfs Temple. 9A public notice was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in the tax that Moses the servant of the Lord had levied on Israel when they were in the wilderness. 10So all the princes and all the people gladly brought their tax and placed it into the chest until they had completed paying the tax. 11Whenever the chest was brought to the kingfs officials by the descendants of Levi, the royal secretary and the chief priestfs designated officer would come, empty the chest, and take it back to its place. They did this day after day until they had collected a large amount of cash.
12Both the king and Jehoiada paid the money to those who were working to maintain the service of the Lordfs Temple, and they, in turn, hired masons and carpenters to restore the Lordfs Temple. Iron and bronze workers also were brought in to repair the Lordfs Temple. 13As a result, the workmen did their labor, and the repair work progressed steadily under their supervision, and they restored Godfs Temple back to what it should be, and strengthened it, too. 14When they had completed the work, they brought what was left of the money to the king and to Jehoiada, and it was used to cast utensils for the Lordfs Temple that were to be utilized for daily service and for burnt offerings, for incense vessels, and for both gold and silver vessels. Burnt offerings were offered on a regular basis in the Lordfs Temple throughout Jehoiadafs lifetime.
15Eventually, Jehoiada grew old and died at the age of 130 years, after having lived a full life. 16He was buried in the city of David among the graves of the kings, because he had accomplished many good things in Israel on behalf of God and his Temple. 17But after Jehoiada had died, officials from Judah came, bowed down to the king, and the king listened to what they had to say. 18They abandoned the Lordfs Temple and the God of their fathers, and they served Asherim and idols. As a result this guilt of theirs resulted in wrath coming upon Judah and Jerusalem. 19Nevertheless, God sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord.
20Then Jehoiada the priestfs son Zechariah was clothed by the Spirit of God, and he stood above the people and told them, gThis is what God has to say: eWhy are you breaking the Lordfs commandments. Youfll never be successful! Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.fh
21But the people conspired against him, and at the direct orders of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lordfs Temple. 22This is how King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariahfs father Jehoiada had shown him: he killed his son. As he lay dying, Zechariah cried out, gMay the Lord watch this and avenge.h
23At the end of that year, the Aramean army attacked Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed every senior official among the people, and sent all of their possessions to the king of Damascus. 24The Aramean army attacked with only a small force, but the Lord delivered a much larger army into their control because Judah had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. And so the Aramean army carried out Godfs judgment on Joash. 25After the Arameans left him very sick, Joashfs own servants conspired against him because Joash had murdered Jehoiada the priestfs son, and they killed him on his sick bed. 26The conspirators included Shimeath the Ammonitefs son Zabad and Shimrith the Moabitefs son Jehozabad. 27Records concerning his sons, the various prophetic statements rebuking him, and records of the reconstruction work on Godfs Temple are written in the Midrash of the Book of the Kings. Joashfs son Amaziah reigned in his place.
Chapter 25
1Amaziah began his reign at the age of 25 years, and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Jehoaddan. She was from Jerusalem. 2He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, but not with a perfect heart. 3As soon as he had consolidated his royal authority, he executed the servants who had killed his father, the king, 4but he did not execute their children in obedience to what is written in the Law, the writings of Moses, where the Lord commanded, gFathers are not to die because of what their children do, nor are children to die because of what their fathers do, but each person is to die for his own sins.h
5Amaziah gathered Judah together and organized them according to their ancestral households under commanders of thousands and hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered an army from those who were 20 years old and older. He discovered that there were 300,000 elite soldiers qualified for war duty and capable of handling spears and shields. 6He also hired 100,000 elite forces from Israel, paying 7,500 pounds of silver for their services.
7A man came from God and warned him, gYour majesty, donft let the army of Israel accompany you into battle, because the Lord isnft with any of the descendants of Ephraim. 8But if you do go, strengthen yourself for war. Do you think God will throw you down before the enemy, since God has the power both to help or to overthrow?h
9Amaziah asked the man of God, gWhat are we to do about the 7,500 pounds that I have paid to the army of Israel?h
The man of God answered, gThe Lord has a lot more than that to give you!h 10So Amaziah sent the troops home who had arrived from Ephraim. They flew into a rage against Judah but left for home very angry.
11But Amaziah encouraged himself and led his army out to the Salt Valley to kill 10,000 soldiers from Seir. 12The army of Judah captured another 10,000 prisoners and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down from there where they all were dashed to pieces. 13Meanwhile, the troops that Amaziah had sent home from the battle raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon, killing 3,000 people and taking a large amount of war booty.
14Later, Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, but he brought back the gods that had belonged to the men of Seir, set them up as his own gods, worshiped them, and sacrificed offerings to them. 15As a result, the Lord became angry with Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who asked him, gWhy did you seek the gods of a people who were unable to deliver their own nation from you?h
16But even while the prophet was speaking, the king asked him, gDid we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?h
So the prophet stopped speaking, but he also said, gI know God has determined to destroy you, because youfve done all this and ignored my counsel.h
17After this, King Amaziah of Judah sought some advice and then challenged Jehoahazf son King Joash of Israel, the grandson of Jehu, telling him, gCome out and letfs fight each other!h
18But King Joash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah, gThere once was a thorn bush in Lebanon that sent an invitation to the cedar of Lebanon that read eGive your daughter to my son in marriage.f Right about then, a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush. 19You claim youfve defeated Edom, but youfre really only puffed up with arrogant boasting. So stay home. Why stir up trouble so you die, and the rest of Judah with you?h
20But Amaziah refused to listen, because the situation was being orchestrated by God in order to turn them over to the control of their enemies because they had pursued those Edomite gods. 21So King Joash of Israel went out to battle against King Amaziah of Judah, and they fought at Beth-shemesh, which is part of Judahfs territory. 22Judah was defeated by Israel, and every soldier ran home. 23King Joash of Israel captured Joashfs son King Amaziah of Judah, the grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh and brought him back to Jerusalem, where he broke down 600 feet of the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24He confiscated all the gold, silver, and utensils that he could find in the care of Obed-edom inside of Godfs Temple and inside the royal palace. Then he took some hostages and returned to Samaria.
25Joashfs son Amaziah, king of Judah, lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoahazf son Joash, king of Israel. 26The rest of Amaziahfs accomplishments, from first to last, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, are they not? 27From the time that Amaziah abandoned his seeking the Lord, some people conspired against him in Jerusalem, so he ran away to Lachish, but they pursued him to Lachish and killed him there. 28They brought him back on horses and buried him with his ancestors in the city of Judah.
Chapter 26
1All the people of Judah made Uzziah king in place of his father Amaziah. Uzziah was sixteen years old at the time. 2He rebuilt Eloth and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had been laid to rest with his ancestors. 3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Jecholiah. She was from Jerusalem. 4He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, following the example set by his father Amaziahfs accomplishments. 5Uzziah kept on seeking God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to fear God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosperous.
6One time Uzziah went out and battled the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod, and built cities in the Ashdod area among the Philistines. 7God helped Uzziah defeat the Philistines, the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. 8The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his reputation extended as far as the border with Egypt as he became stronger and stronger. 9Uzziah also built towers in Jerusalem, at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the Angle and fortified them. 10He also built watchtowers in the wilderness and had many cisterns hewed out, since he also possessed large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the midland plains. He had many farmers and vinedressers throughout the hills and fertile lands because he loved farming.
11Uzziah kept a standing army, equipped for battle, garrisoned in divisions according to an organizational structure devised by his royal secretary Jeiel and his officer Maaseiah, who reported to Hananiah, one of the kingfs commanders. 12The number of senior leaders of the ancestral houses of his elite forces numbered 2,600. 13Uzziah commanded an army of 307,500 who could fight formidably on behalf of the king against any enemy. 14In addition, Uzziah equipped the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and stones for use in slings. 15He also had various siege engines built by skilled designers and placed them on the towers and on the corner ramparts that could fire arrows and very large stones. His reputation spread far and wide, and he was marvelously assisted until he grew very strong.
16But after he had become strong, in his arrogance he acted corruptly and became unfaithful to the Lord his God, and he dared to enter the Lordfs Temple to burn incense on the incense altar. 17Azariah the priest ran after him, along with 80 of the Lordfs valiant priests, 18and they opposed King Uzziah. gUzziah, itfs not for you to burn incense to the Lord,h they told him, gbut for the priests to do, Aaronfs descendants who are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary now, because you have been unfaithful and wonft receive any honor from the Lord God.h
19Uzziah flew into a rage while he held in his hand a censer to burn incense. As he got angry at the priests, leprosy broke out all over his forehead right in front of the priests beside the incense altar in the Lordfs Temple. 20So Azariah the chief priest and all the priests stared at Uzziah, who was infected with leprosy in his forehead! They all rushed at him and hurried him out of the Temple. Uzziah was in a hurry to get out anyway, because the Lord had struck him.
21King Uzziah remained a leper until the day he died. Because he was a leper, he lived in a separate residence and remained disqualified to enter the Lordfs Temple. His son Jotham served in the royal palace, judging the people of the land. 22Now the rest of Uzziahfs accomplishments, from first to last, have been recorded by Amozfs son Isaiah the prophet. 23Uzziah died, as had his ancestors, and they buried him alongside his ancestors in a grave in a field that belonged to the kings, because they said, gHe was a leper.h Uzziahfs son Jotham became king to replace him.
Chapter 27
1Jotham was 25 years old when he began his reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zadokfs daughter Jerusha. 2He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, just as his father Uzziah had done, even though he did not enter the Temple. Nevertheless, the people continued acting corruptly.
3Jotham constructed the Upper Gate of the Lordfs Temple and did extensive work on the wall of Ophel. 4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah, along with fortresses and guard towers in the forests. 5He launched a military excursion against the king of the Ammonites and defeated him. As a result, that year the Ammonites paid 7,500 pounds of silver in tribute, as well as 60,000 bushels of wheat and 60,000 bushels of barley. The Ammonites continued to pay this same amount in tribute over the following two years. 6Jotham grew in power because he had determined to live his life in the presence of the Lord his God. 7The rest of the accomplishments of Jothamfs reign, including all of his military exploits and campaigns, are recorded in the book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He started his reign at the age of 25 years and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9Then Jotham died, as had his fathers, and he was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.
Chapter 28
1Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem, but he did not practice what the Lord considered to be right, as his ancestor David had done. 2Instead, he lived like the kings of Israel did. He cast metal images of Baal, 3burned incense in the Ben-hinnom Valley, and burned his sons as an offering, following the detestable activities of the nations whom the Lord had expelled in front of the people of Israel. 4He sacrificed and burned incense on high places, on the top of hills, and under every green tree.
5As a result, the Lord his God handed Ahaz over to the king of Aram, who defeated him and took a large number of captives away to Damascus. Ahaz was also delivered over to the control of the King of Israel, who defeated him with many heavy casualties. 6Remaliahfs son Pekah killed 120,000 soldiers in a single day, all of them elite forces, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their ancestors. 7Zichri, a valiant soldier from Ephraim, killed the kingfs son Maaseiah, Azrikam, the palace manager, and Elkanah, who was second in rank to the king. 8The Israelis carried away 200,000 women, sons, and daughters from among their own relatives. They also took a great deal of plunder, and brought it all to Samaria.
9But a prophet of the Lord was there named Oded. He went out to greet the army as it arrived in Samaria. He warned them, gLook! Because the Lord God of your ancestors was angry at Judah, he delivered them into your control, but you have killed them with a vehemence that has reached all the way to heaven! 10Now youfre intending to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem to be your slaves. Surely you have your own sins against the Lord your God for which youfre accountable, donft you? 11So listen to me! Return the captives whom youfve captured from your brothers, because the anger of the Lord is burning hot against you!h
12Some of the leaders of the descendants of Ephraim, including Johananfs son Azariah, Meshillemothfs son Berechiah, Shallumfs son Jehizkiah, and Hadlaifs son Amasa, stood up to the army as they were coming back from the battle 13and told them, gDonft bring those captives here! Youfll bring even more guilt on us from the Lord, in addition to our own existing sin and guilt! Hefs already mad enough against Israel because of our guilt!h
14So the army abandoned the captives and the war booty in front of the officers and the entire assembled retinue. 15After this, some men who were chosen by name took charge of the captives, clothed those who were naked with clothes appropriated from the war booty, gave them clothes and sandals, fed them, gave them something to drink, anointed them with oil, provided those who werenft able to walk with donkeys to ride on, and took them back to their relatives at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.
16Right about then, King Ahaz sent for help from the kings of Assyria 17because the Edomites had invaded, attacked Judah, and carried off some captives. 18The Philistines also invaded some of the cities in the Shephelah and in the Negev of Judah. They captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, and their surrounding villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. Then the Philistines settled there, 19because the Lord was humiliating Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, since Ahaz had brought about a lack of restraint within Judah and had remained unfaithful to the Lord. 20King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Ahaz and, instead of helping him, attacked him. 21Even though Ahaz took some of the assets belonging to the Lordfs Temple from the royal palace, and from the palaces belonging to the princes, and gave them to the king of Assyria, none of his gifts did any good.
22In the midst of his troubles, King Ahaz became more and more unfaithful to the Lord. 23He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him, reasoning, gThe gods of the kings of Aram helped them, so Ifll sacrifice to them so they will help me!h But those gods brought about his downfall, and the downfall of all of Israel, too. 24Ahaz also collected the utensils of Godfs Temple, cut them all into pieces, and closed the doors of the Lordfs Temple. Then he made altars to himself on every corner in Jerusalem 25and established high places in every city of Judah where incense was burned to other gods, thus provoking the Lord God of his ancestors to anger. 26The rest of his accomplishments, and records of everything he did from first to last are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27So Ahaz died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but they didnft bury him among the tombs of the kings of Israel. Ahazfs son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
Chapter 29
1Hezekiah began his reign at the age of 25. He reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Abijah, Zechariahfs daughter. 2He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, following all of the examples set by his ancestor David.
3In the first month of the first year of his reign he repaired and reopened the doors of the Lordfs Temple. 4Then he brought in the priests and descendants of Levi, gathered them into the square in the eastern part of the Temple, 5and told them,
gPay attention to me, you descendants of Levi! Consecrate yourselves and the Temple of the Lord God of your ancestors by taking out from the Holy Place whatever is unclean. 6Our ancestors have been unfaithful. They practiced what the Lord considers to be evil, abandoned him, turned their faces away from the place where the Lord resides, and turned their backs to him. 7They shut the doors to the vestibule of the Temple, extinguished its lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel in the Holy Place. 8Thatfs why the Lord was angry with Judah and Jerusalem and made them an object of terror, horror, and derision, as youfve seen with your own eyes. 9Now look! Our ancestors have been killed with swords and our sons, daughters, and wives are being held captive because of all of this. 10Ifm intending to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel so his burning anger may turn away from us. 11Please donft be careless, you descendants of Aaron, because the Lord has chosen you to minister in his presence, to serve him, to be his ministers, and to burn incense.h
12Here are the names of the descendants of Levi who made themselves available to God: Amasaifs son Mahath and Azariahfs son Joel from the descendants of Kohath; Abdifs son Kish and Jehallelelfs son Azariah from the descendants of Merari; Zimmahfs son Joah and Joahfs son Eden from the descendants of Gershon; 13Elizaphanfs sons Shimri and Jeiel; Asaphfs sons Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14Hemanfs sons Jehiel and Shimei; and Jeduthunfs sons Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15They also brought together their brothers, consecrated themselves, and proceeded to cleanse the Lordfs Temple, just as the king had ordered in accordance with what the Lord had told him. 16The priests entered the inner courts of the Lordfs Temple to cleanse it, and they brought out everything unclean that they found there to the outer court of the Lordfs Temple. Then the descendants of Levi carried everything from there out to the Kidron Valley. 17They began their consecration duties on the first day of the first month and finished at the Lordfs outer vestibule on the eighth day of the month. Another eight days was used to consecrate the Lordfs Temple, so they completed the work on the sixteenth day of the first month.
18After this, they went to King Hezekiah and told him, gWe have cleansed all of the Lordfs Temple, including the altar for burnt offerings, all of its utensils, the table of showbread, and all of its utensils. 19In addition, we have prepared and rededicated all of the utensils that King Ahaz threw away during his unfaithful reign, and now theyfre back in service at the Lordfs altar.h
20Early the next morning, King Hezekiah got up and assembled the city officials and went up to the Lordfs Temple, 21where they brought seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering on behalf of the kingdom, the Holy Place, and Judah. He ordered that the priests, as descendants of Aaron, place the offerings on the Lordfs altar. 22So they slaughtered the bulls and the priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar, and they also slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23They brought the male goats for the sin offering to the king within the assembled gathering, laid their hands on them, 24and then the priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood as a sin offering to atone for all Israel, because the king ordered that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel.
25Hezekiah stationed descendants of Levi in the Lordfs Temple to play cymbals and stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the seer, and Nathan the prophet had directed, because the command to do so was from the Lord through those prophets. 26The descendants of Levi played instruments that had been crafted by David and the priests sounded trumpets.
27Hezekiah gave a command to offer burnt offerings on the altar, and when the burnt offerings began, a song to the Lord also began with trumpets sounding and with the instruments that King David of Israel had crafted. 28Everybody in the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpets sounded. They continued doing this until the burnt offering sacrifice was completed. 29When the sacrifices had been offered, the king and everyone else who was present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the descendants of Levi to sing praises to the Lord based on psalms that had been written by David and Asaph the seer. So they all joyfully sang praises, bowed low, and worshiped.
31After this, Hezekiah announced, gNow that youfve consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near and bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Lordfs Temple. So the assembly brought sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and everyone who was willing to do so brought burnt offerings. 32The number of burnt offerings brought by the assembly was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs. All of these were burnt offerings to the Lord. 33The consecrated offerings numbered 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34Because there werenft enough priests, they were unable to prepare all the burnt offerings until other priests came forward after having consecrated themselves, so their descendant of Levi relatives assisted them until the services were complete. (The descendants of Levi had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than had been the priests.) 35Furthermore, there were also many burnt offerings, fat from peace offerings, and drink offerings. And thatfs how the service of the Lordfs Temple was restored. 36Hezekiah and all of the people were ecstatic with joy because of what God had done for the people, since everything had come about so suddenly.
Chapter 30
1Hezekiah also sent word to all of Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh that they should come to the Lordfs Temple in Jerusalem to observe the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. 2The king, his princes, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem had mutually decided to observe the Passover in the second month, 3but they had been unable to celebrate it then because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not yet been gathered together in Jerusalem. 4This decision seemed to be a good one in the opinion of the king and of the entire assembly, 5so they published a decree that was circulated throughout Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan that they are to come celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem. The Passover had not been celebrated in great numbers as was being prescribed by the decree.
6Couriers were sent throughout all of Israel and Judah with letters written by the king and his princes, just as the king had commanded:
gListen, you descendants of Israel! Come back to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may come back to those of you who have escaped and survived from domination by the kings of Assyria. 7Donft be like your ancestors and your relatives, who werenft faithful to the Lord God of their ancestors, who, as a result, made them a desolate horror, as you well know. 8So donft be stiff-necked like your ancestors were. Instead, submit to the Lord, enter his sanctuary that he has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God so that hefll stop being angry with you. 9If you return to the Lord, your relatives and children will receive compassion from those who took them away captive, and theyfll return to this land, because the Lord is both gracious and compassionate\he will not turn away from you if you return to him.h
10Couriers crossed from city to city throughout the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but those people just mocked them and laughed at them. 11Nevertheless, a few men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and traveled to Jerusalem. 12God also poured out his grace throughout Judah, giving them a dedicated heart to do what the king and princes had decreed according to the message from the Lord. 13Many of the people gathered together in Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread during the second month. It was a very large assembly. 14They all got to work and removed the idolatrous altars that were throughout Jerusalem. They also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Brook. 15Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month.
The priests and descendants of Levi felt ashamed of themselves, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Lordfs Temple. 16Then they took their customary places, as the Law of Moses the man of God prescribes, and the priests sprinkled the blood that they were given by the descendants of Levi. 17Because there were so many in the assembly that had not consecrated themselves, therefore the descendants of Levi supervised the slaughter of the Passover sacrifices on behalf of everyone who remained unclean, so they could be consecrated to the Lord. 18Even though a large crowd of people from as far away as Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not completed consecrating themselves, they still ate the Passover in a manner not proscribed by the Law, because Hezekiah had prayed like this for them: gMay the good Lord extend a pardon on behalf of 19everyone who prepares his own heart to seek God, the Lord God of his ancestors, even though he does so inconsistent with the laws of consecration.h 20The Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21The Israelis who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with immense gladness, and the descendants of Levi and priests praised the Lord throughout each day, singing mightily to the Lord. 22Hezekiah encouraged all the descendants of Levi who demonstrated significant insight in their service to the Lord, so they all participated in the festival meals for seven days, all the while sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their ancestors. 23After this, the whole assembly agreed to celebrate for another seven days, and so they did\and they were very happy to do so! 24King Hezekiah of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes contributed 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep, and a large number of priests consecrated themselves.
25Everyone in the assembly of Judah rejoiced, as did the priests, the descendants of Levi, and the people who gathered together from throughout Israel, including those who came from the land of Israel and those who lived in Judah. 26There was great joy throughout Jerusalem, because nothing had happened like this in Jerusalem since the days of Davidfs son Solomon, king of Israel. 27After this, the priests arose, blessed the people, and their voices were heard in prayer all the way to heaven, where God resides in holiness.
Chapter 31
1At the conclusion of all of these activities, everybody in Israel who was in attendance traveled throughout the cities of Judah, broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and altars throughout the territories of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh until they had eliminated all of them. Then the people of Israel went back to their cities and back to their work.
2Hezekiah appointed the priestly divisions and the divisions of the descendants of Levi, each according to their service duties, including both priests and descendants of Levi who offered morning and evening burnt offerings, peace offerings, general ministry, thanksgiving, and praise in the gateways to the Lordfs campgrounds. 3He also gave a portion of his own income for both morning and evening burnt offerings, for burnt offerings on the Sabbath, New Moons, and for the scheduled festivals, as is recorded in the Lordfs Law. 4Hezekiah also directed the people who lived in Jerusalem to give what was due to the priests and descendants of Levi, so they could be strengthened in the Lordfs Law. 5As the word spread around, the people of Israel gave generously for the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and all of the produce of the fields. They generously gave a tithe of everything. 6The descendants of Israel and Judah who lived throughout the cities of Judah also brought tithes of cattle and sheep, as well as tithes of gifts that had been dedicated to the Lord their God.
As these gifts were given, they were laid in piles. 7They began to make these piles of gifts during the third month, and it took them until the seventh month to finish. 8When Hezekiah and the officials arrived and saw the piles of gifts, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel, 9and Hezekiah quizzed the priests and the descendants of Levi about the piles of gifts. 10Azariah replied, gSince they began to bring their gifts into the Lordfs Temple, we have eaten and have been satisfied. Now we still have plenty left, because the Lord has blessed his people so that we have all of this left over.h
11Hezekiah gave an order to prepare storerooms in the Lordfs Temple, and so they did. 12They faithfully brought in the gifts, tithes, and consecrated materials, and Conaniah the descendant of Levi was placed in charge of them. His brother Shimei was second in command, 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah served as supervisors under Conaniah and his brother Shimei, who had been appointed by King Hezekiah. Azariah served as senior officer of Godfs Temple. 14Imnah the descendant of Levifs son Kore, keeper of the eastern gate, was in charge of voluntary offerings to God, apportioning contributions for the Lord and the most holy things. 15Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah served in the priestly cities, making sure contributions were distributed faithfully to their relatives division by division, no matter how large or how small, 16without regard to genealogical enrollment, to every male 30 years old and older\that is, to everyone who entered the Lordfs Temple as their duty obligations required\for their work and duties according to their divisions 17as well as the priests who were enrolled in the genealogies according to their ancestral households. 18These genealogical enrollments also included all of their little children, their wives, and their sons and daughters for the entire assembly, because they were being faithful to consecrating themselves in holiness. 19Furthermore, with respect to the descendants of Aaron, that is, the priests who lived out in the country away from the cities, or who lived in each and every city, men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone who had been enrolled by genealogy among the descendants of Levi.
20Hezekiah did this throughout all of Judah, and he acted well, doing what the Lord his God considered to be right and true. 21Everything that Hezekiah began in the service of Godfs Temple was done according to the Law and to the commandments as he sought his God, worked with all of his heart, and became successful.
Chapter 32
1After all of these acts of faithfulness occurred, King Sennacherib of Assyria came, invaded Judah, and laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2As soon as Hezekiah learned that Sennacherib had arrived and had determined to attack Jerusalem, 3he developed a plan with his commanders and his elite forces to cut off the water supply from the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him to carry it out. 4Many people gathered together and plugged up all the springs, along with the stream that flowed through the region. They were thinking to themselves, gWhy should the Assyrian kings invade and discover an abundant water supply?h
5Hezekiah took courage and rebuilt all of the walls that had been broken down. Then he erected watch towers on them, and added another external wall. He fortified the terrace ramparts in the city of David and prepared a large number of weapons and shields. 6He appointed military officers to take charge of the people, who gathered them together in the square near the city gate and spoke to them encouragingly, 7gBe strong and courageous. Donft be afraid or disheartened because of the king of Assyria or because of the army that accompanies him, because the one who is with us is greater than the one with him. 8He only has the strength of his own flesh, but the Lord our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles.h So the people were encouraged from what King Hezekiah of Judah told them.
9After this, King Sennacherib of Assyria sent his messengers to Jerusalem while he was in the middle of a vigorous attack on Lachish. They delivered this message to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all the people of Judah who had gathered in Jerusalem:
10gThis is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: eWhat are you leaning on that makes you stay behind while Jerusalem comes under siege? 11Isnft Hezekiah lying to you so he can hand you over to die by famine and thirst? After all, hefs telling you gThe Lord our God will deliver us from the king of Assyriafs control.h 12Isnft this the very same Hezekiah who removed this godfs high places and altars? Isnft this the same Hezekiah who issued this order to Judah and Jerusalem: gYou are to worship in front of only one altar and burn your sacrifices only on it.h? 13Donft you know what my predecessors have done to all the other people in other lands? Were the gods of the people who lived in those lands able to deliver their countries out of my control? 14What god, out of all the gods of those nations that my predecessors utterly destroyed, has been able to deliver his people from my control or from the control of my predecessors? 15Now therefore, donft let Hezekiah lie to you or mislead you like this. Donft believe him, because no god of any nation has been able to deliver his people from my control or from the control of my predecessors. So how much less will your God deliver you from me?fh
16King Sennacheribfs spokesmen said even worse things against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah.
17Sennacherib also wrote letters like this that insulted and slandered the Lord God of Israel: gJust as the gods of the nations in other lands havenft delivered their people from my control, so also the god of Hezekiah wonft deliver his people from me!h 18His spokesmen shouted these things out with loud voices in the language of Judah to frighten and terrify the people of Jerusalem who were stationed on the city walls, to make it easier to conquer the city. 19In doing so, they spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the nations of the earth that are made by the hands of human beings.
20Meanwhile, King Hezekiah and Amozfs son Isaiah the prophet were praying about this and crying out to heaven. 21So the Lord sent an angel, who eliminated all of the elite forces, commanders, and officers within the encampment of the king of Assyria. As a result, he retreated to his own country, deeply ashamed and humiliated. When he visited the temple of his god, some of his sons killed him right there with swords. 22Thatfs how the Lord delivered Hezekiah, as well as those who lived in Jerusalem, from Assyriafs King Sennacherib and all his forces, and provided for all of their needs. 23Many brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem and brought presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. As a result, he was exalted in the opinion of all nations thereafter.
24During this time Hezekiah became critically ill, and he prayed to the Lord. The Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25But Hezekiahfs response wasnft commensurate with what had been done for him because he was arrogant in heart, so wrath came upon him, upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem. 26But Hezekiah humbled himself while he was arrogant in heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him in this. As a result, the Lordfs wrath did not come upon them during Hezekiahfs lifetime.
27Hezekiah received immense wealth and honor. He built treasuries for himself to store silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all sorts of valuable items, 28along with storage facilities for grain, wine, oil, stalls for all sorts of cattle, and sheepfolds for his flocks. 29He also built cities for himself and stored up flocks and herds in abundance, because God had given him great riches. 30Hezekiah stopped up the upper outlet of the Gihon springs and diverted them down to the western side of the city of David. He prospered in everything he did.
31Later on, envoys came from the princes of Babylon to inquire about the miracle that had happened in the land. God left Hezekiah to himself, so that he might make known what was really in Hezekiahfs heart. 32Now the rest of Hezekiahfs accomplishments and his faithful deeds are recorded in the vision of Amozfs son Isaiah the prophet, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33Hezekiah died, as did his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the descendants of David. All of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. But his son Manasseh reigned in his place.
Chapter 33
1Manasseh began to reign at the age of twelve years, and continued to reign for 55 years in Jerusalem. 2But he practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by behaving detestably, as did the nations whom the Lord expelled in front of the Israelis.
3He re-established the high places that his father Hezekiah had demolished, he built altars to the Baals, erected Asherim, and worshiped and served the armies of heaven. 4He also built altars in the Lordfs Temple, about which the Lord had spoken gMy name will reside in Jerusalem forever.h 5He built altars for all the armies of heaven in the two courtyards of the Lordfs Temple. 6He burned his sons as an offering in the Ben-hinnom Valley, practiced fortune-telling, witchcraft, sorcery, and communicated with mediums and separatists. He did a lot of things that the Lord considered to be evil, thus provoking him. 7He also placed an image that he had carved in Godfs Temple, the place about which God had told to David and to his son Solomon, gI will place my name in this Temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel,h 8and gI wonft let Israelfs foothold slip on the land that Ifve given to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to keep everything that I commanded them in the Law, in the statutes, and in the ordinance through Moses.h 9This is how Manasseh deceived Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to practice more evil than the nations whom the Lord had eliminated in front of the Israelis.
10The Lord kept on speaking to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention to him, 11so the Lord brought in the army commanders who worked for the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him in bronze chains, and took him off to Babylon. 12But when he was in trouble, he sought the face of the Lord his God, humbled himself magnificently before the God of his ancestors, 13and prayed to him. Moved by Manassehfs entreaties, the Lord heard his supplications and brought him back to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Thatfs how Manasseh learned that the Lord is God.
14Later on, Manasseh reinforced the outer wall to the city of David on the west side overlooking the Gihon Valley as far as the Fish Gate. He encircled the Ophel, raising it to a great height. 15He also eliminated the foreign gods and idols from the Lordfs Temple, along with all of the altars that he had built in Jerusalem and on the mountain where the Lordfs Temple was located, and he discarded them outside the city. 16He set up an altar to the Lord, sacrificed peace offerings on it, and ordered Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. 17Even so, the people continued to sacrifice in the high places, but only to the Lord their God.
18Now as to the rest of Manassehfs accomplishments, including his prayer to God and what the seers had to say to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, they are included among the Acts of the Kings of Israel. 19His prayer, how God was moved by him, all of his sin and unfaithfulness, and a record of the sites where he constructed high places, erected Asherim and carved images before he humbled himself are written in the Acts of the Seers. 20So Manasseh died, as had his ancestors, and they buried him in his own palace while his son Amon became king in his place.
21Amon was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his father Manasseh had done, sacrificing to and serving all the carved images that his father Manasseh had made, 23except that he never humbled himself to the Lord like his father Manasseh had done. In fact, Amon multiplied his own guilt 24until his servants finally conspired against him and executed him in his own palace. 25But the people of the land executed all of the conspirators against King Amon and installed his son Josiah as king to succeed him.
Chapter 34
1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. 2He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, following the example of his ancestor David, turning neither to the right nor to the left. 3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In the twelfth year of his reign, he began to remove the high places, Asherim, carved images, and cast images from Judah and Jerusalem.
4They tore down the altars of Baals in his presence. He chopped down the incense altars that stood high above them. He broke into pieces the Asherim, the carved images, and the cast images, ground them to dust, and scattered the residue on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, thus purging Judah and Jerusalem. 6In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and as far as Naphtali and their surrounding ruins, 7he also tore down altars, destroyed the Asherim and the carved images, grinding them into dust, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
8In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purged the land and the Temple, he sent Azaliahfs son Shaphan, Maaseiah, mayor of Jerusalem, and Joahazfs son Joah, the recorder, to repair the Temple of the Lord his God. 9They approached Hilkiah the high priest and delivered to him the money that had been brought into Godfs Temple that the descendants of Levi and gatekeepers had collected from Manasseh, Ephraim, the surviving Israelis, Judah, Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10They paid it to the workmen who supervised the Lordfs Temple, and the workmen who were employed in the Lordfs Temple to supervise restoration and repair of the Temple. 11They, in turn, paid the carpenters and builders to purchase quarried stone and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that previous kings of Judah had let deteriorate. 12The workmen did their duties faithfully with these foremen supervising them: Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Levi who were Merarifs sons, Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath, and various descendants of Levi, who were skilled musicians. 13These men also supervised the heavy lift workers and supervised all the workmen from job to job, while some of the descendants of Levi served as scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
14While they were bringing out the money that had come in as gifts to the Lordfs Temple, Hilkiah the priest discovered the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been handed down by Moses. 15Hilkiah reported his finding to Shaphan the scribe, telling him, gI found the Book of the Law in the Lordfs Temple. Then he gave the book to Shaphan. 16Shaphan took the book to the king and gave an additional report to the king, telling him gEverything that youfve entrusted to your servants is being carried out. 17Theyfve removed the money that was found in the Lordfs Temple and have passed it on to the supervisors and the workmen.h 18Shaphan the scribe also informed the king, gHilkiah the priest gave me a book.h Shaphan read from its contents to the king.
19As soon as he heard what the Law said, he tore his clothes. 20He issued these orders to Hilkiah, Shaphanfs son Ahikam, Micahfs son Abdon, Shaphan the scribe, and the kingfs personal assistant Asaiah: 21gGo ask the Lord for me and for those who survive in Israel and in Judah about the words that wefve read in this book that we found, because the wrath of the Lord that we deserve to have poured out on us is very great, since our ancestors havenft obeyed the command from the Lord that required us to do everything that is written in this book.h
22So Hilkiah and the others who had received orders from the king went to visit Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Tokhathfs son Shallum, grandson of Hasrah. She was the kingfs wardrobe supervisor, and she lived in Jerusalemfs Second Quarter. They asked her about what had happened. 23In response, she replied:
gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eTell the man who sent you to me, 24gThis is what the Lord says: ePay attention! Ifm bringing evil to visit this place and its inhabitants\every single curse written in the book that theyfve been reading to the King of Judah. 25Because they abandoned me and have burned incense to other gods, provoking me to become angry at everything theyfre doing, therefore my wrath is about to be poured out on this place, and it wonft be quenched.fhf
26gNow tell the king of Judah who sent you to ask the Lord about this: eThis is what the Lord God of Israel says about what youfve heard: 27gBecause your heart was sensitive, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he had to say about this place and its inhabitants\indeed, because you humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes, and cried out to me, I have heard you,h declares the Lord. 28gLook! Ifm going to take you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in your grave in peace so that you wonft have to see all the evil that Ifm going to bring to this place and to its inhabitants.hfh
So they all brought back this message to the king.
29The king sent word to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30Then the king went up to the Lordfs Temple, accompanied by the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and descendants of Levi, and everyone else from the most important to the least important, and he read out loud all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the Lordfs Temple. 31While standing in his appointed place, the king made a public covenant with the Lord to follow the Lord, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes, and to do so with all of his heart and soul, and to carry out what was written in the covenant contained in the book. 32He also made everyone who was present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand in agreement with him. As a result, the inhabitants of Jerusalem reconfirmed the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33Josiah also removed all the detestable things from the territories that belonged to the people of Israel, and made everyone who lived in Israel to serve the Lord their God. For the rest of his life, they didnft abandon their quest to follow the Lord God of their ancestors.
Chapter 35
1Josiah observed the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. They slaughtered the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2He appointed priests to their offices, encouraging them in their service at the Lordfs Temple. 3He addressed the descendants of Levi who were teaching all Israel and who had consecrated themselves to the Lord, telling them:
gPut the holy ark in the Temple that Solomon, the son of Israelfs King David, built. It will no longer be a burden on their shoulders. Now go serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. 4Prepare yourselves by divisions according to your ancestral households, keeping to what King David of Israel and his son Solomon wrote about this. 5In addition to this, take your place in the Holy Place according to the groupings of the ancestral households of your relatives consistent with the division of the descendants of Levi by their ancestral households. 6Now slaughter the Passover, consecrate yourselves, and prepare your relatives to obey the command from the Lord given by Mosesh
7Josiah contributed 30,000 animals from the flocks of lambs and young goats, giving Passover offerings to all of the people who were present, plus an additional 3,000 bulls from the kingfs private possessions. 8His officers contributed a voluntary offering to the people, the priests, and the descendants of Levi. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the officials who supervised Godfs Temple, gave 2,600 animals from their flocks to the priests for Passover offerings, along with 300 bulls. 9Also, Conaniah, and his relatives Shemaiah, and Nethanel, along with Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the officers in charge of the descendants of Levi, contributed 5,000 animals from the flocks to the descendants of Levi for the Passover offerings, along with 500 bulls. 10As a result, the Passover service was prepared, the priests took their assigned places, and the descendants of Levi stood in their divisions as the king had commanded.
11They slaughtered the Passover lamb, and the priests poured out the blood that they had received from the lambs while the descendants of Levi flayed the sacrifices. 12They set aside in reserve the burnt offerings, so they could distribute them in proportion to the divisions of their ancestral households for presentation by the people to the Lord, as is required by the book of Moses. They did this with respect to the bulls, also. 13They roasted the Passover in fire, as required by the ordinances, and boiled the holy things in pots, kettles, and pans, and delivered them quickly to all the people. 14After this, because the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, were busy offering the burnt offerings and fat portions until evening, the descendants of Levi prepared the Passover for themselves and their fellow-descendants of Aaron, the priests. 15The singers, as descendants of Asaph, remained at their stations as David, Asaph, Heman, and the kingfs seer Jeduthun required, and the gatekeepers did not have to leave their posts because their descendant of Levi relatives prepared the Passover for them.
16Thatfs how the Lordfs service was prepared that day to celebrate the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the Lordfs altar according to what King Josiah had commanded. 17The Israelis who were present celebrated the Passover that day, as well as the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18There had not been a Passover celebration like it in Israel since Samuel the prophet was alive, nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated a Passover like Josiah did at that time with the priests, the descendants of Levi, everyone from Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19This Passover celebration was observed during the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.
20Some time after all of this, after Josiah had finished preparing the Temple, King Neco of Egypt invaded Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah went out to fight him. 21But he sent messengers to him, who asked him, gWhat do we have in common, King of Judah? I am not here today opposing you. I am fighting the dynasty that is fighting me, and God has ordered me to hurry. For your own good, stop interfering with God, who is with me, and he wonft destroy you!h
22But Josiah wouldnft turn around. In fact, he put on a disguise so he could fight Neco. He wouldnft listen to what God told him through what Neco had to say, and as a result, Josiah came to attack Neco on the Megiddo plain. 23Some archers shot King Josiah, and the king told his servants, gTake me away, because Ifm badly wounded.h 24So his servants removed him from the chariot he was in and carried him away in a backup chariot that he had and took him back to Jerusalem, where he died and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All of Judah and Jerusalem went into mourning for Josiah.
25Jeremiah sang a lament for Josiah, and all the male and female singers recite that lamentation about Josiah to this day. In fact, they made singing it an ordinance in Israel, and they are recorded in the Lamentations. 26Now the rest of the accomplishments of Josiah, including his faithful acts of devotion as required in the Law of the Lord, 27and his other activities from first to last, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
Chapter 36
1After this, the people of the land installed Josiahfs son Jehoahaz in Jerusalem as king to take his fatherfs place. 2Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem, 3after which the king of Egypt dethroned him and imposed a fine on the land of 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold. 4King Neco of Egypt installed Jehoahazfs brother Eliakim as king over Judah and Jerusalem, changed Eliakimfs name to Jehoiakim, and took his brother Joahaz back to Egypt.
5Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, but he practiced what the Lord his God considered to be evil. 6As a result, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him, bound him in bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. 7Nebuchadnezzar also took articles from the Lordfs Temple to Babylon and placed them in his temple in Babylon. 8The rest of Jehoiakimfs accomplishments\along with the detestable things that he did that were recorded in his disfavor\are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiachin became king to replace him.
9Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months and ten days in Jerusalem, all the while doing what the Lord considered to be evil. 10At the beginning of the next year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, along with valuable articles from the Lordfs Temple, and he installed Jehoiachinfs relative Zedekiah as king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. 12He practiced what the Lord his God considered to be evil and never humbled himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for the Lord. 13Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear allegiance in the name of God. Instead, he stiffened his resolve, and hardened his heart, and would not return to the Lord God of Israel.
14Meanwhile, all the officials who supervised the priests and the people remained unfaithful, following the detestable example of the surrounding nations. They polluted the Lordfs Temple that he had consecrated in Jerusalem. 15The Lord God of their ancestors pleaded with them time and again through his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on the place of his residence, 16but they mocked Godfs messengers, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until there was no remedy for the wrath of the Lord that arose to punish his people. 17Therefore he brought up the king of the Chaldeans against them, who executed their young men in the holy Temple, showing no compassion on young man or young virgin, adult men or the aged. God gave them all into the kingfs control, 18who took back to Babylon every article in Godfs Temple, whether large or small, including the treasuries of the Lordfs Temple, the kingfs assets, and those of his officers. 19After this, they set fire to Godfs Temple, demolished the wall around Jerusalem, burned all of its fortified buildings, and destroyed everything of value. 20Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon those who survived the executions, and they served him and his descendants until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21All of this fulfilled what the Lord had predicted through Jeremiah. And so the land enjoyed its Sabbaths, and the length of the landfs desolation lasted until a 70-year long Sabbath had been completed.
22During the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in fulfillment of the message from the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord prompted Cyrus, king of Persia, to make this proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, which was also released in written form:
23An Official Statement
from Cyrus, King of Persia
All of the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by the Lord God of Heaven, and he specifically charged me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, who among the Lordfs people trusts in his God? Whoever among this group wishes to do so may travel to Jerusalem.
Ezra
Chapter 1
1During the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in fulfillment of the message from the Lord spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord prompted Cyrus, king of Persia, to make this proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, which was also released in written form:
2An Official Statement
from Cyrus, King of Persia
All of the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by the Lord God of Heaven, and he specifically charged me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3Therefore, who among the Lordfs people trusts in his God? Whoever among this group wishes to do so may travel to Jerusalem of Judah to rebuild the Temple of the Lord God of Israel, the God of Jerusalem. 4Furthermore, everyone who wishes to repatriate from any territory where he now resides is to receive assistance from his fellow residents in the form of silver, gold, equipment, and pack animals, in addition to voluntary offerings for the Temple of the God of Jerusalem.
5In response, the heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and descendants of Levi, and all those who had been prompted by God, prepared to travel to rebuild the Temple of the Lord, which was in Jerusalem. 6So all of their neighbors equipped the travelers with silver, gold, equipment, pack animals, and valuable goods, in addition to voluntary offerings.
7King Cyrus also brought out from storage the service instruments from the Temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his gods. 8Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out to Mithredath the Treasurer, had them inventoried, and had them placed in care of Sheshbazzar, governor of Judah. 9Here is a partial inventory:
Gold dishes: 30
Silver dishes: 1,000
Sacrificial knives: 29
10Gold bowls: 30
Silver bowls of another kind: 410
Miscellaneous instruments: 1,000
11The complete inventory of gold and silver vessels totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all to Jerusalem, along with the exiles from Babylon.
Chapter 2
1Here is a list of descendants of the province of Judah who returned from the captivity, from those who had been exiled. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken them to Babylon. They came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each one to his town, 2along with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. Here is the enumeration of:
The Men of Israel:
3Descendants of Parosh: 2,172
4Descendants of Shephatiah: 372
5Descendants of Arah: 775
6Descendants of Pahath-moab; that is, through Jeshua and Joab: 2,812
7Descendants of Elam: 1,254
8Descendants of Zattu: 945
9Descendants of Zaccai: 760
10Descendants of Bani: 642
11Descendants of Bebai: 623
12Descendants of Azgad: 1,222
13Descendants of Adonikam: 666
14Descendants of Bigvai: 2,056
15Descendants of Adin: 454
16Descendants of Ater through Hezekiah: 98
17Descendants of Bezai: 323
18Descendants of Jorah: 112
19Descendants of Hashum: 223
20Descendants of Gibbar: 95
21Descendants of exiles from Bethlehem: 123
22People from Netophah: 56
23People from Anathoth: 128
24Descendants of exiles from Azmaveth: 42
25Descendants of exiles from Kiriath-arim; that is, Chephirah and Beeroth: 743
26Descendants of exiles from Ramah and Geba: 621
27People from Michmas: 122
28People from Bethel and Ai: 223
29Descendants of exiles from Nebo: 52
30Descendants of exiles from Magbish: 156
31Descendants of exiles from the other Elam: 1,254
32Descendants of exiles from Harim: 320
33Descendants of exiles from Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725
34Descendants of exiles from Jericho: 345
35Descendants of exiles from Senaah: 3,630
36The Priests:
Descendants of Jedaiah from the household of Jeshua: 973
37Descendants of Immer: 1,052
38Descendants of Pashhur: 1,247
39Descendants of Harim: 1,017
40The Descendants of Levi:
Descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel; that is, descendants of Hodaviah: 74
41The Singers:
Descendants of Asaph: 128
42The Descendants of the Gatekeepers:
Descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, totaling: 139
43The Temple Servants:
Descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, and Tabbaoth.
44Descendants of Keros, Siaha, and Padon.
45Descendants of Lebanah, Hagabah, and Akkub.
46Descendants of Hagab, Shalmai, and Hanan.
47Descendants of Giddel, Gahar, and Reaiah.
48Descendants of Rezin, Nekoda, and Gazzam.
49Descendants of Uzza, Paseah, and Besai.
50Descendants of Asnah, Meunim, and Nephusim.
51Descendants of Bakbuk, Hakupha, and Harhur.
52Descendants of Bazluth, Mehida, and Harsha.
53Descendants of Barkos, Sisera, and Temah.
54Descendants of Neziah and Hatipha.
55The Descendants of Solomonfs Servants:
Descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, and Peruda.
56Descendants of Jaalah, Darkon, and Giddel.
57Descendants of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.
58All of the Temple Servants and descendants of Solomonfs servants numbered 392.
59Here is a list of returnees from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer who could not prove their ancestry and lineage from Israel:
60Descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda: 652
61Descendants of the Priests:
Descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that name.
62These people searched for their ancestral registrations but they couldnft be located. Accordingly, they were assigned an guncleanh status and couldnft be priests. 63Governor Zerubbabel also ruled that they shouldnft eat anything holy until a priest arose with Urim and Thummim.
64The entire assembly numbered 42,360, 65not including 7,337 male and female servants, along with 200 singing men and women. 66In addition, they had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
68When they arrived at the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families contributed toward building the Temple of God on its former site. 69They contributed to the treasury for this work in accordance with their ability: 61,000 golden drachma, 5,000 units of silver, and 100 priestly robes. 70As a result, the priests, descendants of Levi, certain people, the singers, door-keepers, and the Temple Servants were able to settle in their original cities, with the rest of the Israelis in their cities.
Chapter 3
1Seven months after the Israelis had settled in their cities, they all gathered together in Jerusalem as a united body. 2Then Jozadakfs son Jeshua and his brothers got up, along with Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel and his brothers. They built an altar of the God of Israel in order to offer burnt offerings, as prescribed by the Law of Moses, the man of God.
3Even though they feared the people in neighboring regions, they rebuilt the altar where it had stood before. They offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord\burnt offerings both in the morning and in the evening. 4They also observed the Festival of Tents as has been prescribed, offering a specific number of daily burnt offerings in accordance with the ordinance of each day. 5After that, they offered all of the continual burnt offerings and the New Moon sacrifices for all of the designated festivals of the Lord that were being consecrated, along with all the voluntary offerings that were dedicated to the Lord. 6They began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord from the first day of the seventh month, even though the foundation of the Temple of the Lord had not yet been laid.
7They paid masons and carpenters in cash. They paid the residents of Sidon and Tyre with food, drink, and oil, for them to bring cedar trees by sea from Lebanon to Joppa in accordance with the order they had obtained from Cyrus, king of Persia.
8Two years and two months after arriving at the site of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel, Jozadakfs son Jeshua, the relatives of the priests and descendants of Levi, and everyone else who had left the Babylonian captivity for Jerusalem appointed descendants of Levi who were 20 years old and older to oversee the work of the Lordfs Temple.
9At this time Jeshua, along with his children and relatives, and Kadmiel, with his children and the descendants of Judah, joined the family of Henadad with his children and relatives, and the descendants of Levi in overseeing the work on the Temple of God.
10After the builders laid the foundation for the Lordfs Temple, the priests stood in their ministerial robes with trumpets and the descendants of Levi (who were also descendants of Asaph) with cymbals to praise the Lord, according to instructions prepared by David, king of Israel. 11And they sang in unison to one another, giving thanks to the Lord:
gHe is good,
and his gracious love to Israel endures forever.h
And all the people shouted out loudly in praise to the Lord when the foundation of the Lordfs Temple was laid.
12Now a number of the priests, the Levities, and the leading officials of the elders\who were very elderly\had seen the former Temple with their own eyes. When they observed the foundation of the Temple being laid, they wept with a loud voice, while the rest of them shouted for joy. 13As a result, the people couldnft distinguish between the noise coming from the shouts of joy and the noise coming from the weeping people, because everyone was shouting loudly and could be heard a long way off.
Chapter 4
1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the descendants of the Babylonian captivity had built their Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families with this message: gLetfs build along with you, because, like you, we seek your God, as do you, and wefve been making sacrifices to him since the reign of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us here.h
3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel replied, gYou have no part in our plans for building a temple to our God, because we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, in accordance with the decree issued by King Cyrus, king of Persia.h
4After this, the non-Israeli inhabitants of the land undermined the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction work 5by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.
6At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged a formal accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7While Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their co-conspirators wrote in the Aramaic language and script to King Artaxerxes of Persia.
Aramaic:
8Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9From Governor Rehum
Shimshai the scribe
The rest of their colleagues\
Judges, envoys, officials, Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites) 10and many other nations whom the great and honorable Osnappar deported and resettled in Samaria and in the rest of the province beyond the Euphrates River.
11This is the text of the letter they sent.
To: King Artaxerxes
From: Your servants, the men of the province beyond the Euphrates River.
12May the king be advised that the Jews who came from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, having completed its walls and repaired its foundations.
13May the king be further advised that if this city is rebuilt and its walls erected, its citizens will refuse to pay tributes, taxes, and tariffs, thereby restricting royal revenues.
14Now, because we are royal employees and are committed to preserving the reputation of the king, we have written to the king and have declared its contents to be true, 15urging that a search may be made in the official registers of your predecessors. You will discover in the registers that this city is a rebellious city, that it is damaging to both kings and provinces, that it has been moved to sedition from time immemorial, and that because of this it was destroyed.
16We certify to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will lose your land holdings in the province beyond the Euphrates River.
17The king replied:
To: Governor Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues living in Samaria, and the remainder living beyond the Euphrates River.
Greetings:
18The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered. 19Pursuant to my edict, an investigation has been undertaken. It is noted that this city has fomented rebellion against kings from time immemorial, and that rebellion and sedition has occurred in it.
20Powerful kings have reigned over Jerusalem, including ruling over all lands beyond the Euphrates River. Furthermore, taxes, tribute, and tolls have been paid to them.
21Accordingly, issue an order to force these men to cease their work so that this city is not rebuilt until you receive further notice from me.
22Be diligent and take precautions so that you do not neglect your responsibility in this matter. Why should the kingdom sustain any more damage?
23As soon as a copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, to Shimshai the scribe, and to their colleagues, they traveled quickly to Jerusalem and compelled the Jews to cease by force of arms. 24As a result, work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem ceased and did not begin again until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
Chapter 5
1At that time, the prophets Haggai and Iddofs son Zechariah prophesied specifically to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. 2So Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel and Jozadakfs son Jeshua restarted construction of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were there supporting them.
3Right about then, Trans-Euphrates Governor Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues approached and challenged them. They asked, gWho authorized you to build this Temple and to reconstruct this wall?h 4In answer, we responded with a list of the names of the men who were building the structure. 5But God watched over the Jewish leaders, who could not be forced to stop working until Darius received a report and responded in reply.
6Here is a copy of the letter that Trans-Euphrates Governor Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and his colleagues the Trans-Euphrates Persians sent to King Darius. 7The letter sent to him was written like this:
To: King Darius:
Greetings!
8This is to inform the king that we traveled to the Temple of the great God in the Judean province, which is being built with large stones and reinforced with wooden beams in its walls. The work proceeds diligently and is in capable hands.
9We asked the elders, gWho authorized you to build this Temple and to reinforce these walls?h 10We also asked them their names so that we could certify the identities of their leaders to you.
11In answer they responded, gWe are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the Temple that was built many years ago by a great king of Israel. 12But because our predecessors provoked the God of Heaven to become angry, he handed them over to the control of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this Temple and transported the people to Babylon.
13However, during King Cyrusf first year\that same King Cyrus of Babylon\issued a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God. 14He delivered into the care of Sheshbazzar (whom he appointed governor) the gold and silver utensils that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Jerusalem Temple and brought into the Babylonian temple.
15gAnd Cyrus told him, eTake these utensils, go to Jerusalem, and carry them to the Temple, after the Temple of God has been built in its appropriate place.f
16gThen this very same Sheshbazzar arrived and laid the foundations for the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Since that time until now the Temple has been under construction and is not yet completed.h
17Accordingly, with your approval we suggest that a search be conducted within the kingfs treasury at Babylon to verify whether or not King Cyrus ever issued such a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God in Jerusalem. Then please notify us concerning the kingfs pleasure in this matter.
Chapter 6
1Then King Darius issued an order to search the Hall of Records where the Babylonian archives were stored. 2The following was found written on a scroll in Ecbatana at the summer palace of the province of Media:
3Date: First year of Cyrus the King
From: King Cyrus
Subject: The Temple of God in Jerusalem
Let the Temple be rebuilt where they offered sacrifices. Let the foundations thereof be laid with a height of ninety feet and a width of ninety feet, 4constructed with three layers of foundation stone interlaced with a row of new timber, the expenses for which are to be paid from the kingfs treasury.
5Furthermore, let the gold and silver utensils from the Temple of God (that Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem and carried off to Babylon) be brought back to the Temple at Jerusalem and restored to their respective places in the Temple of God.
6To: Tattenai, Trans-Euphrates Governor, Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues living beyond the Euphrates River.
Stay away from there!
7Leave the work on this Temple of God alone!
Let the Jewish governor and the Jewish leaders build this Temple of God on its site.
8Furthermore, I hereby decree what you are to do for the Jewish leaders who are building this Temple of God: you are to pay the expenses of these men out of the kingfs assets from taxes collected beyond the River so that they are not hindered.
9And be sure that you donft fail to provide their daily needs\including young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven, along with wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as the priests in Jerusalem tell you\ 10so they may approach the God of Heaven with fragrant sacrifices and pray for the life of this king and his sons.
11I hereby also decree that whoever shall alter the wording of this edict, let his residence be torn down for timber to build a gallows, hang him on it, and turn his home into an outhouse. 12And may the God who causes his Name to rest there destroy any king or people who might attempt to destroy this Temple of God in Jerusalem.
I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be carried out quickly.
13Because of what King Darius had mandated, Tattenai, the Trans-Euphrates Governor, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues carried out his orders quickly.
14And so the Jewish leaders continued their building, and prospered because of the prophecies of Haggai the prophet and Iddofs son Zechariah. They completed the rebuilding in accordance with the commandment from the God of Israel and the edicts of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia. 15The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar during the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
16The Israelis\the priests, the descendants of Levi, and the other related descendants who had returned from captivity\celebrated with joy at the dedication of the Temple of God. 17At the dedication offering of the Temple of God, they presented 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs, along with a sin offering of twelve male goats for the entire nation of Israel according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18Furthermore, they established the priests in their divisions and the descendants of Levi in their positions for the service of God conducted at Jerusalem, as is proscribed in the Book of Moses.
19The former exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month 20because the priests and descendants of Levi had purified themselves together\all of them were pure\and they killed the Passover lamb for every former exile, for their relatives the priests, and for themselves.
21So the Israelis who had returned from captivity ate the Passover with all who had consecrated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. 22Then they observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them glad, turning the heart of the king of Assyria toward them and strengthening them for their work on the Temple of God, the God of Israel.
Chapter 7
1After all of this, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Seraiahfs son Ezra (who was the grandson of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest) 6left Babylon. He was a skillful scribe of the Law of Moses that the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him everything he had requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. 7Some of the descendants of Israel also left for Jerusalem, including the priests, the descendants of Levi, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Temple Servants, during the seventh year of king Artaxerxes.
8He arrived in Jerusalem during the fifth month of the seventh year of the kingfs reign. 9On the first day of the first month he left Babylon and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, since the beneficent hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had set his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, to obey it, and to teach Godfs statutes and judgments in Israel.
11Here is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest-scribe, a scholar in matters concerning the commandments of the Lord and concerning his statutes pertaining to Israel:
12From: Artaxerxes, King of Kings
To: Ezra, the Priest, a scholar in matters concerning the laws of the God of Heaven
Greetings!
13I hereby decree that all of the people of Israel\ along with their priests and descendants of Levi in my kingdom\who are determined to return to Jerusalem with you may do so. 14You have authority to act for the king and for his Council of Seven to conduct an inquiry concerning Judah and Jerusalem in accordance with the Law of your God, which is in your possession. 15You are carrying silver and gold that the King and his advisors have freely given to the God of Israel, whose Temple is in Jerusalem, 16together with all of the silver and gold that you can raise in the province of Babylon, plus the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests, contributed for the Temple of their God, which is in Jerusalem.
17Accordingly, you are to exercise due diligence to utilize this money to purchase bulls, rams, lambs, grain offerings, and drink offerings, and to offer them upon the altar of the Temple of your God, which is in Jerusalem.
18Furthermore, the balance remaining of the silver and gold may be used for whatever other purpose you and your people desire, as long as such use is consistent with the will of your God.
19Furthermore, you are to deliver to the God of Jerusalem the vessels for the service of the Temple of your God that have been given to you.
20Furthermore, provide from the royal treasury whatever else may be needed for the Temple of your God.
21I, Artaxerxes, in my capacity as king, hereby decree to all royal treasuries beyond the Euphrates River that whatever Ezra the priest-scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven, may require of you are to be performed with all due diligence, 22up to 100 silver talents, 100 measures of wheat, 100 measures of wine, 100 measures of oil, and salt without limitation. 23Whatever is commanded by the God of Heaven is to be done with all due diligence for the Temple of the God of Heaven, or wrath will come against the kingfs realm and his sons.
24Furthermore, we decree that with respect to any of the priests, descendants of Levi, singers, gatekeepers, Temple Servants, or other servants of this Temple of God, it is not to be lawful to impose any tribute, tax, or toll on them.
25And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom given to you by your God, are to appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people beyond the Euphrates River. All of them are to know the laws of your God, and you are to instruct those who do not know them. 26Whoever refuses to practice the law of your God and the law of the king is to see judgment executed quickly, whether to death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.
27Blessed be the Lord God of our ancestors,
who placed this decree into the kingfs heart
to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem
28and who showed gracious love to me before the king,
before his advisors,
and before all of the kingfs mighty officials.
And I was strengthened because the hand of the Lord my God was upon me. So I gathered together the leaders of Israel to go with me.
Chapter 8
1These are the leaders of the families listed among those who left Babylon with me during the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2From Phinehasfs descendants: Gershom. From Ithamarfs descendants: Daniel. From Davidfs descendants: Hattush. 3From Shecaniahfs descendants and from Paroshfs descendants: Zechariah, along with 150 men whose genealogies had been certified. 4From Pahath-moabfs descendants: Zerahiahfs son Eliehoenai and 200 men with him. 5From Zattufs descendants: Jahazielfs son Shecaniah and 300 men with him. 6From Adinfs descendants: Jonathanfs son Ebed and 50 men with him. 7From Elamfs descendants: Athaliahfs son Jeshaiah and 70 men with him. 8From Shephatiahfs descendants: Michaelfs son Zebadiah and 80 men with him. 9From Joabfs descendants: Jehielfs son Obadiah and 218 men with him. 10From Banifs descendants: Josiphiahfs son Shelomith and 160 men with him. 11From Bebaifs descendants: Bebaifs son Zechariah and 28 men with him. 12From Azgadfs descendants: Hakkatanfs son Johanan and 110 men with him. 13From Adonikamfs later descendants: Eliphelet, Jeuel, Shemaiah, and 60 men with him. 14From Bigvaifs descendants: Uthai, Zabbud, and 70 men with him.
15I gathered them together at the river that flows toward Ahava, where we camped three days. Afterwards, I examined the people and the priests, but found no descendants of Levi there. 16So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were senior leaders, as well as for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of discernment. 17I told them to go see Iddo, a leader of Casiphia, and tell him and his relatives (administrators of Casiphia) to bring us men who could serve in the Temple of our God. 18By the grace of our God they brought back a discerning man from the descendants of Mahli, a descendant of Israelfs son Levi, along with Sherebiah and eighteen of his sons and brothers; 19Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari and 20 of his brothers and their sons; 20220 descendants of the Temple Servants whom David and the leaders had appointed to serve the descendants of Levi, listed by name.
21Then I called for a fast there at the Ahava River so we could humble ourselves before our God and seek from him an appropriate way for us and our little ones to live, and how we should guard our personal wealth, 22because I was ashamed to ask the king for a contingent of soldiers and cavalry to protect us from enemies we might encounter on the way. After all, we had told the king, gThe hand of our God seeks the good of all who seek him, but his power and anger are against everyone who forsakes him.h 23So we fasted and asked our God about this, and he listened to us.
24Next I selected twelve of the chief priests\Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them\ 25and divided between them the silver, the gold, the vessels, and the offering for the Temple of our God which the king had offered, along with his advisors, his senior officials, and all of Israel assembled there. 26I divided among them 650 silver talents, silver utensils weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 27 20 gold basins weighing 1,000 darics each, and two vessels made of polished brass, as valuable as gold.
28I told them, gYou are consecrated to the Lord, and the vessels are also consecrated. The silver and the gold are a freely given offering to the Lord God of your ancestors. 29Guard and protect them until you disperse them to the chief priests, the descendants of Levi, and to the family leaders of Israel at Jerusalem in the chambers of the Temple of the Lord.h
30So the priests and descendants of Levi took possession of the silver, the gold, and the vessels in order to bring them to Jerusalem, to the Temple of our God.
31Then we left the Ahava River for Jerusalem on the twelfth day of the first month. Our Godfs protection was with us, and he delivered us from the enemyfs power and from ambush along the way.
32We arrived in Jerusalem and remained there three days. 33On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the vessels were distributed at the Temple of our God into the care of Uriahfs son Meremoth the priest, Phinehasf son Eleazar, Jeshuafs son Jozabad, and Binnuifs son Noadiah, the descendants of Levi. 34Distribution was according to inventory and weight, with all weights being recorded at that time.
35The descendants of those who had been taken into captivity and who had returned from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all of Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering\all of them burnt offerings to the Lord. 36Then they delivered copies of the kingfs orders to the kingfs officers, and governors on this side of the Euphrates River. The orders were in support of the people and Godfs Temple.
Chapter 9
1After these things occurred, certain officials approached me and said gThe people of Israel, the priests, and the descendants of Levi have not separated themselves from the people of the lands or from the detestable behavior of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, 2because they and their sons have married foreign women. As a result, the holy people have mingled themselves among the peoples of these lands. As a matter of fact, the senior officials and the rulers have been foremost in this sin.h
3When I heard this, I tore both my garment and robe, plucked hair from both my head and my beard, and collapsed in shock! 4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered together as a group because of the sin committed by those who had been led astray. As for me, I remained seated, in shock, until the evening sacrifice.
5At the time of the evening sacrifice, I arose from my discouragement. Still in my torn garment and robe, I fell to my knees with my hands outstretched to the Lord my God, 6and said,
gMy God, I am too ashamed and hurt to turn to you, because wefre in our iniquities over our heads. Furthermore, my God, our sins have grown as high as the heavens. 7We have lived in great sin from the days of our ancestors even until today, and because of those iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered over to foreign kings, for execution, for captivity, for plunder, and for humiliation, as is the case today. 8Though now, for a moment, grace has been shown from the Lord our God, leaving a few survivors to escape, and providing us a secure hold in his Holy Place, so that our God might enlighten us and give us relief from our servitude. 9Even though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. Instead, he has extended gracious love to us in the presence of the kings of Persia, to grant us revival, to set up the Temple of our God, to repair its damage, and to give us a protective wall for Judah and Jerusalem.
10Now, our God, what can we say besides this? Because we have abandoned your commandments 11that you gave in the writings of your servants, the prophets:
eThe land you are entering to possess is a morally unclean land due to the moral uncleanness of the peoples of the lands\along with their abominations\that has filled it from one end to the other with their impurities. 12So, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor marry their daughters to your sons, and under no circumstances are you to seek their well-being or their wealth, so that you may remain strong, enjoying the best things the land has to give, and so that you may establish an inheritance for your children forever.f
13gAfter all that has happened to us because of our evil behavior, and because of our great sin\considering that you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us this deliverance\ 14should we violate your commandments by intermarrying with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you had consumed us, with not even a remnant surviving to escape?
15Lord God of Israel, you are just: As a result, we remain here today delivered. Look at us! Because of our sin, we cannot stand in your presence as a result of everything that has happened.h
Chapter 10
1Now while Ezra was praying and confessing in tears, having prostrated himself to the ground before the Temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelis\men, women, and children\gathered around him. Indeed, the people were crying bitterly.
2Jehielfs son Shecaniah, one of Elamfs descendants, responded to Ezra: gWe have sinned against our God by marrying foreign wives from the people of the land, but even now there is hope in Israel, despite this. 3So letfs make a promise to our God by which we divorce all of these foreign wives\as well as those born to them\in accordance with the counsel of our Lord and of those who tremble at our Godfs command. Furthermore, let it be done according to the Law. 4So get up\itfs your responsibility! Wefre with you. Be strong, and get to work.h
5So Ezra got up and made the chief priests, the descendants of Levi, and all of Israel vow to carry out everything they promised. And so they agreed. 6Ezra arose in front of the Temple of God to visit the apartment of Eliashibfs son Jehohanan. While there, he neither ate nor drank because he was in mourning over the sins of those who had returned from exile. 7Then they sent word throughout Judah and Jerusalem to everyone who had returned from the exile, to gather together in Jerusalem. 8Whoever would not come within three days would forfeit his assets and be separated from the community of the returning exiles, just as the high officials and elders had advised.
9Less than three days later, all of the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered together on the twentieth day of the ninth month. Everyone sat in the plaza of the Temple of God, trembling because of everything that was happening, and also because it was raining heavily. 10Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them, gYou have sinned by marrying foreign wives, thereby increasing the transgressions of Israel. 11Now confess this to the Lord God of your ancestors, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from foreign wives.h
12At this, the entire community responded with a loud cry, gWe will do just as youfve spoken! 13However, many people are involved, and itfs raining heavily. Furthermore, this is not just a matter of a day or two of work, because many of us have sinned in this. 14So letfs have our officials remain on behalf of the whole community. Then all who have married foreign wives are to come appear at specific times before the elders and judges of each city until the fierce anger of our God has been turned away from us in this matter.h
15Only Asahelfs son Jonathan and Tikvahfs son Jahzeiah opposed this, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the descendant of Levi.
16So those who had returned from exile did this. Ezra the priest and leaders of certain ancestral groups listed by name devoted themselves to examine the situation on the first day of the tenth month. 17By the first day of the first month they concluded their investigation of all of the men who had married foreign wives.
18Here is a list of priestly descendants who were found to have married foreign women. From Jeshuafs descendants: Jozadakfs son and his brothers Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19Pleading guilty, they promised to divorce their wives. Then they offered a ram from their flocks for their offense.
20From Immerfs descendants: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21From Harimfs descendants: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22From Pashhurfs descendants: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23From the descendants of Levi: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25From the Israelis: Paroshfs descendants: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah. 26From Elamfs descendants: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah. 27From Zattufs descendants: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. 28From Bebaifs descendants: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29From Banifs descendants: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth. 30From Pahath-moabfs descendants: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 31From Harimfs descendants: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33From Hashumfs descendants: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34From Banifs descendants: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Matanza, Maternai, Jas, 38Ban?, Binai, Shihezi, 39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43From Nebofs descendants: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44All of these had married foreign wives, and some of them had children by them.
Nehemiah
Chapter 1
1In this document, I, Hacaliahfs son Nehemiah, recount what occurred during the twentieth year of Artaxerxes.
In the month of Chislev, while I was in Shushan at the palace, 2Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, about those who had survived the Babylonian captivity, and about Jerusalem.
3They told me, gThe survivors of the captivity there in the province are living in great distress and shame. Furthermore, the Jerusalem wall remains broken down and its gates have been burned by fire.h
4When I heard this, I sat down and cried, mourning for a number of days while I fasted and prayed in the presence of the God of Heaven. 5I said, gPlease, Lord, God of Heaven, the great and fearsome God who keeps the covenant, showing gracious love to those who love you and keep your commands, 6please turn your attention to observe carefully and listen to the prayer of your servant today that I am presenting to you day and night on behalf of your servants, the Israelis.
gI confess the sins that we Israelis have committed against you. Both I and my fatherfs house have sinned. 7We have abandoned you by not keeping your commands, your ceremonies, and your judgments that you proscribed to your servant Moses. 8Please remember what you spoke in commanding your servant Moses. You said,
eIf you rebel, I will scatter you among the nations 9but if you return to me, keeping my commands and doing them, even if your exiled people are in the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to establish my Name.f
10These are your servants as well as your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
11gAnd now, Lord, I ask you to listen to the prayer of your servant\and to the prayers of your servants who delight in revering your Name. I ask you, please prosper your servant today by granting him to receive favor from this man.h
Now I was the kingfs senior security advisor.
Chapter 2
1It came about in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, during the month of Nissan, the king was about to drink some wine that I was preparing for him. Now I had never looked troubled in his presence.
2The king asked me, gWhy do you look so troubled, since youfre not ill? This cannot be anything else but troubles of the heart.h
Then I was filled with fear. 3I replied to the king, gMay the king live forever. Why shouldnft I be troubled, since the city where my ancestral sepulchers are located lies waste, with its gates burned by fire?h
4The king answered, gWhat do you want?h
So I prayed to the God of heaven 5and I replied to the king, gIf it seems good to you, and if your servant has found favor with you, would you send me to Judah, to the city where my ancestral sepulchers are located, so I can rebuild it?h
6With his queen seated beside him, the king asked me, gHow long will your journey take, and when will you return?h The king thought it was a good idea to send me, so I presented him with a prepared plan.
7I also asked the king, gIf it seems good to you, order that letters of authorization be given me for the Trans-Euphrates governors, so they will allow me to pass through to Judah, 8along with a letter to Asaph, the royal Commissioner of Forests, so that he will supply me with timber to craft beams for the gatehouses of the Temple, for the city walls, and for the house in which I will be living.h
The king granted this for me, according to the good hand of my God. 9So I went to the Trans-Euphrates governors and gave them the kingfs letters of authorization. The king also sent army officers and cavalry to accompany me.
10But when Sanballat the Horonite and his servant Tobiah the Ammonite heard of this, they were greatly distressed because someone had come to do good for the Israelis. 11I arrived in Jerusalem and remained there for three days. 12Then I got up at night, along with a few men with me. I had not confided to any person what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. Furthermore, there was no other animal with me except for the one I was riding.
13So I went out during the night through the Valley Gate toward Dragonfs Well, and from there to the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and burned by fire. 14I proceeded to the Fountain Gate, and then to the Kingfs Pool, but there wasnft sufficient clearance for the animal I was riding to pass. 15I traveled the valley by night to inspect the wall, returning through the Valley Gate. 16The local officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done\I informed neither the Judeans, nor the priests, nor the nobles, nor the officials, nor any of the rest who would be doing the work.
17Later I told them, gYou all are watching the predicament wefre in, how Jerusalem lies desolate, with its gates burned by fire. Letfs rebuild the Jerusalem wall so wefre no longer a disgrace.h 18Then I told them how good my God had been to me, and about what the king had told me.
They replied, gLetfs get out there and build!h So they encouraged themselves to do good.
19But when Sanballat the Horonite, his servant Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they jeered at us and despised us when they said, gWhat is this thing that youfre doing? Youfre rebelling against the king, arenft you?h
20In reply to them, I said, gThe God of Heaven will prosper us. Thatfs why wefre preparing to build. But as far as youfre concerned, there exists no ancestral heritage, no legal right, nor any historic claim in Jerusalem.
Chapter 3
1So Eliashib the high priest came forward, along with his fellow priests, and reconstructed the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and installed its doors. They also consecrated the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. 2Men from Jericho did repairs next to him, and Imrifs son Zaccur did repairs next to them.
3The Fish Gate was repaired by Hassenaahfs sons. They built its framework and installed its doors, including locks and security bars, 4with Uriahfs son Meremoth (who was also a grandson of Hakkoz) next to them, Berechiahfs son Meshullam (who was also a grandson of Meshezabel) next to them, and next to him Baanafs son Zadok. 5Next to them the Tekoites worked valiantly, even though their leading officials werenft fully dedicated to the work of their lord.
6Paseahfs son Joiada and Besodeiahfs son Meshullam repaired the Old Gate. They built its framework and installed its doors, including locks and security bars. 7Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite were working with men from Gibeon and men from Mizpah under the Trans-Euphrates regional governor. 8Nearby, Harhaiahfs son Uzziel the goldsmith was carrying on repairs, and next to him Hananiah, a perfume-maker, rebuilt Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
9Next to him, Hurfs son Rephaiah, ruling official for half of the Jerusalem district, did repairs. 10Then next to them, Harumaphfs son Jedaiah did repairs opposite his house, and next to him Hashabneiahfs son Hattush carried on repairs. 11Harimfs son Malchijah and Pahath-moabfs son Hasshub repaired another section, along with the Tower of the Ovens, 12and next to him Halloheshfs son Shallum, ruling official for the other half of the Jerusalem district, did repairs, as did his daughters.
13Hanun and the residents of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate, reconstructing it and installing its doors, including locks and security bars. They also rebuilt 500 yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. 14Rechabfs descendant Malchijah, ruling official of the Beth-haccherem district, repaired the Dung Gate, reconstructing it, installing its doors, its locks, and its security bars.
15Colhozehfs son Shallum, ruling official of the Mizpah district, repaired the Fountain Gate, reconstructing it, installing its doors, its locks, and its security bars, as well as the Pool of Shelach near the royal garden as far as the stairway that descends from the city of David.
16Next to him Azbukfs son Nehemiah, ruling official of half of the Beth-zur district, carried on repairs as far as the tombs of David, then to the artificial pool that had been installed there, and then as far as the military barracks. 17Next to him the descendants of Levi, led by Banifs son Rehum, carried on repairs. Next to him Hashabiah, ruling official for half of the Keilah district, did repairs for his district. 18Next to him their brothers, led by Henadadfs son Bavvai, ruling official for the other half of the Keilah district, carried on repairs. 19Next to him Jeshuafs son Ezer, ruling official of Mizpah, repaired another section near the ascent to the armory at the Angle. 20Next to him Zabbaifs son Baruch worked valiantly on another section from the angle of the wall as far as the door to the house belonging to Eliashib the high priest.
21Then next to him Uriahfs son Meremoth, grandson of Hakkoz, repaired another section from the door of Eliashibfs house as far as the rear of the property, 22Next to him the priests, men from the plain, carried on repairs. 23Next to them Benjamin and Hasshub carried on repairs near their house, followed by Maaseiahfs son Azariah, grandson of Ananiah, who worked beside his own house. 24Following him, Henadadfs son Binnui repaired another section from Azariahfs house to the angle of the wall, and then to the corner. 25Uzaifs son Palal carried on repairs over against the angle of the wall at the tower that stands out from the kingfs upper palace, which is located by the royal guardfs court. Next to him, Paroshfs son Pedaiah carried on repairs. 26(Now the Temple Servants were living on the Ophel as far as the Water Gate that faces eastward with its prominent tower.) 27Next to Pedaiah, the Tekoites repaired another section from the prominent tower as far as the wall of the Ophel.
28The priests carried on repairs from above the Horse Gate as far as their own houses. 29Then next to them, Immerfs son Zadok did repairs as far as his own house. Next to him, Shecaniahfs son Shemaiah, custodian of the East Gate, carried on repairs. 30Next to him, Shelemiahfs son Hananiah and Zalaphfs sixth son Hanun repaired another section. Next to him, Berechiahfs son Meshullam carried on repairs up to his chamber. 31Next to him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, carried on repairs up to the house of the Temple Servants and the merchants, up to the Muster Gate as far as the ascent to the corner. 32Between the ascent of the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants carried on repairs.
Chapter 4
1When Sanballat heard that we were reconstructing the wall, he flew into a rage, became indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2He addressed his allies and the Samaritan officials, saying gWhat are these pathetic Jews doing? Are they intending to rebuild it by themselves? Do they intend to offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a single day? Can they make stones from this burned out rubble?h
3Tobiah the Ammonite stood to the side, commenting, gIf a fox were to jump onto what theyfre building, it would collapse their stone wall!h
4gListen, our God, because we are being mocked. Let their insults fall back on them, and let them be dragged away as captives into exile. 5Donft atone their iniquity, and donft let their sin be blotted out from before you, because they have demoralized the builders.h
6So we rebuilt the wall, completing it halfway up, because the people were committed to working.
7But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair work on the Jerusalem wall was progressing and that its breaches were being repaired, they flew into a rage. 8So they all conspired together to invade and fight against Jerusalem, creating confusion there.
9But we prayed to our God. We also set up guards day and night because of them.
10Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, gThe builders are tired and therefs so much rubble that we canft reconstruct the wall!h
11Our enemies said, gBefore they notice or see us, wefll penetrate their midst, kill them, and stop the work!h
12The Jews who lived near them kept coming to us, reporting at least ten times, gTheyfll attack us from every direction.h 13So I stationed the people by families behind the wall in the lower exposed areas, equipping them with their swords, spears, and bows.
14Looking things over, I stood up and spoke to the officials, the military leaders, and the rest of the people: gDonft fear them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.h
15Our opponents heard that we had learned about them, that God had brought their plans to failure, and that each and every one of us had come to work on the wall. 16From that day on, half of my helpers engaged in the work while the other half kept spears, shields, bows, and armor ready. The senior officials backed all of the Judeans 17who worked on the wall. Those who carried building materials worked with one hand, carrying a spear in the other. 18Each builder worked with a sword strapped to his side, while a trumpeter remained beside me to sound an alarm.
19I told the officials, rulers, and the rest of the people, gThe project is large and extensive, and we are separated from each other on the wall, 20so wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, come over to us, and our God will fight for us!h 21So we worked hard, half of us holding spears from dawn to dusk.
22At the same time I told the people, gLetfs have everyone sleep at night inside Jerusalem with their servants, so they can guard us at night and work during the day. 23No one\neither I, my allies, my servants, nor the bodyguards who accompanied me\changed clothes. Everyone carried a weapon even while going for water.
Chapter 5
1Now the people along with their spouses complained loudly against their fellow Jews, 2because certain of them kept claiming, gSince we have so many sons and daughters, we must get some grain so we can eat and survive.h
3Others were saying, gWefre having to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes so we can buy grain during this famine.h
4Still others were saying gWefve borrowed money against our fields and vineyards to pay the kingfs taxes. 5Now our bodies are no different than the bodies of our relatives, and our children are like their children. Nevertheless, wefre about to force our sons and daughters into slavery, and some of our daughters are already in bondage. Itfs beyond our power to do anything about it, because our fields and vineyards belong to others.h
6I became very livid when I heard their complaining and these charges. 7So after thinking it over carefully, I accused the officials and nobles openly, gEvery one of you is charging your fellow countrymen interest!h So I opened a public investigation against them.
8I accused them, gTo the best of our ability, wefve been buying back our fellow Jews who had been sold to foreigners. Even now youfre selling your fellow countrymen, only for them to be sold back to us!h They kept quiet and never spoke a word.
9So I said, gWhat youfre doing isnft right! Shouldnft you live in the fear of our God to avoid shame from our foreign enemies? 10Ifm also lending money and grain, as are my fellow-Jews and my servants, but letfs not charge interest. 11So today please restore to them their fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and homes, along with the one percent interest charge that youfve assessed them on the grain, wine, and oil.h
12They responded, gWe will restore these things, and will assess no interest charges against them. We will do what you are requesting!h
So I called the priests and made them take an oath to fulfill this promise. 13I also shook my robes, and said, gMay God shake out every man from his house and his possessions who does not keep this promise. May he be emptied out and shaken just like this.h
All the assembly said, gAmen!h and praised the Lord. And the people kept their promise.
14In addition, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah (that is, during the twelve years from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes), neither I nor my relatives relied on the provisions allotted to the governor. 15Nevertheless, the former governors before me placed a heavy burden on the people. They received food and wine, plus a tax of 40 shekels of silver. Even their young men took advantage of the people, but I never did so because I feared God.
16Also, as I continued to work on the wall, we purchased no land, and all of my young men were employed in the work. 17I fed 150 Jews and officials every day, not counting those who came from the nations around us. 18Our daily requirements were one ox and six choice sheep, along with various kinds of poultry prepared for me. Every ten days there was a delivery of an abundant supply of wine. Despite all this, I refused the governorfs allotment, because demands on the people were heavy.
19gRemember me with favor, my God, for everything Ifve done for this people.h
Chapter 6
1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had completed the wall and that no break remained in it (even though by that time I hadnft yet installed the doors in the gates), 2Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying gCome, letfs meet together at Kephirim on the Ono Plain.h But they were just trying to do me harm.
3So I sent messengers to them, replying gI am involved in a great endeavor, so I canft leave. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?h 4They sent me this message four times, and I answered them the same way.
5Then Sanballat sent his assistant to me the fifth time. But this time the letter was sent unsealed, and 6in it was written:
It is reported among the nations\and Gashmu confirms this\that you and the Jews are planning a revolt, and that youfre rebuilding the wall in order to declare yourself king. According to these reports, 7you also have appointed prophets to proclaim about you in Jerusalem, gThere is a king in Judah!h Since these words are being reported to the king, come and letfs meet together.
8I sent word back to him, gNothing has happened as youfve claimed. Youfre making up these charges in your imagination.h 9For they all were trying to make us afraid by saying, gTheir hands will become tired from laboring, so the work wonft be completed.h
gTherefore, Lord, strengthen my hands!h
10Later I visited Delaiahfs son Shemaiah, a grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined at home. He kept urging me, gLetfs meet together at the house of God, within the Temple, and take refuge there, because theyfre coming to kill you. In fact, theyfre coming at night to kill you!h
11But I asked him, gShould a man like me run? Should someone like me run into the Temple to save his life? I wonft go there!h 12I perceived that God had not sent him. Instead, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to pronounce this prophecy against me. 13He had been hired to make me afraid so I would sin by doing what he suggested. Then they could create a slanderous report to use against me.
14gRemember me, my God, and take note of what Tobiah and Sanballat are doing. Also take note of the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who intend to make me afraid.h
15So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul in 52 days.
16When all of our enemies\including the surrounding nations\heard this, they became very discouraged, since they saw that the work had been done by our God. 17Meanwhile, at that time the nobles of Judah continued to send many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah kept sending letters to them. 18For many Judeans had sworn allegiance to him, since he was son-in-law to Arahfs son Shecaniah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Berechiahfs son Meshullam. 19Furthermore, they kept reporting Tobiahfs good deeds to me, and kept repeating what I told him. Tobiah kept sending letters to intimidate me.
Chapter 7
1After the wall had been completed and its doors installed, then the gatekeepers, singers, and descendants of Levi were appointed. 2I appointed my brother Hanani and fortress commander Hananiah to be over Jerusalem, since he was a faithful person who revered God more than many others did. 3I charged them, gDo not open the gates of Jerusalem until mid-day. Until then, let everyone stand watch, keeping the gates shut and locked. Appoint security watches from those who live in Jerusalem. Everyone should maintain his own watch near his house.h 4Even though the city was large and spread out, not many people were living there and not many houses had been built. 5So my God gave me the idea to gather together the nobles, the officials, and the people so they could be registered according to their genealogies.
I found a register of the original inhabitants in which there was recorded 6a list of descendants of the province of Judah who returned from captivity, from those who had been exiled by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They had come back to Jerusalem and to Judah, each one to his town. 7They were coming with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. Here is the enumeration of:
The Men of Israel:
8Paroshfs descendants: 2,172
9Shephatiahfs descendants: 372
10Arahfs descendants: 652
11Pahath-moabfs descendants; that is, through Jeshua and Joab: 2,818
12Elamfs descendants: 1,254
13Zattufs descendants: 845
14Zaccaifs descendants: 760
15Binnuifs descendants: 648
16Bebaifs descendants: 628
17Azgadfs descendants: 2,322
18Adonikamfs descendants: 667
19Bigvaifs descendants: 2,067
20Adinfs descendants: 655
21Aterfs descendants through Hezekiah: 98
22Hashumfs descendants: 328
23Bezaifs descendants: 324
24Hariphfs descendants: 112
25Gibeonfs descendants: 95
26People from Bethlehem and Netophah: 188
27People from Anathoth: 128
28People from Beth-azmaveth: 42
29People from Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: 743
30People from Ramah and Geba: 621
31People from Michmas: 122
32People from Bethel and Ai: 123
33People from the other Nebo: 52
34The other Elamfs descendants: 1,254
35Harimfs descendants: 320
36Jerichofs descendants: 345
37Descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 721
38Senaahfs descendants: 3,930
39The Priests:
Jedaiahfs descendants from the household of Jeshua: 973
40Immerfs descendants: 1,052
41Pashhurfs descendants: 1,247
42Harimfs descendants: 1,017
43The Descendants of Levi:
Jeshua of Kadmielfs descendants: that is, Hodevahfs descendants: 74
44The Singers:
Asaphfs descendants: 148
45The Gatekeepers:
Shallumfs descendants, Aterfs descendants, Talmonfs descendants, Akkubfs descendants, Hatitafs descendants, Shobaifs descendants: 138
46The Temple Servants:
Descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, and Tabbaoth.
47Descendants of Keros, Sia, and Padon.
48Descendants of Lebanah, Hagabah, and Shalmai.
49Descendants of Hanan, Giddel, and Gahar.
50Descendants of Reaiah, Rezin, and Nekoda.
51Descendants of Gazzam, Uzza, and Paseah.
52Descendants of Besai, Meunim, and Nephushesim,
53Descendants of Bakbuk, Hakupha, and Harhur.
54Descendants of Bazlith, Mehida, and Harsha.
55Descendants of Barkos, Sisera, and Temah.
56Descendants of Neziah and Hatipha.
57The Descendants of Solomonfs Servants:
Descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, and Perida,
58Descendants of Jaala, Darkon, and Giddel,
59Descendants of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ammon;
60All of the Temple Servants and descendants of Solomonfs servants numbered 392.
61Here is a list of returnees from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, who could not prove their ancestry and lineage from Israel:
62Descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda: 642
63Of the Priests:
Descendants of Habaiah, Koz, and Barzillai, who married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that name.
64These people searched for their ancestral records, but they couldnft be located. Accordingly, they were considered disqualified from the priesthood. 65The governor ordered them not to eat anything holy until a priest would be installed with Urim and Thummim.
66The entire assembly numbered 42,360, 67not including their 7,337 male and female servants. They had 245 men and women singers. 68They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
70Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor contributed 1,000 gold drachmas to the treasury, along with 50 basins, and 530 priestly garments. 71Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver units for the work. 72The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver units, and 67 priestly garments.
73The priests, descendants of Levi, gatekeepers, singers, some of the people, the Temple Servants, and all the Israelis settled in their cities. Seven months later, the Israelis had settled in their own cities. 
Chapter 8
1All the people gathered as a united body into the plaza in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Law before the assembled people. Both men and women were in attendance, as well as all who could understand what they were hearing.
3Ezra read from it, facing the plaza in front of the Water Gate, from early in the morning until mid-day in the presence of the men and women, as well as all who could understand. All the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden rostrum erected for that purpose. Beside him to his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maasseiah. Beside him to his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people. Because he was visible above all the people there, as he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with uplifted hands, all the people responded, gAmen! Amen!h They bowed down and worshiped the Lord prostrate on the ground.
7Furthermore, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the descendants of Levi taught the Law to the people while the people remained standing. 8They read from the Book of the Law of God, distinctly communicating its meaning, so they could understand the reading.
9Because all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law, Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the descendants of Levi who taught the people told everyone, gThis day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.h 10He also told them, gGo eat the best food, drink the best wine, and give something to those who have nothing, since this day is holy to our Lord. Donft be sorrowful, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.h
11The descendants of Levi also calmed all the people by saying, gBe still, for the day is holy. Donft be sorrowful!h
12So all the people went to eat, to drink, to send something to those who had nothing, and to celebrate with great joy, because they understood the words that were being declared to them.
13The next day, the heads of the families of all the people were gathered together, along with the priests and the descendants of Levi, to meet with Ezra the scribe in order to understand the words of the Law. 14They found written in the Law that the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelis were to live in tents during the festival scheduled for the seventh month. 15So they circulated a proclamation throughout their towns and in Jerusalem. It said, gGo out to the hill country and bring back olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of mature trees, in order to set up tents, as has been written.h
16Then the people went out and found branches to make tents for themselves on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, and in the courts of Godfs Temple, in the plaza near the Water Gate, and in the plaza near the Gate of Ephraim. 17The entire assembly of those who had returned from exile erected tents and lived in them. Indeed, from the days of Nunfs son Joshua until that day the Israelis had not done so. Joy was everywhere, 18and Ezra continued to read from the Book of the Law of God day by day, from the first day through the last. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly according to regulation.
Chapter 9
1On the twenty-fourth day of this same month, the Israelis gathered together while fasting, wearing sackcloth, and covering themselves with dust. 2The remnant of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners. Then they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors. 3While they stood there, they read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one fourth of the day, and they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God for another fourth of the day.
4Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the rostrum assigned for use by the descendants of Levi and cried out loudly to the Lord their God. 5Then the descendants of Levi\Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah\said,
gStand up and bless the Lord your God
from eternity to eternity!
Blessed be your glorious name!
May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!
6gYou are the Lord;
you alone crafted the heavens,
the highest heavens
with all of their armies;
the earth, and everything in it;
the seas, and everything in them;
you keep giving all of them life,
and the army of heaven continually worships you.
7You are the Lord,
the God who chose Abram,
whom you brought from Ur of the Chaldeans
and to whom you gave the name Abraham.
8You found him faithful in your sight;
you made a covenant with him
and you gave the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites,
the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites,
and the Girgashites to his descendants.
And you have kept your word,
because you are righteous.
9gYou took note of the affliction of our ancestors in Egypt,
and listened to their cry at the Red Sea.
10You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh,
against all of his officials,
and against all the people of his land,
because you knew they acted arrogantly against your people.
So you established your name with them,
as it remains to this day.
11You divided the sea in front of them,
and they traveled through the midst of the sea on dry ground.
You hurled their pursuers into the depths,
as one throws a stone into turbulent waters.
12You led them during the day by a pillar of cloud,
and by a pillar of fire at night
to provide light for them
on the path they took.
13gYou also came down to Mount Sinai,
spoke with them from heaven,
and gave them impartial regulations, true laws,
statutes, and good commands.
14You revealed to them your holy Sabbath,
and you mandated precepts, statutes, and laws
through Moses your servant.
15You gave them food from heaven for their hunger
and water from the rock for their thirst.
You directed them to enter and possess the land
that you had promised to give them.
16gBut they\our ancestors\became arrogant and stubborn,
refusing to listen to your commands.
17They would not listen,
and did not remember the miracles you did among them.
Instead, they became stubborn
and appointed a leader
to return them to their slavery.
gBut you are a God of forgiveness,
gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger,
and rich in gracious love;
therefore you did not abandon them.
18Moreover, after they had cast a golden calf for themselves, they said,
gThis is your god who brought you out of Egypt!h
and committed terrible blasphemies.
19You, in your great compassion,
did not abandon them in the wilderness.
The pillar of cloud did not leave them in daylight,
in order to provide light for them on the path they took.
Nor did the pillar of fire abandon them at night,
in order to provide light for them
and lead them on the path they took.
20gYou gave your good Spirit to instruct them,
not withholding manna from them,
and providing water to quench their thirst.
21You sustained them in the wilderness for 40 years.
They lacked nothing.
Their clothes did not wear out,
and their feet did not swell.
22You gave them kingdoms and nations,
apportioning them as frontier boundaries.
They took possession of the land of Sihon,
the land of the king of Heshbon,
and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
23gYou multiplied their descendants like the stars in heaven
and brought them to the land
about which you told their ancestors
to enter and possess.
24So their descendants entered
and took possession of the land.
Before their eyes you subdued those living in the land\the Canaanites\
putting them under their control,
along with their kings and the peoples of the land,
so they could do with them as they pleased.
25They conquered fortified cities and fertile ground,
possessing houses filled with all kinds of good things,
wells already dug, with vineyards,
olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance.
So they ate, were satiated, and were well nourished,
delighting themselves in your great goodness.
26gThen they disobeyed, rebelled against you,
and threw your Law behind their backs.
They murdered your prophets
who had admonished the people to return to you,
committing terrible blasphemies.
27So you delivered them into the control of their enemies,
who oppressed them.
But when they were oppressed,
they cried out to you,
and you heard from heaven.
In your great compassion
you gave them deliverers who rescued them
from the control of their enemies.
28gBut after they had gained relief,
they returned to doing evil before you.
Therefore you abandoned them to the control of their enemies,
who continued to oppress them.
But when they came back and cried out to you,
you listened from heaven
and delivered them in your compassion on many occasions.
29You admonished them to return to your Law,
but they acted arrogantly,
and would not listen to your commands.
They sinned against your regulations,
which if anyone obeys,
he will live by them.
They turned away,
being stubborn and stiff-necked,
and they did not listen.
30You were patient with them for many years,
warning them by your Spirit
through your prophets.
But they would not listen,
so you turned them over
to the control of people in other lands.
31Nevertheless, in your great compassion
you did not completely destroy them
or abandon them,
because you are a God of grace
and you are merciful.
32gNow therefore, our God,
the great, mighty, and awesome God,
who keeps the covenant and gracious love,
donft let all of the difficulties seem trifling to you,
all of hardships that have come upon us, upon our kings,
upon our leaders, upon our priests,
upon our prophets, upon our ancestors,
and upon all of your people
from the time of the kings of Assyria until this day.
33You are righteous in all that is happening to us,
because you have acted faithfully
while we have practiced evil.
34Furthermore, neither our kings,
nor our leaders, nor our priests
nor our ancestors have practiced your Law
or paid attention to your commands and warnings
by which you admonished them.
35But they in their kingdom\
in the midst of your great goodness that you gave them
and in the large and fertile land
that you provided them\
did not serve you
or turn away from their evil deeds.
36gLook! Today we are your servants,
along with the land that you gave to our ancestors,
so they could enjoy its fruit and its value\
behold, in it we are your servants!
37But now its abundant produce belongs to the kings
whom you placed over us
because of our sin.
They also have power over our bodies and our herds
at their pleasure,
and we are in great distress.
38gBecause of all this, we are making a binding agreement,
putting it in writing,
and our leaders, our descendants of Levi, and our priests
hereby set their seals upon it.h
Chapter 10
1Here is a list of those who signed: Hacaliahfs son Nehemiah the governor, Zedekiah, 2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah\these are the priests.
9These were the descendants of Levi: Azaniahfs son Jeshua, Binnui from the descendants of Henadad, Kadmiel, 10also their relatives Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14The leaders of the people included Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28The rest of the people, the priests, the descendants of Levi, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple Servants, and everyone who had separated themselves from the peoples of the surrounding lands for the Law of God\their wives, their sons, their daughters, and all who had knowledge and understanding\ 29joined with their relatives and their leaders. They entered into an oath\enforced by a curse\to walk in Godfs Law that was given through Godfs servant Moses, and to be careful to obey all of the commands of the Lord, our Lord, as well as his regulations and statutes.
30We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons. 31As for the people of the land who bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. We will forego planting crops, and we will cancel debts during every seventh year.
32We also obligated ourselves to contribute annually a third of a shekel for services relating to the Temple of our God: 33for the bread set out on the table, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moon festivals, for the appointed festivals, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the service of the Temple of our God.
34We\the priests, the descendants of Levi, and the people\cast lots to determine when to bring the wood offering into the Temple of our God, just as our ancestorsf families were appointed annually to maintain the altar fire of the Lord our God, as recorded in the Law. 35We also cast lots to determine when to bring the first fruits of our land and the annual first fruits of all fruit of every tree to the Temple of the Lord, 36as well as the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as recorded in the Law, along with the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to present to the Temple of our God for the priests that minister in the Temple of our God. 37We also determined to present the first fruits of our ground grain, our offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, wines, and oil to the priests, to the chambers of the Temple of our God, and the tithes of our land to the descendants of Levi, so those descendants of Levi could collect the tithes in all the towns where we worked.
38And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, will be with the descendants of Levi when the descendants of Levi receive tithes, and the descendants of Levi will bring the tithe of the tithes into the store rooms of the Temple of our God. 39For the Israelis and the descendants of Levi will bring the grain offering, the wine, and the oil into the chambers where the vessels of the sanctuary are, along with the ministering priests, the porters, and the singers. We will not neglect the Temple of our God.
Chapter 11
1The leaders of the people who lived in Jerusalem, along with the rest of the people, decided to choose one out of ten of them by lot to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, leaving the other nine of them in their towns. 2And the people blessed all of the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3These are the leaders of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem. Some lived in the towns of Judah\each on their property in their respective towns\that is, the Israelis, the priests, the descendants of Levi, the Temple Servants, and the descendants of Solomonfs servants.
4Some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem.
From Judahfs Descendants:
Uzziahfs son Athaiah, who was the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel;
From Perezfs Descendants
5Baruchfs son Maaseiah, who was the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6All of the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem numbered 468 men of valor.
7These Benjaminfs Descendants:
Meshullamfs son Sallu, who was the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; 8and after him Gabbai and Sallai, numbering 928.
9Zichrifs son Joel was their overseer, and Hassenuahfs son Judah was in command of the second district of the city.
10From the Priests:
Joiaribfs son Jedaiah, Jachin, 11Hilkiahfs son Seraiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the administrator of the Temple of God. 12Their associates who performed the work of the Temple numbered 822. Jerohamfs son Adaiah, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13along with his associates, the leaders of the families, numbered 242, along with Amashsai, the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14along with their relatives, 128 mighty, valiant men, and their overseer Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.
15From the descendants of Levi:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni, 16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the descendants of Levi who oversaw the exterior work of the Temple of God, 17and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led the thanksgiving prayer, and Bakbukiah, second among his relatives, and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18All of the descendants of Levi in the holy city numbered 284.
19The Gatekeepers:
Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who kept watch at the gates, numbered 172.
20The rest of Israel\the priests and the descendants of Levi\lived in all the cities of Judah, each on his own property, 21but the Temple Servants lived on Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa oversaw the Temple Servants.
22The overseer of the descendants of Levi at Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. Singers from the descendants of Asaph oversaw the work of the Temple of God. 23They were subject to the commands of the king, who provided for the singers daily. 24Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, represented the king in all matters concerning the people.
25Now concerning the villages and their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, in Dibon and its villages, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26in Jeshua, in Moladah, and Beth-pelet, 27in Hazar-shual, in Beer-sheba and its villages, 28in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, 29in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30in Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. They encamped from Beer-sheba to the Hinnom Valley.
31The descendants of Benjamin lived from Geba to Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, 32Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod, and Onofs Craftsmen Valley, 36with some Levitical divisions of Judah pertaining to Benjamin.
Chapter 12
1These are the priests and descendants of Levi who had returned with Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6Shemaih, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the time of Jeshua.
8The descendants of Levi included Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his associates was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9Bakbukiah and Unni and their associates stood opposite them in the service. 10Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered Eliashib, and Eliashib fathered Joiada. 11Joiada fathered Jonathan and Jonathan fathered Jaddua.
12These were the priests and heads of their ancestorsf houses in the time of Joiakim: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
22When Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were serving, the descendants of Levi were recorded as heads of their ancestorsf houses, as were the priests during the reign of Darius the Persian. 23The leaders of the ancestors of Levi were written in the Book of Annals until the time of Eliashibfs son Johanan.
24The leaders of the descendants of Levi were: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Kadmielfs son Jeshua, along with their associates who served opposite them to give praise and thanks, division by division, according to the commands given by David the man of God. 25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the store houses of the gates. 26These were at the time of Jeshuafs son Joiakim, the grandson of Jozadak, and in the time of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.
27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they invited the descendants of Levi to come from wherever they lived to Jerusalem so they could celebrate the dedication with joy, thanksgiving, and songs, accompanied by cymbals, lyres, and harps. 28So the descendants of the singers gathered themselves together from the region surrounding Jerusalem, from the villages of Netophathi, 29from Beth-gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, because the singers had built villages for themselves in the vicinity of Jerusalem. 30The priests and the descendants of Levi purified themselves, and also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31Then I brought up the leaders of Judah to the crest of the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs, the first of which proceeded on the wall to the right toward the Dung Gate. 32Following them were Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33including Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. 35Some of the priestsf sons were trumpeters, including Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36with his associates Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, accompanied by the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession. 37At the Fountain Gate, which stood opposite them, they ascended the stairs of the city of David where the wall rose above the house of David east of the Water Gate.
38The second thanksgiving choir approached opposite them, and I followed them. Half of the people stood on the crest of the wall from beyond the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39and from above the Ephraim Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Guard Gate. 40Then the two choirs assembled in the Temple of God, as did I, along with half of the officials who accompanied me, 41and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, Hananiah with trumpeters 42Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers made their presence known, with Jezrahiah to lead them.
43That day they offered a large number of sacrifices, and they rejoiced, because God had caused them to rejoice enthusiastically. Their wives and children rejoiced, so that Jerusalemfs joy was heard from a long distance. 44Also at that time men were appointed over the storerooms for the contributions, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, so those portions required by the Law could be gathered from the fields adjacent to the towns to benefit the priests and descendants of Levi, for the people of Judah rejoiced over the priests and the descendants of Levi who were serving. 45They carried out their service obligations to their God and their service obligations of purification according to what David and his son Solomon had commanded. 46For in Davidfs lifetime\and in the lifetime of Asaph, choir master of old\there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47All Israel in the time of Zerubbabel and in the time of Nehemiah gave allotments to each of the singers and gate keepers on a daily basis, setting them apart to benefit the descendants of Levi. And the descendants of Levi set them apart to benefit the descendants of Aaron.
Chapter 13
1Later that day the book of Moses was read aloud so the people could hear it, and a written command was discovered therein permanently prohibiting the Ammonites and Moabites from coming into the congregation of God 2because they did not greet the Israelis with food and water, but instead hired Balaam to oppose them by cursing them, even though our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3When they heard the Law, they separated all those of foreign descent from Israel.
4Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who supervised the store rooms of the Temple of our God and who was related to Tobiah, 5had prepared a great chamber for him, in the place where they used to place the grain offerings, incense, and vessels, along with the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that was mandated for the descendants of Levi, the singers, the gate keepers, and the priestsf offerings. 6During all of this time, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to the king in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon. After a while I obtained permission from the king 7to return to Jerusalem. I learned of the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in furnishing him with a room in the courts of the Temple of God. 8I was greatly upset, so I threw out all of Tobiahfs property from the room. 9I ordered them to purify the chambers, and then they brought back the vessels from the Temple of God, along with the grain offerings and incense.
10I also learned that the allotments for the descendants of Levi had not been distributed. As a result, the descendants of Levi and singers who were responsible for the service had each left to go back to their fields. 11So I confronted the officials and asked, gWhy is the Temple of God neglected?h Then I gathered them together and put them back in their places. 12Then all of Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil into the storerooms. 13I appointed over the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the descendants of Levi; and next to them Zaccurfs son Hanan, the grandson of Mattaniah, because they had been considered faithful. Their duties were to distribute to their associates.
14Remember me, my God, concerning this, and do not erase my faithful deeds that I have undertaken for the Temple of my God, and for its services.
15At that time I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the Sabbath, bringing in sacks of grain, loading them onto donkeys, along with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads. They brought them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I rebuked them on the day on which they were selling food. 16Furthermore, Tyrians were living there who were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise, selling them to the people of Judah on the Sabbath, even in Jerusalem.
17I rebuked the officials of Judah, saying to them, gWhatfs this evil thing that youfre doing by profaning the Sabbath day? 18Didnft your ancestors do the same? And didnft our God bring on us and on this city all of this trouble? Now youfre adding to the wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!h
19As the Sabbath approached and it began to get dark at the gates of Jerusalem, I gave word to shut the gates, charging that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my men at the gates to ensure that no loads would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20As a result, the merchants and sellers of all sorts of goods remained outside Jerusalem a couple of times. 21I argued with them, gWhy are you staying outside the wall? If you do this again, Ifll arrest you.h From that time on, they didnft come anymore on the Sabbath. 22Then I commanded the descendants of Levi to purify themselves and to come as gate keepers to sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, my God, and show mercy to me according to the greatness of your gracious love.
23At that time I also noticed that Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24Furthermore, their children spoke half of the time in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Judah. Instead, they spoke in the languages of various peoples. 25So I rebuked them, cursed them, struck some of their men, tore out their hair, and made them take this oath in the name of God: gYou are not to give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26Didnft Solomon, king of Israel, sin by doing these things, even though among many nations there was no king like him who was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel? Even so, foreign women caused him to sin. 27Should we listen to you and do all of this terrible evil by transgressing against our God to marry foreign wives?h 28One of the sons of Eliashib the high priestfs son Joiada was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me.
29Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the descendants of Levi.
30I purified them from everything foreign, arranged duties for the priests and the descendants of Levi, each to his task, 31and I arranged at the appointed time for the supply of wood, and for the first fruits.
Remember me, my God, with favor.
Esther
Chapter 1
1This is a record of what happened during the reign of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2At that time King Ahasuerus was ruling from Susa the capital. 3In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers, and the military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the provincial officials were present. 4He displayed the enormous wealth of his kingdom, along with its splendid beauty and greatness for many days\for 180 days in all.
5When those days were over, the king held a seven-day banquet in the courtyard of the garden of his palace for all the people who were present in Susa the capital, from the greatest to the least important. 6There were curtains of white and blue linen tied with cords of fine linen and purple material to silver rings on marble columns. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other precious stones. 7Drinks were served in gold vessels of various kinds, and there was plenty of royal wine because the king was generous. 8According to the kingfs decree the drinking was not compulsory because the king instructed every steward in his house to serve each individual what he desired. 9Queen Vashti also held a banquet in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus for the women.
10A week later, when the king was under the influence of all that wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus, 11to bring Queen Vashti to the king, wearing the royal crown to display her beauty to the people and the officials, since she was lovely to look at. 12Queen Vashti refused to come at the kingfs order that was brought by the eunuchs.
Then the king flew into a rage. 13The king spoke to the wise men who understood the times, for it was the kingfs custom to consult all those who understood law and justice. 14(His closest advisers were: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had direct access to the king and who held the highest rank in the kingdom.) 15The king inquired, gAccording to law, what should be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the order of King Ahasuerus that was delivered by the eunuchs?h
16Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and his officials, gIt is not the king alone whom Vashti has wronged, but rather all of the officials and all of the people who are in the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17When the report about the queen goes out to all the women, it will cause them to despise their husbands. Theyfll say, eKing Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she wouldnft come.f 18This very day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who hear the report about the queen will speak in the same way to all the officials of the king, and there will be more than enough contempt and anger. 19If it seems good to the king, let a royal decree go out from him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her royal position to another woman who is better than she. 20When the edict of the king that he issues is heard throughout his kingdom\for itfs vast\then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least important.h
21This seemed like a good idea to the king and his officials, so the king did what Memucan suggested. 22He sent letters to all the provinces of the king, written in the script of that province, and to each people in their own language, ordering that every man should be the master in his house and speak the language of his own people.
Chapter 2
1After this, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed about her. 2Then the young men who attended the king suggested, gLet beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. 3Let the king appoint officials in all the provinces of his kingdom to bring all the beautiful young virgins into the harem in Susa the capital. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the kingfs eunuch, who is in charge of the women to give them their beauty treatments. 4Then let the young woman who pleases the king rule in place of Vashti.h This advice pleased the king, and he did this.
5In Susa the capital there was a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin, Jairfs son Mordecai, who was a descendant of Kishfs son Shimei the descendant of Benjamin. 6He had been taken into captivity from Jerusalem along with the exiles who had been deported with Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had taken into exile. 7Mordecai had raised his cousin Hadassah, or Esther, because she had no father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. When her mother and father died Mordecai had taken her as his daughter.
8The kingfs order and edict was proclaimed, and many young women were brought to Susa the capital under the care of Hegai. Esther was taken to the palace into the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. 9The young woman pleased him and gained his favor. He quickly provided her beauty treatments and gave her portions of food to her. He also assigned her seven suitable young women from the palace and transferred her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10Esther did not make known her people or heritage because Mordecai had instructed her not to make it known. 11Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to find out about Estherfs well-being and what was happening to her.
12Each young womanfs turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus at the end of the twelve month period, at which time she was treated according to the regulations for women. This process completed the period of her beauty treatments\six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and cosmetics for women. 13After that the young woman would go in to the king, and whatever she asked for would be given to her to take with her from the harem to the palace. 14In the evening she would go into the palace and in the morning she would return to the second harem, into the care of Shaashgaz, the kingfs eunuch who was in charge of the mistresses. She would not go again to the king unless the king wanted her and she was called for by name. 15Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who had been Mordecaifs uncle. Mordecai had taken Esther in as his own daughter. When her turn came to go in to the king, she did not want anything except what Hegai, the kingfs eunuch in charge of the harem, advised. Esther found favor with everyone who saw her. 16Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17The king loved Esther more than any of the other women, so he favored her and was kinder to her than he was to any of the other virgins. He put the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. 18The king put on a great banquet for all his officials and ministers to honor Esther. He declared a holiday for the provinces and gave generous gifts.
19When the virgins were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting in the kingfs gate. 20Now Esther had not declared her heritage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her, for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as she had done when she was raised by him. 21At that time when Mordecai was sitting in the kingfs gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the kingfs eunuchs among those who guarded the threshold, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 22When Mordecai learned about the plot, he told Queen Esther, and she told the king in Mordecaifs name. 23After the matter had been fully investigated, Bigthan and Teresh were hanged on a pole, and this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.
Chapter 3
1Sometime later King Ahasuerus promoted Hammedatha the Agagitefs son Haman, elevating him to a position above all the other officials who were with him. 2All the kingfs ministers who were in the kingfs gate would kneel and bow down to Haman, because the king had commanded that Haman be honored in this way. Mordecai, however, would not kneel and would not bow down.
3The kingfs ministers who were in the kingfs gate asked Mordecai, gWhy are you disobeying the kingfs command?h 4They asked him this day after day, and he would not listen to them, so they told Haman to see whether or not Mordecai would get away with his disobedience, since he also had told them that he was Jewish. 5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel and bow down to him, he flew into a rage. 6Because they had told him who the people of Mordecai were, Haman found it unacceptable to kill only Mordecai. So Haman sought to destroy all of Mordecaifs people, the Jewish people, who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7In the twelfth year of the reign of King Ahasuerus, in the first month (the month Nisan), the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in Hamanfs presence to determine the best day and month to carry out his plot. The lot indicated the twelfth month, the month Adar. 8Then Haman told King Ahasuerus, gThere is a certain people scattered and divided among the people throughout the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different than all the other people, they donft obey the kingfs laws, and itfs not in the kingfs best interest to leave them alone. 9If the king approves, let it be decreed that theyfre to be destroyed, and Ifll measure out 10,000 silver talents and bring it to the kingfs treasury for those who will do the work.h
10The king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Hammedatha the Agagitefs son Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people. 11The king told Haman, gThe silver is given to you, along with the people, to do with them as you see fit.h
12The kingfs scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and all that Haman commanded was written to the regional authorities of the king, to the governors who were over each province, and to the officials of each people. This order was translated in the name of King Ahasuerus into the language of each province and bore the seal of the kingfs signet ring. 13Letters were sent by couriers to all of the kingfs provinces to annihilate, to kill, and to destroy all the Jewish people, both young and old, women and children, and to confiscate their goods on a single day\the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar. 14A copy of the letter was to be issued as an edict in every province and published to all the people, telling them to be ready for that day. 15The couriers went out, urged on by the kingfs command, and the edict was issued in Susa the capital. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.
Chapter 4
1When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his garments and clothed himself in sackcloth and ashes. He went into the middle of the city and cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2He came as far as the front of the kingfs gate, because no one was allowed to enter the kingfs gate clothed in sackcloth. 3In every province where the order of the king and his edict reached, among the Jewish people there was great mourning, fasting, weeping, and lamenting, and many lay down on sackcloth and ashes.
4When Estherfs young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was greatly distressed. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on so he could take off the sackcloth that he had on, but he would not take them. 5Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the kingfs eunuchs, whom he had assigned to her, and she ordered him to go to Mordecai to find out what was happening and why it was happening. 6Hathach went to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the kingfs gate. 7Mordecai told him everything that had happened and the exact amount of money that Haman had said he would pay into the kingfs treasury in order to destroy the Jewish people. 8Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the written decree ordering the Jewsf destruction that had been issued in Susa. Mordecai wanted him to show it to Esther, to explain it to her, and then to instruct her to go in to the king to seek his favor and plead with him for her people.
9Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then Esther spoke to Hathach, instructing him to go back to Mordecai with this message: 11gEvery servant of the king and every person in the kingfs provinces knows that for any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned there is only one law\that he be put to death\unless the king holds out the golden scepter to him. Only then he will live. For these last 30 days Ifve not been summoned to come to the king.h
12They reported Estherfs message to Mordecai.
13Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, gDonft suppose that because you are in the palace, you will escape any more than the other Jewish people. 14Indeed, if you are silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your fatherfs family will perish. Who knows but that you were brought to the kingdom for a time like this?h
15Then Esther replied to Mordecai, 16gGo and gather all the Jewish people who are in Susa and fast for me. Donft eat or drink for three days, night or day. Both I and my young women will also fast in the same way, and then Ifll go in to the king, even though itfs against the law. And if I perish, I perish.h
17Then Mordecai left and did everything that Esther had ordered him.
Chapter 5
1On the third day, Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace in front of the kingfs quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the building. 2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his favor, and the king extended to Esther the gold scepter that he was holding. Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. 3The king asked her, gWhat do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if itfs half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.h
4Esther replied, gIf it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet Ifve prepared for him.h
5The king responded, gBring Haman quickly so we may do what Esther has requested.h So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6While they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther, gWhatfs your petition? It will be given to you. Whatfs your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be done.h
7Esther answered, gThis is my petition and my request: 8If Ifve found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to honor my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that Ifll prepare for them tomorrow, and then Ifll do what the king has said.h
9Haman went out that day pleased and happy, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the kingfs gate, and that he did not stand up and tremble in his presence, Haman was furious with Mordecai. 10Haman restrained himself, went to his house, and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them about his splendid wealth, the number of his sons, all the ways the king had honored him, and that he had promoted him above all the other officials and ministers of the king.
12Then Haman said, gEven Queen Esther brought no one except me with the king to the banquet that she held. Furthermore, I (along with the king) have also been invited by her tomorrow. 13But all this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kingfs gate.h
14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said, gHave a pole made 75 feet high, and then in the morning speak to the king and have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet happy.h This advice pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.
Chapter 6
1That night the king could not sleep, so he gave instructions to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read to the king. 2It was found recorded there that Mordecai had reported about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the kingfs eunuchs who guarded the entrance to the restricted areas of the palace, and that they had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 3So the king asked, gWhat honor and distinction was bestowed on Mordecai for this?h
The young men who served the king answered, gNothing was done for him.h
4The king said, gWho is in the courtyard?h Now Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the pole he had set up.
5The kingfs young men told him, gLook, Haman is standing in the courtyard.h
The king said, gLet him come in.h
6After Haman came in, the king asked him, gWhat should be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?h
Haman told himself, gWhom would the king desire to honor more than me?h 7Haman answered the king, gFor a man whom the king desires to honor, 8let them bring royal robes that the king has worn and a horse on which the king has ridden, with a royal crown placed on its head. 9Then give the robes and the horse to one of the kingfs most noble officials. Let them put the robes on the man whom the king desires to honor, and let them put him on the horse in the main square of the city. Then let them announce in front of him, eThis is what is done for the man whom the king desires to honor.fh
10Then the king told Haman, gQuick! Take the clothes and the horse just as you have suggested and do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits in the kingfs gate. And donft let anything youfve suggested fall through the cracks.h
11So Haman took the clothes and the horse, dressed Mordecai, and put him on the horse in the main square of the city. He cried out in front of him, gThis is what is done for the man whom the king desires to honor.h
12Then Mordecai returned to the kingfs gate, while Haman hurried to his house, mourning and hiding his face. 13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His wise friends and his wife Zeresh told him, gIf Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is one of the Jewish people, you wonft prevail against him. Instead, you will surely fall before him.h
14While they were still talking to him, the kingfs eunuchs arrived, and they quickly took him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Chapter 7
1The king and Haman went in to have a drink with Queen Esther. 2On the second day the king again told Esther as they drank wine, gWhatfs your petition, Queen Esther? It will be given to you. Whatfs your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be done.h
3Queen Esther answered: gIf Ifve found favor with you, your majesty, and if it seems good to the king, let my life be given to me as my petition and my people as my request. 4Indeed, I and my people have been sold to be annihilated, killed, and destroyed. If we had just been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because the trouble wouldnft have been sufficient to bother the king.h
5Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, gWho is this, and where is the person who would dare do this?h
6Esther replied, gAn adversary and an enemy\itfs this wicked Haman!h So Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. 7The king got up from the banquet in anger and went out to the palace garden, while Haman stood there begging Queen Esther to spare his life, because he realized that the king intended to harm him.
8When the king returned to the banquet hall from the palace garden, Haman was prostrate on the couch where Esther was. The king asked, gWill this man even assault the queen with me in the house?h The king had no sooner spoken than they covered Hamanfs face. 9Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, observed, gLook there! A pole is standing 75 feet high at Hamanfs house that he prepared for Mordecai, whose report benefitted the king!h
The king said, gHang him on it.h 10So they hanged Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and then the kingfs anger subsided.
Chapter 8
1That day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the property of Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people, and Mordecai came into the kingfs presence because Esther had told him how Mordecai was related to her. 2The king took off his signet ring that he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. Esther then put Mordecai in charge of Hamanfs property.
3Then Esther spoke to the king again and fell at his feet. She wept and pleaded with him for mercy to overturn the evil plan devised by Haman the Agagite and his plot against the Jewish people. 4The king extended the golden scepter to Esther, and she got up and stood before the king. 5She said, gIf it pleases the king, and if Ifve found favor with him, and if the matter is proper in the kingfs opinion, and if Ifm pleasing to the king, let an order be issued revoking the letters devised by Hammedatha the Agagitefs son Haman, which ordered the destruction of the Jewish people throughout the kingfs provinces. 6Indeed, how can I bear to see this disaster happen to my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my kinsmen?h
7King Ahasuerus told Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, gLook, Ifve given Hamanfs property to Esther, and they have hanged him on the pole because he tried to harm the Jewish people. 8Now, in the name of the king, you write what seems good to you concerning the Jewish people, and seal it with the kingfs signet ring, for a document written in the kingfs name and sealed with the kingfs signet ring cannot be revoked.h
9The kingfs scribes were summoned at that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is the month Sivan, and everything that Mordecai commanded the Jewish people, the regional authorities, the governors, and the provincial officials of the 127 provinces from India to Cush was written down for each province according to its script, for each people according to their language, and for the Jewish people according to their script and language. 10He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the kingfs signet ring. He sent the letters by couriers on horseback, riding steeds especially bred for the king.
11What the king granted the Jewish people in every town was the right to assemble and defend themselves, to annihilate, kill, and destroy every armed force of a people or a province that was hostile to them, including children and women, and to plunder their property. 12Throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the one day for the Jewish people to do this was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 13A copy of the document was to be issued as law in each and every province and published for all people, indicating that the Jewish people were to be ready to take vengeance on their enemies on that day. 14The couriers, mounted on the royal steeds, left quickly, urged on by the kingfs command. The edict was also issued in Susa the capital.
15Mordecai left the kingfs presence in royal robes of blue and white, wearing a large golden crown and a purple robe made of fine linen; and the city of Susa shouted with joy. 16For the Jewish people, there was light and joy, gladness and honor. 17In each and every province, and in each and every city, in the places where the kingfs order and edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jewish people, along with a festival and a holiday. Many of the people of the land became Jews, because they had come to fear the Jewish people.
Chapter 9
1On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, when the kingfs order and edict was about to be carried out, on the day when the enemies of the Jewish people expected to prevail over them, things were turned around so that the Jewish people themselves prevailed over those who hated them.
2The Jewish people assembled in their towns throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who intended to harm them, and no one could oppose them because all the people had come to fear the Jews. 3All the provincial officials, the regional authorities, the governors, and those doing the kingfs work supported the Jewish people because the fear of Mordecai had come over them. 4Indeed, Mordecai was a powerful official in the palace and his fame spread throughout the provinces. Indeed, the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.
5The Jewish people struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did with their enemies as they pleased. 6In Susa the capital the Jewish people killed and destroyed 500 people. 7They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 10the ten sons of Hammedathafs son Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people, but they did not lay their hands on the spoils.
11On that day the number of those slain in Susa the capital was reported to the king. 12The king told Queen Esther, gIn Susa the capital the Jewish people have killed and destroyed 500 people, including Hamanfs ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the kingfs provinces? Now whatfs your petition? It will be given to you. Whatfs your further request? It will be done.h
13Then Esther said, gIf it pleases the king, let it also be granted to the Jewish people in Susa to do tomorrow what the edict allowed them to do today, and let Hamanfs ten sons be hanged on poles.h
14The king said, gLet this be done.h So an edict was issued in Susa, and Hamanfs ten sons were hanged on poles. 15The Jewish people in Susa assembled again on that day, the fourteenth of Adar, and they killed 300 people in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the spoils.
16The rest of the Jewish people in the kingfs provinces assembled to defend themselves, and they gained relief from their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils. 17They did this on the thirteenth day of Adar and rested on the fourteenth day, making it a day of feasting and joy. 18The Jewish people in Susa assembled on the thirteenth day and again on the fourteenth, and then rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of feasting and joy. 19Therefore the Jewish people in the rural areas who live in unwalled towns make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a holiday for joy and feasting, and people send presents to one another.
20Mordecai wrote these instructions and sent letters to all the Jewish people in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21establishing that they should celebrate the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month Adar every year, 22as the days on which the Jewish people enjoyed relief from their enemies. It was a month when things turned around for them, from sorrow to joy and from mourning to a holiday. They were to celebrate these days as days of feasting and joy, and they were to send presents to one another and gifts to the poor. 23So the Jewish people made a tradition out of what they had begun to do and of what Mordecai had written to them, 24since Hammedathafs son Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people, had plotted against the Jewish people to destroy them, and he had cast the pur (that is, the lot) to determine when to confuse and destroy them.
25But when Esther came before the king, he ordered through a letter that the evil plot that Haman had devised against the Jewish people be rescinded, and that he and his sons be hanged on poles. 26Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur. Because of all that was written in this letter, because of what they experienced in this matter, and because of what happened to them, 27the Jewish people established this celebration, making it a tradition for themselves, for their descendants, and for all who joined with them that they should not fail to observe these two days each year, based on the written instructions, and at the prescribed time. 28These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by each family in every province and town. These days of Purim should not be neglected by the Jewish people, and that they should not be forgotten by their descendants.
29Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority confirming this second letter about Purim. 30Letters containing wishes for peace and stability were sent to all the Jewish people, to the 127 provinces of Ahasuerusf kingdom, 31establishing these days of Purim at the prescribed time, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established, and just as the Jewish people had established for themselves and for their descendants. The letter included instructions for their fasting and lamentations. 32The order of Esther established these instructions for Purim, and it was officially recorded.
Chapter 10
1King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. 2Now as to all the powerful and great deeds of Ahasuerus, along with an exact statement about the high position of Mordecai to which the king promoted him, these things are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia, are they not? 3Indeed, Mordecai the Jew was second in authority only to King Ahasuerus and was a powerful official among the Jewish people. Mordecai was accepted favorably by his many kinsmen, and he sought the good of his countrymen and spoke out for the welfare of all his people.
Job
Chapter 1
1There once was a man in the land of Uz named Job. The man was blameless as well as upright. He feared God and kept away from evil. 2Seven sons and three daughters had been born to him. 3His livestock included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. Indeed, the manfs stature greatly exceeded that of many people who lived in the East. 4His sons used to travel to each otherfs houses in turn on a regular schedule and hold festivals, inviting their three sisters to celebrate with them.
5When their time of feasting had concluded, Job would rise early in the morning to send for them and consecrate them to God. He would offer a burnt offering for each one, because Job thought, gPerhaps my children sinned by cursing God in their hearts.h Job did this time and again.
6One day, divine beings presented themselves to the Lord, and Satan accompanied them. 7The Lord asked Satan, gWhere have you come from?h
In response, Satan answered the Lord, gFrom wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it.h
8Then the Lord asked Satan, gHave you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil.h
9But in response, Satan asked the Lord, gDoes Job fear God for nothing? 10Havenft you surrounded him with a fence on all sides, around his house, and around all that he owns? You have blessed everything he puts his hands on and you have increased his livestock in the land. 11However, stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.h
12Then the Lord told Satan, gVery well then, everything he owns is under your control, only you may not extend your hand against him.h So Satan left the Lordfs presence.
13Some time later, when his children were celebrating in their oldest brotherfs house, 14a messenger approached Job and said, gThe oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were grazing nearby 15when the Sabeans attacked, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. I alone escaped to tell you!h
16While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, gA lightning storm struck and incinerated the flock and the servants while they were eating. I alone escaped to tell you!h
17While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, gThe Chaldeans formed three companies, raided the camels, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. Only I alone escaped to tell you.h
18While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, gYour children were celebrating in their oldest brotherfs house 19when a strong wind came straight out of the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people, and they died. I alone escaped to tell you!h
20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, bowed very low, 21and exclaimed:
gI left my motherfs womb naked,
and I will return to God naked.
The Lord has given,
and the Lord has taken.
May the name of the Lord be blessed.h
22Job neither sinned nor charged God with wrongdoing in all of this.
Chapter 2
1Some time later, divine beings again presented themselves to the Lord, and Satan accompanied them to present himself to the Lord. 2The Lord asked Satan, gWhere have you come from?h
In response, Satan told the Lord, gFrom wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it.h
3The Lord asked Satan, gHave you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause.h
4Satan answered the Lord, gSkin for skin! The man will give up everything that he owns in exchange for his health. 5However, stretch out your hand and strike his bones and flesh, and hefll curse you to your face, wonft he?h
6Then the Lord told Satan, gVery well then, he is under your control. Just preserve his life.h
7So Satan left the Lordfs presence and struck Job with terrible boils from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. 8Job took a broken piece of pottery to scrape himself while sitting among the ashes.
9Then his wife told him, gDo you remain firm in your integrity? Curse God and die!h
10But he replied to her, gYoufre talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept what is good from God but not tragedy?h
Throughout all of this, Job did not sin by what he said.
11When Jobfs three friends heard all these tragedies that happened to him, they each traveled from their home towns to visit him. Eliphaz came from Teman, Bildad came from Shuah, and Zophar came from Naamath. They met together and went to console and comfort him. 12Observing him from a distance, at first they didnft even recognize him, so they raised their voices and burst into tears. They each ripped their robes, threw ashes into the air on their heads, 13and sat with Job on the ground for a full week without saying a word, since they could see the great extent of his anguish.
Chapter 3
1After this, Job spoke up solemnly, cursing the day he was born. 2This is what Job said:
3gLet the day when I was born be annihilated,
along with the night when it was announced,
eItfs a boy!f
4Let that day be dark;
let God above not care about it;
let no light shine over it.
5Let darkness and deep gloom reclaim it;
let clouds settle down on it;
let blackness in mid-day terrify it.
6Let darkness carry that night away;
let it not take its place joyfully among the days of the year;
let it not be entered into the calendar.
7gYes, let that night be barren;
let it not appear with its joyful shout.
8Let whoever curses days curse it\
those who are ready to awaken monsters.
9Let the stars of its evening twilight be dark;
let it hope for light but let there be none;
let it not see the breaking rays of the dawn.
10gFor that night refused to shut the doors of my motherfs womb;
it failed to keep me from seeing this trouble.
11Why didnft I die while I was still in the womb,
or die while I was being born?
12Why was there a lap to hold me,
and why were there breasts to nurse me?
13gIf I had died, I would be lying down by now,
undisturbed, asleep, and at rest,
14along with kings and counselors of the earth,
who used to build for themselves what are now only ruins,
15or princes who amassed gold for themselves,
and who kept filling their houses with silver.
16gOr why was I not buried like a stillborn child,
like babies who never saw the light?
17In that place, the wicked stop causing trouble,
and there, those whose strength is exhausted are at rest.
18In that place, those who once were prisoners will be at ease together;
they wonft hear the voice of oppressors.
19The unimportant and the important are both there,
and the servant is free from his master.
20gWhy does God give light to the sufferer
or life to the bitter person:
21To those who are longing for death\
even though it does not come?
To those who search for it
more than for hidden treasure?
22To those who are happy beyond measure
when they reach their graves?
23To the formerly successful man who has lost his way in life
because God has fenced him in?
24gAs far as Ifm concerned, my food comes to me in the form of sighs,
and my cries of anguish pour out like water.
25For the dreaded thing that I feared has happened to me,
what caused me to worry has engulfed me.
26I will not be at ease;
I will not be quiet;
I will not rest;
because trouble has arrived.h
Chapter 4
1In reply, Eliphaz from Teman answered:
2gWill you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you?
Who can keep from speaking at a time like this?
3Look! Youfve admonished many people,
and youfve strengthened feeble hands.
4A word from you has supported those who have stumbled,
and has strengthened faltering knees.
5gBut now itfs your turn,
and youfre the one who is worn out!
Now itfs striking you,
and youfre dismayed!
6gYour fear of God has been your confidence, hasnft it?
The integrity of your life has been your hope, hasnft it?
7Now please think:
Who has ever perished when theyfre innocent?
Where have the upright been destroyed?
8Itfs been my experience that those who plow the soil of iniquity
and those who sow the seed of trouble will reap their harvest!
9They perish by the breath of God;
they are consumed by the storm that is his anger.
10gThe lioness may roar,
and the lion cub may growl;
but even the ivory teeth of the full grown lion are broken.
11Full grown lions die when they cannot find prey;
thatfs when the lion cubs are scattered.
12gA message was confided to me;
my ear caught a whisper of it.
13Disquieting thoughts from dreams at night;
when deep sleep falls on everyone.
14A fear fell upon me, along with trembling
that caused all my bones to shake in terror.
15A spirit glided past me
and made the hair on my skin to bristle.
16It remained standing,
but I couldnft recognize its appearance.
A form appeared before my eyes;
At first there was silence, and then this voice:
17eCan a mortal person be more righteous than God?
Or can the purity of the valiant exceed that of his maker?f
18gIndeed, since he doesnft trust his servants,
since he charges his angels with error,
19how much less confidence does he have
in those who dwell in houses of clay;
who were formed from a foundation in dust
and can perish like a moth?
20They are defeated between morning and evening;
they perish forever\and no one notices!
21Their wealth perishes with them, doesnft it?
They die, and do so without having wisdom, donft they?h
Chapter 5
1gCry out, wonft you!
Is there anyone who will answer you?
To whom will you turn among the holy ones?
2For wrath will slay a fool;
zealous anger will kill the naive.
3gI myself saw a fool becoming established,
but I suddenly cursed where he lived.
4His children are far from deliverance;
theyfll be maltreated before they leave home,
with no one to rescue them.
5Then the hungry will devour his harvest,
snatching it even from the midst of thorns,
while the thirsty covet their wealth.
6For wickedness doesnft crop up from dust,
nor does trouble sprout out of the ground;
7But mankind is born headed for trouble,
just as sparks soar skyward.h
8gNow as for me, I would seek God if I were you;
I would commit my case to God.
9He is always doing great things that cannot be explained,
countless awesome deeds.
10He sends rain on the surface of the earth,
and waters the surface of the open country.
11He sets the lowly on high,
and lifts those who mourn to safety.
12He frustrates the plans of the crafty;
so that what they work for never succeeds.
13He captures the wise in their own craftiness,
bringing a quick end to their cunning advice.
14They meet with darkness in broad daylight;
at noonday they grope around as if it were night.
15So he delivers from the sword of their mouth\
the poor from the power of the mighty.
16Therefore there is hope for those who are poor,
and iniquity shuts its mouth.
17gIndeed, how blessed is the person whom God reproves!
So never disrespect the discipline of the Almighty,
18because though he wounds, but then applies bandages;
though he strikes, his hands still heal.
19gHe will deliver you through six calamities;
and calamity wonft touch you throughout the seventh.
20He will deliver you from death by famine;
in war from the power of the sword.
21Youfll be protected from the accusing tongue;
you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.
22Youfll laugh at destruction and famine;
and you need not fear the beasts of the earth.
23For youfll have a pact with the stones in the field;
and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24Youfll know that your home is secure;
when you search your possessions, and nothing will be missing.
25Youfll know that youfll have many children;
and that your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.
26Youfll go to your grave at a ripe old age;
like a stack of grain thatfs harvested at just the right time.
27gLook! We have thought all this through,
and what wefve said is true;
So please listen and learn for your own good!h
Chapter 6
1In rebuttal, Job replied:

2gIf only my grief could be weighed;
or my calamity piled together on a balance scale!
3It would weigh more than the sand on the seashore!
Herefs why Ifve talked so rashly:
4gThe arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;
my spirit absorbs their poison;
Godfs terrors have been arranged just for me!
5gWill the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him?
Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?
6Tasteless food isnft eaten without salt, is it?
Is there any taste in an egg white?
7I cannot bring myself to touch them;
food like this makes me sick.h
8gWho will grant my wish?
I wish God would grant what Ifm hoping for:
9that God would just be willing to crush me;
that he would let loose and eliminate me!
10At least I could still take comfort
and rejoice in unceasing anguish,
for I didnft conceal what the Holy One has to say.
11gDo I have the strength to wait?
And why should I be patient?
12Am I as strong as a rock?
Am I some kind of iron man?
13There is no help within me, is there?
My resources have been driven away from me, havenft they?
14The friend shows gracious love for his friend,
even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river,
like torrential rivers that overflow.
16Filled with waters made cold by ice,
they are where the snow goes to hide.
17But then the snow melts, and they disappear;
when warmed, they evaporate from their stream beds.
18Travelers divert in their route;
they go into a wasteland and die.
19Travelers from Tema search intently;
caravans from Sheba hope to find them.
20For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment;
even though they have come and searched this far.
21gAnd now youfre all just like them, arenft you?
You see my terror and are terrified.
22When did I ever ask you for anything,
say eOffer a bribe for me from your wealth?f
23or say eDeliver me from my enemyfs control,f
or eRedeem me from the domination of ruthless peoplef?h
24gInstruct me, and Ifll remain silent.
Help me understand where Ifve gone astray.
25The truth can be painful,
but what has your argument proven?
26Did you intend your words to reprove,
even though the speech of a desperate person is just wind?
27Indeed, you would gamble to buy an orphan;
and barter to buy your friend!
28Now be willing to face me,
and I wonft lie to your face.
29Repent! Let there be no injustice;
Change your ways! My vindication is at stake.
30Have I said anything thatfs unjust?
I can discern evil, canft I?h
Chapter 7
1gMen have harsh servitude on earth, do they not?
His days are like those of a hired laborer, are they not?
2Ifm like a servant who longs for the shade,
like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.
3Truly Ifve been allotted months of emptiness;
nights of trouble have been appointed for me.
4gWhen I lie down I ask,
eWhen will I wake up?f
But the night continues
and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.
5My skin is covered with worms and clods of dirt;
my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.
6My days pass as swiftly as a hand-loom;
they come to their conclusion without hope.
7Remember that my life is a breath;
my eyes wonft go back to seeing good things.
8The eyes of the one who sees me wonft see me anymore;
your eyes will look for me
but I wonft be around!
9As a cloud fades away and vanishes,
the one who descends to the afterlife doesnft return.
10He doesnft return again to his house,
and his place wonft recognize him anymore.h
11gIn addition, I wonft keep my opinion to myself;
Ifll speak from my distressed spirit;
Ifll complain with my bitter soul.
12Am I the sea, or a sea monster,
that you keep watching me?
13For Ifve said, eMy bed will comfort me;
my couch will ease my burdens while I complain.f
14But then you scared me with dreams;
you terrified me with visions.
15I would rather die by strangulation
than continue living.
16I hate the thought of living forever!
Leave me alone, because my days are pointless.h
17gWhat is a human being, that you make so much of him;
that you set your affections on him,
18visit him every morning,
and test him continually?
19Why wonft you look away from me?
Why donft you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?
20So what if I sin? What have I done against you,
you observer of humankind?
Why have you made me your target?
Why burden yourself with me?
21Why havenft you pardoned my transgression
and taken away my iniquity?
Now Ifm about to lie down in the dust.
You will seek me diligently,
but I wonft be around!h
Chapter 8
1Then in response, Bildad from Shuah said:
2gHow long will you keep talking like this?
How long will you keep talking like a wind storm?
3Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert whatfs right?
4gIf your children sin against him,
hefll make them a prisoner of their sins.
5If you seek God,
if you ask the Almighty for mercy,
6if you are clean and upright,
surely then, hefll act on your behalf
and restore your rightful place.
7Your beginning may be small,
but later years will be very great.
8gInquire of the previous generation, wonft you please?
Consider what their forefathers searched out.
9Because we are of yesterday and we know nothing,
for our time on earth is only a shadow.
10Wonft they instruct you, and tell you,
and bring out words from the heart?
11gCan papyrus grow where therefs no marsh?
Can reeds flourish without water?
12While they are still green
and not yet ready to be harvested,
they wither before any plant.
13Such are the paths of everyone who forgets God\
the hope of the godless will be destroyed:
14his confidence is shattered;
his trust is in a spiderfs web.
15He leans against his house,
but it wonft stand;
he grabs hold of it firmly,
but it doesnft last.
16He is a fresh sapling planted in the sunlight,
spreading out its branches over its garden.
17Its roots weave around a pile of stones,
seeking to entrench itself among the rocks.
18If he is uprooted from his place,
then it will deny him:
eI never saw you.f
19gIndeed, this is the benefit of Godfs way:
from the soil other plants will sprout.
20Surely God wonft reject those who are blameless
or hold hands with those who practice evil.
21He will soon fill your mouth with laughter,
and your lips will shout with joy.
22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
and the tent of the wicked will no longer exist.
Chapter 9
1This was Jobfs response:
2gIndeed, Ifm fully aware that this is so,
but how can a person become right with God?
3If one were to seek to argue with him,
he wonft be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.
4He is wise in heart and strong in will\
who can be stubborn against him and succeed?
5gHe removes mountains without their knowledge,
overthrowing them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth from its orbit,
so that its foundations shudder.
7He commands the sun so that it doesnft shine
and seals up the stars.
8He alone spreads out the heavens,
he walks on the waves of the sea.
9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades,
and the southern constellations.
10He does great things that cannot be explained,
and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.
11gIf he were to pass near me, I wouldnft notice;
if he moves by, I wouldnft perceive him.
12Indeed, if he snatches someone away,
who could restrain him?
Who can say to him, eWhat are you doing?f
13gGod doesnft restrain his anger.
Rahabfs assistants are humiliated under him.
14So how am I to answer him,
choosing what I am to say to him?
15Even if Ifm in the right,
I cannot answer him.
I can only appeal for mercy.
16gWere I to be summoned, and he were to answer me,
I wouldnft even believe
that he was listening to what I have to say.
17For he crushes me with a storm,
and keeps on wounding me for no reason.
18He wonft let me catch my breath;
instead, he fills me with bitterness.
19gIs this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger!
Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?
20Though Ifm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me;
though Ifm blameless, hefll pronounce me as guilty.
21gIfm blameless;
I donft know myself;
I despise my life.
22I say itfs all the same\
he destroys both the blameless and the guilty.
23If a calamity causes sudden death,
hefll mock at the despair of the innocent.
24A land is given into the hands of a wicked person;
he covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not God, then who is it?h
25gMy days pass faster than a runner;
but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.
26They pass by like a ship made of reeds,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I were to say, eLet me forget my complaint,f
change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,
28then I still dread all of my suffering;
I know you still wonft acquit me.
29I will be condemned,
so why should I wear myself out with this futility?
30gIf I wash myself with water from snow,
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31youfll still drop me into the Pit,
and my own clothes will despise me.
32Hefs not a man like me,
so that I can answer him,
or that we can enter into litigation with one another.
33There is not yet a mediator between us,
who would set his hand on the two of us,
34removing his rod from me,
and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.
35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him,
because Ifm not like that inside myself.h
Chapter 10
1gI am disgusted with living,
so Ifm going to talk about my complaint freely.
Ifll speak out from the bitterness of my soul.
2Ifll say to God,
eDonft condemn me!
Let me know why you are fighting me.
3Does it delight you to oppress
or despise what you have made,
while you smile at the plans of the wicked?
4Do you have eyes made of flesh?
Can you look at things as humans do?
5Can you live only as long as a human being?
Or live the years of a mortal man?
6geFor you seek out my iniquity
and search for my sin.
7Although you know that Ifm not guilty,
therefs no one to deliver me from you!
8Your hands formed and fashioned me,
but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides.
9gePlease remember that youfve made me like clay
and youfll return me to dust.
10Didnft you pour me out like milk
and let me congeal like cheese?
11You covered me with skin and flesh,
weaving me together with bones and sinews.
12You gave life and gracious love to me;
your providential care has preserved my spirit.
13But youfve hidden these things in your heart\
I know this was your purpose:
14If I sin, you watch me
and wonft acquit me for my iniquity.
15geWoe to me if Ifm guilty!
If Ifm innocent, I cannot lift my head,
because I am filled with disgrace.
Look at my affliction!
16But if I do lift up my head,
you will hunt me like a lion!
You will perform miracles in order to fight against me.
17geYou have brought new witnesses against me,
youfre even more angry with me\
youfve brought fresh troops to attack me!
18So why did you bring me out from the womb?
I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me,
19as if I had never existed;
carried from the womb to the grave.
20My days are so few, arenft they?
So leave me alone, then,
so I can smile a little
21before I go, never to return,
leaving for the land of deep darkness and shadow.
22Itfs a gloomy land, like deepest darkness;
where therefs no order,
and where even the brightness is like darkness.fh
Chapter 11
1Zophar from Naamath had this to say:
2gShouldnft a multitude of words be answered,
or a person who talks too much be vindicated?
3Will your irrational babble silence people,
and when you mock them,
will you escape without being shamed?
4Youfve said, eMy teaching is flawless;
Ifm clean in Godfs sight.f
5gBut what if God were to speak?
What if he were to talk with you,
6and disclose his wise secrets?
After all, therefs so much more to understanding.
So be aware that God will exact from you
less than your sin deserves.h
7gCan you search through Godfs complex things?
Can you uncover the limits of the Almighty?
8These things are higher than the heavens,
so what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol,
so what can you know?
9They are longer than the earthfs circumference,
and broader than the ocean.
10gIf he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court,
who can stop him?
11For he knows mankindfs deceitfulness;
when he sees iniquity, wonft he himself consider it?
12An empty-headed person will gain understanding
when a wild donkey is born a human being!h
13gNow for you, if you will prepare your heart,
spread out your hands to him.
14If you have any iniquity, throw it far away.
Donft let evil live in your residence.
15Then your confidence will be flawless,
and your security will keep you from terror.
16Youfll forget your suffering;
youfll remember it like water that has evaporated.
17Your life will be brighter than noonday.
Even its darkness will be like dawn.
18Youfll be secure, because there is hope;
youfll see that youfre at rest and safe.
19When you sleep, therefll be nothing to fear;
and many will court your favor.
20But what the wicked look for will fail;
their way of escape will be taken away from them;
their only hope is to take their final breath.h
Chapter 12
1In response Job replied:
2gTruly, you are the people
and wisdom will die with you!
3Like you, I also have understanding.
Ifm not inferior to you;
who doesnft know things like this?h
4gIfm a laughingstock to my friends,
someone who called on God.
But then he answered this upright and blameless man,
and I have become a laughingstock.
5The carefree are thinking, eI have contempt for misfortune,f
Those who are about to stumble deserve it.
6The tents of robbers are at rest,
and those who provoke God are secure,
that is, those who carry their god in their pocket.
7gAsk the wild animals, and theyfll teach you;
the birds of the sky will tell you.
8Or ask the green plants of the earth and theyfll teach you;
let the fish in the sea tell you.
9Who among all of these doesnft know
that the Lordfs hand made them,
10and that the life of every living thing rests in his control,
along with the breath of every living human being?
11The ear scrutinizes speech
just as the palate tastes food.h
12gWisdom may be found in the company of the aged.
Understanding comes with longevity.
13With God is wisdom and strength;
counsel and understanding belongs to him.
14When he tears down, nobody rebuilds;
when he incarcerates, nobody escapes.
15When he withholds water, rivers dry up;
when he lets them loose, theyfll flood the land.
16gWith God are strength and sound wisdom;
both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him.
17He leads counselors away naked;
he turns judges into fools.
18He strips away the authority of kings to punish
and puts them in prison clothes instead.
19He leads away the priests naked
and overthrows the ruling class.
20He keeps reliable advisors from speaking,
and removes discernment from elders.
21He pours contempt on nobles
and embarrasses the mighty.
22He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness,
bringing what is in deep shadow to light.
23He makes nations great, and then destroys them;
he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.
24He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world,
causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness.
25They grope in the dark without light;
he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard.h
Chapter 13
1gLook, Ifve seen everything;
Ifve listened carefully and I understand.
2What you know, I know, too;
Ifm not inferior to you.
3But I want to talk to the Almighty;
and Ifm determined to argue my case before God.h
4gBut as for you, you whitewash with lies;
all of you are worthless quacks.
5I wish youfd all just shut up.
Then at least you would appear to be wise.
6gNow listen to my dispute!
Pay attention to my arguments.
7Why do you speak falsely on Godfs behalf
and speak deceitfully about him?
8Will you show partiality to him?
Will you plead Godfs case?
9Will things go well for you under his cross-examination?
Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?
10gHe will be sure to rebuke you,
if you show partiality in secret.
11His splendor will petrify you with terror,
paralyzing you with fear, wonft it?
12Your maxims are just worthless proverbs;
your defensive arguments are made of clay.h
13gDonft talk to me! Itfs my turn to speak;
then whatever happens, happens.
14Why shouldnft I bite my flesh
or take my life in my hands?
15Even though he kills me,
Ifll continue to hope in him.
At least Ifll be able to argue my case to his face!
16I have this as my salvation:
the godless person wonft be appearing before him.
17Pay attention to what I have to say
and listen to my testimony with your own ears.h
18gLook, now! Ifve prepared my case for court.
I know that Ifm going to win.
19Who can oppose me?
If they do, Ifll be silent and die.
20Grant me only two things as you deal with me;
then I wonft hide from you.
21Withdraw your hand far from me
and keep me from being petrified with terror.
22Then call and Ifll answer,
or let me speak and then you reply to me!h
23gHow many of my iniquities and sins have you counted?
Show me my transgression and sin.
24Why do you hide your face
and regard me as your enemy?
25Are you a god who would make a leaf tremble
or who would prosecute a dry straw?
26Youfve accused me of bitter things;
youfve caused me to reap the sins of my youth.
27Youfve locked my feet in stocks;
you watch all my steps;
Youfve limited where I can walk.
28So Ifm a man who wears out like something rotten,
like a garment that has become moth-eaten.h
Chapter 14
1Human beings born by women
are short-lived and full of trouble.
2He springs up like a flower and then withers.
Like a shadow, he disappears and doesnft last.
3Indeed, have you opened your eyes on one like this\
to bring me into a legal fight with you?
4Who can produce a clean thing from an unclean thing?
No one!
5Since his days have been determined,
the number of his months is known to you.
Youfve set his limit
and he cannot exceed it.
6Look away from him and leave him alone,
so he can enjoy his time, like a hired worker.h
7gThere is hope for the tree, if it is cut down,
that it will sprout again,
and that its shoots wonft stop growing.
8Even if its roots have grown ancient in the earth,
and its stump begins to rot in the ground,
9the presence of water will make it to bud
so that it sprouts new branches like a young plant.
10gBut when a person dies and wastes away,
when a person breathes his last, where will he be?
11As water disappears from the sea,
or water evaporates from a river,
12so also a person lies down and does not get up;
they wonft awaken until the heavens are no more,
nor will they arise from their sleep.h
13gWonft you keep me safe in the afterlife?
Conceal me until your anger subsides.
Set an appointment for me,
then remember me.
14If a human being dies, will he live again?
I will endure the entire time of my assigned service,
until I am changed.
15Youfll call and Ifll answer you;
youfll long for your creatures that your hands have made.
16Then youfll certainly count every step I took,
but you wonft keep an inventory of my sin.
17My transgressions would be sealed up in a bag;
you would cover over my sins.
18gMountains fall and crumble;
rocks are dislodged from their places.
19Water wears away stones;
floods wash away topsoil from the land\
but you destroy the hope of human beings just like that!
20You overpower him once and for all, and then he departs;
you change his appearance and then send him away.
21gIf his children are honored, he doesnft know it;
if they become insignificant, he never perceives it.
22He feels only his own pain,
and grieves only for himself.h
Chapter 15
1Then Eliphaz from Teman responded:
2gShould a wise person respond with knowledge based on wind?
Should he fill his stomach with a wind storm from the east?
3Should he engage in unprofitable argument,
or give a speech that benefits no one?
4Yet you dispense with fear of God
and hinder meditations before God.
5Because your sin dictates your speech,
you have chosen the language of the crafty.
6Your own mouth is condemning you, not I;
your own lips will testify against you.h
7gWere you the first personto be born?
Were you brought forth before the hills were made?
8Have you listened in on Godfs secret council?
Have you limited wisdom only to yourself?
9What do you know that we donft know,
or that you understand and that isnft clear to us?
10gWe have both the gray-haired and the aged with us,
and they are far older than your father.
11Are Godfs encouragements inconsequential to you,
even a word that has been spoken gently to you?
12Why have your emotions carried you away?
And why do your eyes flash
13that you turn your anger against God
and speak words like this?
14gWhat is mankind, that he can be blameless?
Or does being born of a woman mean hefll be in the right?
15Look, if God doesnft trust his holy ones,
if even the heavens arenft pure as he looks at them,
16then how much less is one who is abhorred and corrupted,
such as a man who drinks injustice like water?h
17gIfll tell you what, listen to me!
Let me relate what Ifve seen,
18which is what wise men have explained,
who didnft withhold anything from their ancestors.
19To them alone was the land given,
when no invader passed through their midst.
20gThe wicked person writhes in pain throughout his life,
a number of years has been reserved for the ruthless.
21Terrifying sounds ring in his ears;
when times are prosperous, the Destroyer will attack him.
22He does not believe he will escape darkness;
he is destined for the sword.
23He wanders around for food\where is it?
He knows that a time of darkness is near.
24Distress and pressure terrify him;
they overwhelm him, like a king poised for attack.
25gFor he has raised his fist against God,
defying the Almighty.
26He defiantly ran against him
carrying his thick, reinforced shield.
27Though he covered his face with fat,
and is grossly overweight at the waist,
28He will live in devastated towns,
in abandoned houses
that are about to become heaps of rubble.
29gHe wonft become rich and his wealth wonft last;
he wonft expand his holdings to cover the land.
30He wonft escape darkness;
a flame will wither his shoots;
and hefll depart by the breath of Godfs mouth.
31Let him not trust in a worthless speech.
He leads only himself astray,
for emptiness will be his reward.
32This will be accomplished before his time;
his branches wonft grow luxuriant.
33gHe is like a vine that drops its unripe grapes;
like an olive tree that loses its blossoms.
34For the company of the godless is desolation,
and fire consumes the tents of those who bribe.
35For they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity;
their womb is pregnant with deception.h
Chapter 16
1In response, Job said:
2gIfve heard many things like this.
What miserable comforters you all are!
3Will windy words like yours never end?
What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?
4gI could also talk like you
if only you were in my place!
Then I would put together an argument against you.
I would shake my head at you
5and encourage you with what I have to say;
my words of comfort would lessen your pain.
6gBut if I speak, my pain isnft assuaged;
if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?h
7gGod has certainly worn me out;
you devastated my entire world.
8Youfve arrested me, making me testify against myself!
My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing me to my face.
9His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me;
he gnashes his teeth at me.
My adversary glares at me.
10People gaped at me with mouths wide open;
they slap me in their scorn
and gather together against me.
11God has delivered me over to the ungodly,
throwing me into the control of the wicked.
12gHe tore me apart when I was at ease;
grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces\
then he really made me his target.
13His archers surround me,
slashing open my kidneys without pity;
he pours out my gall on the ground.
14Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses!
He runs over me like a mighty warrior.
15gIfve even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin;
Ifve buried my strength in the dust.
16My face is red from my tears,
and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,
17even though violence is not my intention,
and my prayer is pure.h
18gListen, earth! Donft cover my blood,
for my outcry has no place to rest.
19Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven,
my Advocate is on high.
20My friends mock me,
while my eyes overflow with tears to God,
21crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God;
as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.
22For when only a few years have elapsed,
Ifll start down a path from which Ifll never return.h
Chapter 17
1gMy spirit is crushed,
my days are over;
itfs the grave for me!
2Mockers surround me;
I cannot stop staring at their hostility all through the night.
3Offer, then, some collateral on my behalf.
Is there anyone who will be my guarantor?
4gBecause youfre the one who closed their hearts to compassion;
therefore, you wonft let them triumph.
5Now as for the one who testifies against his friends
to take their property,
even the eyes of his children will fail.
6gHe has made me a byword among people;
Ifm being spit on in the face.
7My eyes have grown weak from grief;
and my whole body is as thin as a shadow.
8The upright are appalled over this,
and the innocent person is troubled by the godless.
9But the righteous person will hold to his way,
and those with clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.h
10gCome here now, all of you,
and I wonft find a wise person among you.
11My days are passed;
my plans have been shattered;
along with my heartfs desires.
12They have transformed night into day\
eThe light,f they say, eis about to become dark.f
13gIf my hope were that my house is the afterlife itself,
if I were to make my bed in darkness,
14if I call out to the Pit, eYoufre my father!f
or say to the worm, eMy mother!f or eMy sister!f
15where would my hope be?
gAnd speaking of my hope, who would notice it?
16Will it go down to the bars that lock the doors of the afterlife?
Will we descend together into the dust?h
Chapter 18
1Bildad from Shuah replied, saying:
2gWhen are you going to stop your word hunt?
Think first, and then we can talk.
3Why do you think wefre like dumb animals?
Do you think wefre stupid?
4Youfre tearing yourself to pieces in your anger.
Will the land be abandoned because of you,
or the rock be moved from its place?h
5gIndeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished;
the flame from his fire doesnft shine.
6Light in his tent is dark,
and his lamp goes out above him.
7His strong steps are restricted,
and his own advice trips him up.
8gFor he has stumbled into a net with his own feet;
he walked right into the network!
9The trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare tightens its hold on him.
10A rope lies hidden in the dirt;
a trap lies waiting for him where he is walking.h
11gHe is petrified by terror that surrounds him on all sides;
they chase at his heels.
12He is starved for strength;
and is ripe for a fall.
13Something gnaws on his skin;
a deadly disease consumes his limbs.
14Torn from the security of his home,
he is brought before the king of terrors.
15gTherefs nothing in his tent that belongs to him;
sulfur is scattered all over his dwelling place.
16His roots wither underneath,
while his branches above are being cut off.
17No one remembers him anywhere in the land;
no one names streets in his honor.
18He is driven away from light to darkness,
made to wander the landscape.
19He has no children or descendants within his own people;
and no survivors where he once lived.
20People who live west of him are appalled at his fate;
those who live east of him are seized with terror.
21Indeed, the residences of the wicked are like this;
and so are the homes of those who donft know God.h
Chapter 19
1In response, Job said:
2gHow long do you intend to keep torturing me
and trying to break me by what youfre saying?
3Ten times youfve tried to humiliate me!
Youfre not ashamed to wrong me!
4Even if itfs true that Ifve erred,
my error only affects me.
5If you really intend to vaunt yourselves over me,
and make my problems the basis of your case against me,
6then at least you must know that God has accused me of wrong,
and trapped me with his net.h
7gAlthough I cried out eViolence!f
I received no answer;
I cried for help,
but there was no justice.
8He blocked my path,
so I cannot pass;
and he turned out the lights on my pathways.
9gHe has stripped me of my honor;
he has stolen the crown off my head!
10He is breaking me down on every side,
and now itfs too late for me;
he has uprooted my hopes like a tree.
11His anger burns against me;
he regards me as his adversary.
12His troops march in a column against me,
erecting their siege ramps against me;
they surround my tent.h
13gMy brothers are alienated from me;
my acquaintances are estranged;
14my relatives have failed me;
and my friends have abandoned me.
15Those who live in my house\
and my maidservants, too!\
treat me like a stranger;
they think Ifm a foreigner.
16gI call to my servant,
but he doesnft respond,
even though I beg to him earnestly.
17My wife says my breath stinks;
even my children say I smell bad!
18Even little children hate me;
when I get up, they mock me.
19My closest friends detest me;
even the ones I love have turned against me.
20Ifm a pile of skin and bones;
I have barely escaped by the skin of my teeth.h
21gBe gracious to me, be gracious to me, my friends,
because Godfs hand has struck me.
22Why are you chasing me, as God has been doing?
Arenft you satisfied that Ifm sick?
23If only my words were written down;
if only they were inscribed in a book
24using an iron stylus with lead for ink!
Then theyfd be engraved in rock forever.
25gAs for me, I know that my Vindicator is alive;
And he, the Last One, will take his stand on the soil.
26Even after my skin has been destroyed,
clothed in my flesh I will see God,
27whom I will see for myself.
My own eyes will look at him\
there wonft be anyone else for me!\
He is the culmination of my innermost desire.h
28gWhen youfre thinking about asking yourselves,
eHow will we pursue him,
since the root of the problem is with him?f
29Make sure that you remain wary of Godfs sword,
for Godfs wrath brings with it the sword of punishment,
by which youfll know therefs a judgment.h
Chapter 20
1Then Zophar from Naamath replied:
2gTherefore my anxious thoughts cause me to answer
because Ifm agitated within me.
3Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke,
I respond from my spirit because I understand.h
4gHavenft you known this from ancient times,
since mankind was placed on the earth?
5The wicked triumph only briefly;
the joy of the godless is momentary.
6Though he grow as tall as the sky,
or though his head touches the clouds,
7hefll perish forever, like his own excrement;
those who saw him will ask, eWhere is he?f
8Hefll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him;
he will be chased away like a night vision.h
9gAn eye that gazes at him wonft do so again;
and his place wonft even recognize him.
10His sons will make amends to the poor;
their hands will return his wealth.
11Though his bones were full of youthful vigor;
yet they will lie down with him in the dust.
12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth,
though he conceals it under his tongue,
13though he savors it and delays swallowing it
so he can taste it again and again in his mouth,
14his food will turn rancid in his stomach\
it will become a cobrafs poison inside him.
15gThough he swallows wealth, he will vomit it;
God will dislodge it from his stomach.
16He will suck the poison of cobras;
the fangs of a viper will slay him.
17He wonft look at the rivers\
the torrents of honey and curd.
18gHe will restore what he has attained from his work
and wonft consume it;
he wonft enjoy the profits from his business transactions,
19because he has crushed and abandoned the poor;
he has seized a house that he didnft build.
20gSince his appetite wonft quit;
he wonft let anything escape his lust.
21Because nothing was left for him to devour,
therefore his prosperity wonft last.
22Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers\
everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.
23gIt will come about that,
when he has filled himself to the full,
God will vent his burning anger on him;
he will pour it out on him and on his body.
24Though he dodges an iron weapon,
a bronze arrow will pierce him.
25It will impale him and come out through his back;
the point will glisten as it protrudes through his gall bladder,
and he will be terrified.
26gTotal darkness has been reserved for his treasures;
a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him
and consume whatever remains in his possession.
27Heaven will reveal his iniquity,
while the earth will rise up against him.
28A flood will wash away his house;
dragging it away when God becomes angry.
29This is what the wicked person inherits from God;
it is the inheritance that God appoints for him.h
Chapter 21
1In response, Job said:
2gListen carefully to my words;
let this encourage all of you.
3Bear with me and let me speak!
Then, after Ifve spoken, youfll be free to mock me.
4After all, isnft my complaint against a human being?
 If so, why shouldnft I be impatient?
5Look at me, be appalled,
and then shut up!
6When I think about this, Ifm petrified with terror
and my body shudders uncontrollably.h
7gWhy do the wicked live to reach old age
and increase in power and wealth, too?
8Their children grow up while theyfre alive,
and they live to see their grandchildren.
9Their houses are safe from fear,
and Godfs chastisement never visits them.
10Their bull breeds without fail,
and their cows calve without miscarriages.
11They release their children to play like sheep;
their young ones dance about,
12singing with tambourines and lyres
as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.
13They grow old in prosperity,
as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.
14gThey say to God, eTurn away from us!
We have no desire to know your ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
Wherefs the profit in talking to him?f
16Behold! Their prosperity isnft in their control!
The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.h
17gHow often do the wicked have their lights put out?
Does calamity ever fall on them?
Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction?
18May they become like a straw,
blown away before the wind;
like a chaff thatfs swept off by a storm.
19God stores up their iniquity to repay their children;
making them repay so that they may be aware.
20Their own eyes will see their destruction;
and theyfll drink the wrath of the Almighty.
21What will they care for their household after them,
when the number of his months comes to an end?h
22gCan God learn anything?
After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.
23Such persons will die in their full vigor,
completely prosperous and secure.
24His buckets are filled with milk,
his bone marrow is healthy.
25Others die with a bitter soul,
never having tasted the good life.
26They both lie down in the dust;
and worms cover them.h
27gLook! I know your thoughts,
your plans are going to harm me.
28You ask, eWhere is the noble personfs house?f
and eWhere are the tents where the wicked live?f
29Havenft you asked travelers on the highway?
Donft you accept their word
30that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity,
that he is rescued on the day of wrath?
31Who will expose his conduct to his face?
Who will repay him for what he has done
32when he is carried away to the cemetery
and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?
33The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him;
everyone will follow after him;
countless crows march ahead of him.
34How then, can you console me so worthlessly?
What is left of your answers is treachery.h
Chapter 22
1Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said:
2gCan a human being be useful to God,
since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself?
3Will it please the Almighty if you are innocent,
or does he profit if your life is blameless?
4Will he acquit you just because you fear him,
and render a verdict on your behalf?
5Your wickedness is great, isnft it?
Therefs no limit to your iniquity, is there?
6gAfter all, youfve taken collateral from your relatives for no reason;
you stripped the naked of their clothing.
7Youfve neglected to give water to the weary,
and youfve withheld food from the hungry.
8The land belongs to the powerful,
and the privileged thrive in it.
9You sent away widows empty-handed,
and broke the outstretched arms of orphans.
10Thatfs why disaster surrounds you,
terror suddenly overwhelms you,
11you see nothing but darkness,
and a flood of troubles drowns you.h
12gIsnft God in heaven above?
Consider how far away the stars are,
and how lofty they are!
13Youfve asked, eWhat does God know?
Can he sort through pitch black darkness?f
14Thick clouds cover him so he canft see
as he walks back and forth at heavenfs horizon.
15gWill you keep walking on the traditional path
that sinners have tread,
16who were snatched away before their time;
when their foundation was swept away by a river?
17They told God, eGet away from us!f
and eWhat will the Almighty do to them?f
18gThough God fills their houses with good things,
the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.
19The righteous will see this and rejoice;
the innocent will insult him, saying,
20eOur enemies are sure to be destroyed,
and fire will burn up whatfs left of their riches.h
21gGet to know God, and youfll be at peace with him,
and then prosperity will come to you.
22Accept what he has to teach you,
and treasure his words in your heart.
23gIf you return to the Almighty youfll be restored,
as you remove iniquity from your household.
24Bury your gold nuggets in the dust,
and your source of gold among the stones in a streambed,
25and then the Almighty will be your gold
and your refined silver.
26gThen youfll take delight in the Almighty;
and will turn your face toward God.
27Youfll entreat him and hefll listen to you
as you fulfill your vows.
28When you make a decision on something,
it will be established for you,
and light will brighten your way.
29gFor when theyfre humbled, you may respond;
eItfs their pride!f
but he delivers the humble.
30Hefll even deliver the guilty,
who will be delivered through your innocence.h
Chapter 23
1Jobfs response was to say:
2gIfm still complaining bitterly today;
my hand is heavy because of groaning.
3If only I knew where to find him,
I would visit him where he has taken his seat.
4I would lay out my case before him;
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I know how he would answer me;
I understand what hefll tell me.
6gWould he use his great power to fight me?
No, hefll pay attention to me.
7In that place, the upright can reason with him;
and Ifll be acquitted once and for all by my judge.h
8gLook! If I go east, he isnft there!
If I go to the west, I donft perceive him.
9If hefs working in the north, I canft observe him;
If he turns south, I canft see him.
10Because he knows the road on which I travel,
when he had tested me, Ifll come out like gold.
11My feet stay where his footsteps lead;
I kept on his pathway and havenft turned aside.
12I havenft wandered away from the commands that he has spoken;
Ifve treasured what he has said more than my own meals.h
13gBut he is One\who can change him?
He does whatever he wants to do.
14Hefll complete what he has planned for me;
he has many things in mind for me!
15Thatfs why Ifm terrified at his presence!
When I think about it, Ifm afraid of him.
16God has caused me to faint;
the Almighty makes me terrified!
17Nevertheless, I havenft been silenced because of the darkness,
even when thick darkness obscures my vision.h
Chapter 24
1Why doesnft the Almighty reserve time for judgment?
and why donft those who know him perceive his days?
2They move boundary stones,
steal flocks, and pasture them.
3They drive away the orphanfs donkey;
they take the ox of the widow as security for a loan;
4They push the needy off the road,
and force the poor of the land into hiding.
5gLook! Like wild donkeys in the wilderness,
they work diligently as they seek wild game in the desert,
food for them and their young ones.
6They reap fodder in the field
and glean in the vineyard of the wicked.
7They spend the night naked, without clothing,
with no covering against the cold.
8They are wet from mountain rains;
without shelter, they cling to a rock.
9gThe fatherless are torn from the breast;
the poor are taken away as security for a loan.
10They wander around naked, without clothes;
hungry, though they carry sheaves of grain.
11They press oil between the olive groves owned by the wicked;
they suffer from thirst, even while treading the winepress.
12From the city, dying men groan aloud,
and the wounded cries out for help,
but God charges no one with wrong.
13gThen there are those who rebel against the light;
they are not acquainted with its ways;
and they donft stay on its course.
14The murderer rises at dawn to kill the poor and needy;
at night, he is like a thief.
15The adulterer watches for twilight,
saying, eNo eye is watching mef
while he veils his face.
16They break into houses in the dark;
during the day they remained sealed in.
They donft know daylight.
17As a group, deep darkness is their morning time;
fear that lives in darkness is their friend.h
18gThey remain only a short time on the waterfs surface;
their inheritance will be cursed in the land;
no one will work in their vineyards.
19As drought and heat evaporate melting snow,
thatfs what Sheol does with sinners.
20The womb will forget them.
Maggots will find them to be a delicacy!
They wonft be remembered anymore,
their iniquity will be cut to pieces like firewood.
21gThey prey on the barren woman,
and do no favors for widows.
22God prolongs the life of the strong by his power,
but they get up in the morning without purpose in life.
23He gives them security and financial support,
but he watches everything they do.
24Theyfre exalted momentarily, but then they are gone;
they are humbled, just like all the others.
They are cut down like heads of corn.
25If this werenft so, who can prove that Ifm a liar
by showing that therefs nothing to what Ifm saying?h
Chapter 25
1Bildad from Shuah responded and said:
2gDominion and fear belong to God;
who fashions peace in his high heaven.
3Is there any limit to his armies?
On whom does his light not shine?
4How can a human being become right with God?
How can a human being be pure?
5Behold, even the moon isnft bright,
and the stars arenft pure in his eyes.
6How much less is man, who is only a maggot,
or a manfs children, who are only worms!h
Chapter 26
1In reply, Job responded:
2gWhat a help you are to the weak!
How powerfully you deliver those without strength!
3What counsel you provide to the fool!
What insight you provide so abundantly!
4Who helped you say all of this?
Who inspired you?h
5gThe ghosts of the dead writhe under the waters
along with those who live there with them.
6Sheol is naked before God
and Abaddon has no clothes.
7he spreads out the north over empty space,
suspending the earth over nothing.
8gHe restricts the waters within clouds
and the clouds donft burst open under them.
9He has enclosed the face of the full moon
and spread his clouds over it.
10He has delimited a boundary over the surface of the oceans
as a limit between light and darkness.
11The pillars of the heavens tremble
and are astounded at his rebuke.
12By his power he disturbs the sea;
and with his skill he shatters the sea monster.
13he clears the skies with his wind;
his hands have pierced the fleeing serpent.
14Indeed, these are the fringes of his ways,
and how faint is the whisper wefve heard of it!
But who can comprehend the thunder of his might?h
Chapter 27
1Job continued with his discussion and said:
2gThe living God has withheld justice from me;
the Almighty has made my life bitter.
3As long as I can breathe;
as long as Godfs breath is in my nostrils,
4I wonft speak lies
nor will I utter deceit.
5Far be it from me to admit that youfre right!
I intend to maintain my integrity even if it kills me!
6Ifll retain my righteousness and not compromise it;
my conscience wonft rebuke me at any time.
7gMay my enemy be like the wicked;
my adversary like the unjust.
8For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated;
when God takes away his life?
9Will God hear his cry
when distress overtakes him?
10Will he take delight in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?h
11gIfll teach you about the power of God,
that which is with the Almighty I wonft conceal.
12Look! All of you have been watching,
so why have you become so completely worthless?
13gThis is what a wicked person inherits from God,
and what the ruthless will receive from the Almighty:
14If he has many children,
their destiny is to die by the sword,
and his descendants wonft have enough food.
15Those who do survive him disease will bury,
and his widow wonft even weep.
16gThough he hoards silver like dust,
and stores away garments like clay,
17whatever he stores up, the righteous will wear,
and the innocent will inherit that silver!
18gHe has built his house like a mothfs cocoon,
like a temporary sunshade that a watchman makes.
19He will go to bed wealthy,
but wonft be doing that anymore!
When he opens his eyes, it will be gone!
20Terror will overtake him like a flood,
at night, a tornado will sweep him away.
21Hefll be swept up by a storm wind and carried away;
hefll be whirled away from his place.
22It will toss him around without pity.
Hefll try to break free from its grip,
23but it will clap its hands over him,
hissing at him as it lunges toward him.h
Chapter 28
1gSurely there are mines for silver
and places where gold is refined.
2Iron is taken from the ground;
and copper is smelted from ore.
3Mankind limits the darkness
as they search the deepest depths
for ore in unfathomable darkness.
4He sinks his shaft far from human habitations,
in a place forgotten by explorers;
they hang on harnesses
as they swing back and forth.
5gWhile the ground produces food,
underneath it is torn up and burning hot,
6where stones are sapphire
and gold dust can be found,
7a place where birds of prey never fly,
and the eyes of the falcon have never seen.
8The proud beasts havenft walked there;
lions have never passed over it.
9gUsing a flint, he thrusts his hand,
overturning mountains by the roots.
10He cuts a channel through the rocks,
while his eyes search for anything of value.
11He dams up flowing rivers,
bringing hidden things to light.h
12gWhere can wisdom be found?
Where is understandingfs home?
13Mankind doesnft appreciate their value;
and you wonft find it anywhere on earth.
14The deepest ocean says, eItfs not within me.f
and the sea says, eYoufll never find it with me.f
15You canft buy it with gold,
and its value cannot be calculated in silver.
16It cannot be compared to gold from Ophir,
with precious onyx, or with sapphire.
17It cannot be compared to gold and fine glass crystal,
nor can it be exchanged for gold-plated weaponry.
18Donft even bother to mention coral and crystal\
wisdom is more valuable than a bag of rubies.
19It can neither be compared with the topaz of Ethiopia
nor valued in comparison to pure gold.h
20gFrom where, then, does wisdom originate?
Where does understanding live?
21It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature
and hidden even from the birds in the skies.
22Abaddon and death said,
eWe did hear a rumor about it.f
23God understands how to get there;
he knows where they live.
24For he looks as far as the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the sky.
25gHe imparted weight to the wind;
he regulated water by his measurement.
26He set in place ordinances for the rain;
and determined the pathway for thunder that accompanies lightning.
27Then he looked at wisdom,
and fixed it in place;
he established it,
and also examined it.
28He has commanded mankind:
eTo fear the Lord\that is wisdom;
to move away from evil\that is understanding.fh
Chapter 29
1Then Job continued with his discourse:
2gI wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago;
when God used to watch over me,
3when his lamp used to shine over my head,
so I could walk through the dark,
4like when I was in my prime
and God trusted me with his secrets!
5gThe Almighty was still with me back then,
and my children were still around me.
6I was successful wherever I went,
and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me.h
7gWhenever I went out to the city gate,
a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.
8The young men would see me and withdraw,
and the aged would rise and stand.
9Nobles would refrain from speaking,
covering their mouths with their hands.
10The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed,
and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths.h
11gWhen people heard me speak, they blessed me;
when people saw me, they approved me,
12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help,
along with orphans who had no one to help them.
13Those who were about to die blessed me,
and I made widows sing for joy.
14I put on righteousness like clothing;
my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
15I served as eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame.
16I was a father to the needy;
I diligently inquired into the case of those I didnft know.
17I broke the fangs of the wicked,
and made him drop the prey.h
18gI used to say: eI will die in my home.
Ifm going to live as many days
as there are grains of sand on the shore.
19My roots have spread out and have found water,
and dew settles at night on my branches.
20My glory renews for me
and my bow is as good as new in my hand.f
21gThey listened and waited for me,
as they remained in silence for my counsel.
22After I spoke, they had nothing to say,
when what I said hit them.
23They waited for me as one waits for rain,
as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.
24I smiled at them when they had no confidence,
and no one could discourage me.
25I set an example of the way to live, as a leader would;
I lived like a king among his army;
like one who comforts mourners.h
Chapter 30
1gBut now they mock me;
men who are far younger than I,
whose fathers I would have hated
to entrust with my own sheep dogs.
2Furthermore, what could I have gained
from men whose strength is gone?
3Unproductive due to poverty and hunger,
they could only scratch in parched soil,
devastated and desolated.
4gThey would pluck off herbs from salt marshes to eat;
and roots of the broom shrub for food.
5Driven away from human company,
they were shouted at as though they were thieves.
6They lived in the most dangerous of ravines,
in holes in the ground, and among rocks.
7They bray like donkeys among the bushes
and huddle together under the desert weeds.
8Sons of fools and of uncertain reputation,
they have been driven from the land by scourging.h
9gNow, Ifve become the object of their mocking melodies;
Ifm nothing but a foolfs proverb to them!
10They abhor me\they keep their distance from me;
but they donft refrain from spitting at the sight of me.
11But God has loosened his cord and afflicted me;
so theyfve cast off all restraints in my presence.
12gA wretched crowd ambushes me to my right;
they trip my feet;
they build up their path of calamity for me.
13They tear up my pathways;
they profit from my destruction,
and they need no help to do this!
14They come like those who breach through a wall;
as everything crashes around me theyfll roll on and on!
15My greatest fears have overcome me;
my honor is assaulted as though by a wind storm;
my prosperity evaporates like a morning cloud.h
16gNow, my soul pours itself out;
the time of my affliction has taken control of me.
17The night racks my bones;
and the pain that gnaws on me will not rest.
18My clothes are disheveled by his forceful treatment of me;
he restricts my movement like the collar of my cloak.
19gHe tossed me into the mire;
Ifve become like dust and ashes.
20I cry for help to you,
but you wonft answer me;
I stand still,
but you only look at me.
21You changed toward me, and now youfre cruel to me;
with your mighty hand you are persecuting me;
22you carried me off in a wind storm,
making me ride on it
while you toss me about as the storm roars around me.
23I know that youfre about to kill me,
so Ifm about to go to the house thatfs appointed for all the living.h
24gSurely he wonft stretch his hand against the needy, will he,
especially if they cry to him in their calamity?
25Havenft I wept for the one who is going through hard times?
Havenft I grieved for the needy?
26I have hoped for good, but evil came instead;
I have hoped for light, but darkness came.
27Ifm boiling mad inside, and I wonft remain silent;
the time for my affliction to confront me has arrived.
28gIn growing darkness, I walked without sunlight;
I stood in the congregation to cry for help.
29Ifve become a brother to jackals,
and a friend to ostriches.
30My skin turns black all over me;
and my bones seem burned from the heat.
31But my harp is in mourning;
my flute plays only songs for those who are weeping.h
Chapter 31
1gI made a covenant with my eyes;
how, then, can I focus my attention on a virgin?
2What would I have from God above,
what heritage from the Almighty on high,
3if not calamity that is due the unjust,
and misfortune that is due those who practice iniquity?
4He watches my life,
observing every one of my actions, does he not?h
5gIf Ifve lived my life in the company of vanity,
or run quickly to embrace deception,
6let my righteousness be weighed in honest scales,
and God will make known my integrity.
7If I have stepped away from the way,
or if my heart covets whatever my eyes see,
or if some other blemish clings to my hands,
8what Ifve planted, let another eat
or let my crops be uprooted.h
9gIf my heart has been seduced by a woman
and Ifve laid in wait at my friendfs door,
10then let my wife cook for another person
and may someone else sleep with her,
11because something as lascivious as that
is an iniquity that should be judged.
12The fires of Abaddon will burn,
disrupting every part of my eternal reward.h
13gIf Ifve refused to help my male and female servants
when they complain against me,
14what will I do when God stands up to act?
When he asks the questions, how will I answer him?
15The one who made me in the womb made them, too, didnft he?
Didnft the same one prepare each of us in the womb?h
16gIf I refused to grant the desire of the poor
or exhausted the eyes of the widow,
17if I ate my meals by myself
without feeding orphans,
18(even a poor man had grown up with me as if I were his father,
and even though I had guided the widow
from the time I was born)
19gIf Ifve observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes
or if I have no clothing to give to the poor,
20if he hadnft thanked me from the bottom of his heart,
if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep,
21if Ifve raised my hand against an orphan
when I thought I would against him in court,
22then let my arm fall from its socket;
and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder.
23For Ifm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me;
and I cannot endure his grandeur.h
24gIf Ifve put my confidence in gold,
if Ifve told gold, eYoufre my security,f
25if Ifve found joy in great wealth that I own,
if Ifve earned a lot with my own hands,
26if I look at the sun when it shines
or the moon as it rises in steady splendor,
27so that in the depths of my deceived heart
I worshipped them with my mouth and hands,
28this is also a sin that deserves to be judged,
since I would have tried to deceive God above.h
29gHave I rejoiced in the destruction of those who hate me,
or have I been happy that evil caught up with him?
30No, I havenft allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse.
31People in my household have said,
eWe cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,f havenft they?
32No stranger ever spent the night in the street,
because I opened my doors to travelers.h
33gHave I covered my transgression like other people,
to conceal iniquity within myself?
34Have I feared large crowds?
Has my familyfs contempt ever terrified me
so that I remained silent and wouldnft go outside?h
35gWho will grant me a hearing?
Herefs my signature\let the Almighty answer!
Since my adversary indicted me,
36Ifll wear it on my shoulder,
or tie it on my head for a crown!
37Ifll give an account for every step Ifve taken;
Ifll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief.h
38gIf my land were to cry out against me
or if all its furrows wept as one,
39If Ifve consumed its produce without paying for it
and snuffed out the life of its owners;
40may thorns spring up instead of wheat,
and obnoxious weeds instead of barley.h
With this, Jobfs discourse with his friends is completed.
Chapter 32
1These three men stopped responding to Job, because he was claiming to be righteous, in his own opinion. 2But then Barachelfs son Elihu from Buz, one of Ramfs descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating God. 3Furthermore, he was furious with his three friends because they had not answered Job, but instead had condemned him. 4Elihu waited to have a word with Job, since the others were older than he, 5but when he saw that there had been no response from those three, he got even more angry. 6Barachelfs son Elihu from Buz responded and said:
Ifm younger than you are.
Because youfre older, I was terrified
to tell you what I know.
7I thought, experience should speak;
abundance of years teaches wisdom.
8However, a spirit exists in mankind,
and the Almightyfs breath gives him insight.
9gThe aged arenft always wise,
nor do the elderly always understand justice.
10Therefore Ifm saying, eListen to me!f
Then Ifll declare what I know.
11gLook! I have waited to hear your speech,
so I listened to your insights
while you searched for the right words to say.
12Indeed, I paid close attention to you all,
but none of you were able to refute Job
or answer his arguments convincingly.
13gSo that you cannot claim, eWe have found wisdom!f
let God do the rebuking, not man;
14let him not direct a rebuke toward me.
I wonft be responding to him with your arguments.
15gJobfs friends wonft reason with him anymore;
discouraged, words escape them.
16Shall I continue to wait, since theyfre no longer talking?
After all, theyfre only standing there;
theyfre no longer responding.
17gI will contribute my arguments as an answer;
Ifll declare what I know,
18because Ifm filled with things to say,
and my spirit within me compels me to speak.
19My insides feel like unvented wine,
like itfs about to burst like a new wineskin.
20gLet me speak! I need relief!
Let me open my lips and respond.
21I wonft discriminate against anyone,
and I wonft flatter any person,
22since I donft know the first thing about how to flatter;
and the one who made me would sweep me away
as if I were nothing.h
Chapter 33
1gNow please listen to what I have to say, Job.
Listen to every word!
2Look! Ifve begun to speak,
and Ifm fashioning my words.
3I speak from the innocence of my heart;
and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.
4gThe spirit of God fashioned me;
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5Answer me, if you can!
Present your case! Take your stand in my presence!
6Look! As far as God is concerned, Ifm just like you are\
I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.
7Donft be afraid of me;
Ifll go easy on you.h
8gYou spoke clearly so I could hear;
Ifve heard what youfve said:
9eIfm pure. Ifm without sin;
Ifm innocent. Ifm harboring no iniquity inside of me.
10Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me;
he considers me his enemy.
11He has bound my feet in shackles,
and keeps watching everything I do.fh
12gYou arenft right about this;
My response is that God is greater than human beings.
13Why are you arguing with him?
He doesnft have to give explanations for what he does to you!
14gGod speaks time and time again\
but nobody notices\
15in a dream or night vision,
when a deep sleep falls on mankind
while they sleep on their beds.
16Thatfs when he opens the ear of mankind,
authenticating his messages to them,
17turning a person from his actions,
keeping him from pride,
18sparing his soul from the Pit
and his life from violent death.
19gJob is being reproved by painful bed rest,
with continuous aching in his bones.
20He cannot stand his food,
and he has no desire for appetizing food.
21His flesh wastes away;
his bones, which once couldnft be seen, are visible.
22His soul is getting close to the Pit;
his life is approaching its executioner.h
23gIf therefs a messenger appointed to mediate for Job
\one out of a thousand\
to represent the manfs integrity on his behalf,
24to show favor to him and to plead,
eDeliver him from having to go down to the Pit\
I know where his ransom is!f
25Let his flesh be rejuvenated as he was in his youth!
Let him recover the strength of his youth.
26Let him pray to God
and he will accept him;
he will appear before him with joyful shouts!h
27gHefll sing to mankind with these words:
eIfve sinned. I have twisted what is right.
Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.
28He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit;
my life will see the light.f
29Indeed God does all these things
again and again with a person
30to bring back his soul from the Pit;
to light him with the light of life.h
31gJob, pay attention! Listen to me!
Be silent and let me speak.
32If you have anything to say, answer me;
speak up, because Ifd be happy to vindicate you.
33But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me!
Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me.h
Chapter 34
1Elihu continued speaking, and said:
2gListen to what I have to say, you wise men!
Pay attention to me, you educated people!
3Since the ear tests words
like a palate tastes food,
4letfs choose whatfs right for us.
Letfs consider among ourselves what is good.h
5Now this is Jobfs claim:
eEven though Ifm innocent,
God has stopped treating me righteously.
6Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve?
My wound is incurable,
though transgression cannot be attributed to me.f
7gWhat man is like Job,
who drinks mockery like water,
8traffics in those who practice evil,
and walks with wicked people?
9Because he says, eTherefs no profit
for a man to find joy with God.fh
10gTherefore you men of understanding, listen to me!
Far be it for God to practice wickedness,
or the Almighty to do what is wrong,
11because he repays a person for his behavior;
and according to a personfs conduct,
he lets it happen to him.
12Truly, God doesnft practice wickedness,
and the Almighty doesnft pervert justice.
13Who entrusted the earth to him?
Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world?
14If he were to decide to do so,
that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life,
15every living thing would die all at once,
and mankind would return to dust.h
16If you have understanding, listen to this!
Pay attention to what I have to say:
17Can one who hates justice really govern?
And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him?
18Can one say to a king, eYoufre vile!f
or to nobles, eYoufre wicked!f?
19Who isnft partial to princes?
Who doesnft give preference to the nobles over the poor?
Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork.
20gThey die suddenly, in the middle of the night;
people suffer seizures and pass away;
even valiant men can be taken away\
and not by human hands.
21Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings;
he carefully observes their every step.
22Therefs no such thing as darkness to him\
not even deep darkness\
that can conceal those who practice evil.
23He wonft examine mankind further,
that they would go before God to judgment.
24He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate,
and he raises others in their place.
25Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them;
when night time comes, they are crushed.
26gHe strikes the wicked among them
in a place where they can be seen
27because theyfve abandoned their pursuit of him
and had no respect for any of his ways.
28As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him
and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.
29gIf he remains silent, who will condemn him?
If he conceals his face, who can see him?
He watches over both nation and individual alike,
30to keep the godless man from reigning
or laying a snare for the people.h
31gHas anyone ever really told God,
eIfve endured, and I wonft act corruptly anymore.
32What I donft see, instruct me!
If Ifve done anything evil, I wonft repeat it!f
33gShould you not be paid back,
since you have rejected him?
You do the choosing! I wonft!
Tell us what you know!
34gMen of understanding, speak to me!
Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me!
35Job has been speaking from his own ignorance,
and what he has to say lacks insight!
36Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial,
as a rebuke to those who practice evil,
37because he has been adding rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us,
and keeps on ranting against God.h
Chapter 35
1In response, Elihu said:
2gAre you saying that itfs just for you to claim,
eIfm more righteous than God?f
3After all, youfve asked what your benefit will be:
eWhat will I profit from refraining from sin?f
4Ifm going to respond to that statement,
and to your friends with you.h
5gObserve the heavens! Take a look around!
Look! The clouds are higher than you, arenft they?
6If you sin, what will that do to harm him?
If you add transgression to transgression
what will it do to him?
7If you are righteous, what will you add to him?
What can God receive from your efforts?
8Your wickedness affects only yourself;
and your righteousness, only human beings.
9gThey cry out because they have many oppressors;
they cry for help because the powerful are abusing them.
10He never asks, eWhere is God, my Creator,
who gives me songs in the night,
11who teaches us more than the earthfs wild animals,
and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?f
12gThey cry out there, but he doesnft answer
because of the arrogance of those who practice evil.
13Theirs is a useless plea\
God wonft listen;
the Almighty wonft pay any attention.
14Even though you complain that you canft perceive him,
your case is already pending for judgment in his presence
so keep on placing your hope in him.
15gSo now, if he doesnft inflict punishment in his anger,
then he doesnft keep track of your many transgressions.
16When he began speaking, he communicated only worthlessness;
he added words upon words without knowing anything.h
Chapter 36
1Elihu responded again and said:
2gBe patient with me a moment longer,
and Ifll show you that therefs more to say on Godfs behalf.
3Ifll take what I know to its logical conclusion
and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,
4because what I have to say isnft deceptive,
and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you.h
5gIndeed God is mighty and he doesnft show disrespect;
he is mighty and strong of heart.
6He doesnft let the wicked live;
he grants justice to the afflicted.
7He wonft stop looking at righteous people;
he seats them on thrones with kings forever,
and they are exalted.
8gIf theyfre bound in chains,
caught in ropes of affliction,
9hefll reveal their actions to them,
when their transgressions have become excessive.
10He opens their ears and instructs them,
commanding them to repent from evil.
11If they listen and serve him,
theyfll finish their lives in prosperity
and their years will be pleasant.
12gBut if they wonft listen,
theyfll perish by the sword
and die in their ignorance.
13The godless at heart cherish anger;
they wonft cry out for help when God afflicts them.
14They die in their youth;
and their life will end among temple prostitutes.
15Hefll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions
and open their ears when they are oppressed.h
16gIndeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress
to a spacious place without constraints,
filling your festive table with bountiful food.
17But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked;
but justice and judgment will be served.
18So that no one entices you with riches,
donft let a large ransom turn you astray.
19gWill your wealth sustain you when youfre in distress,
despite your most powerful efforts?
20Donft long for night,
when people vanish in their place.
21Be careful! Donft turn to evil,
because of this you will be tried by more than affliction.
22gIndeed, God is exalted in his power.
Who is like him as a teacher?
23Who ordained his path for him,
and who has asked him, eYou are wrong, arenft you?f
24Remember to magnify his awesome activities,
about which mortal man has sung.
25All of mankind sees him;
human beings observe him from afar off.h
26gGod is truly awesome, beyond what we know;
the number of his years is unknowable.
27He draws up drops of water,
distilling it to rain and mist.
28When the clouds pour down;
they drop their rain on all of humanity.
29gFurthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns,
or the thundering in his pavilion?
30He scatters his lightning above it,
and covers the bottom of the sea.
31He uses them to judge some people
and give food to many.
32His hands are covered with lightning
that he commands to strike his designated target.
33His thunder declares his presence;
and tells the animals what is coming.h
Chapter 37
1gNow Ifll conclude with this:
my heart is trembling violently;
it feels like itfs about to leap from my body!
2Listen carefully to his thundering voice;
to the sound that rumbles from his mouth.
3He releases his lightning throughout the sky,
to the ends of the earth.
4His thunder roars after it;
his majestic voice will thunder;
and no one can trace them
once his voice has been heard.
5gGod thunders with his wondrous voice;
he does awesome works that we donft comprehend.
6For he says to the snow, eFall to the earth.f
He tells the rain, ePour down,f
then it rains profusely.
7gHe puts a limit to the skill of every person;
to delineate all people from what they do.
8gThen a beast enters its lair
and remains in its den.
9gFrom the south, a whirlwind proceeds,
out of the icy north winds.
10From the breath of God ice is produced,
and a wide body of water is frozen.
11He also loads the clouds with moisture,
scattering his lightning with the clouds.
12It whirls about in circles at his direction
to accomplish all that he commands
throughout the surface of the entire world,
13whether for discipline on his land
or to demonstrate his gracious love,
he causes it to be realized.h
14gPay attention to this, Job!
Stand still,
and consider the wondrous attributes of God.
15Do you know how God ordains them,
and makes his lightning to flash throughout his clouds?
16Do you understand his wondrous work of balancing the clouds,
the one whose knowledge is perfect,
17you whose garments are hot,
even though the land is cooled by a south wind?
18Can you spread out the skies like he does;
can you cast them as one might a mirror?
19Tell us! What are we to say to him?
Can we prepare our case to face him
when our faces are in darkness?
20Has it been relayed to God that I want to talk?
Can a person speak when he is confused?h
21gSo then, the sun is too bright to gaze at, is it not?
The sky is swept clean by the wind that blows, is it not?
22From the north he brings gold;
around God is awesome splendor.
23We cannot find the Almighty\
he is majestic in power and justice,
and overflowing with righteousness;
he never oppresses.
24Therefore humanity fears him,
which none of the wise can quite comprehend.h
Chapter 38
1The Lord responded to Job from the whirlwind and said:
2gWho is this who keeps darkening my counsel
without knowing what hefs talking about?
3Stand up like a man!
Ifll ask you some questions,
and you give me some answers!h
4gWhere were you when I laid the foundation of my earth?
Tell me, since youfre so informed!
5Who set its measurement? Am I to assume you know?
Who stretched a boundary line over it?
6On what were its bases set?
Who laid its corner stone
7while the morning stars sang together
and all the divine beings shouted joyfully?
8gWho enclosed the sea with limits
when it gushed out of the womb,
9when I made clouds to be its clothes
and thick darkness its swaddling blanket,
10when I proscribed a boundary for it,
set in place bars and doors for it;
11and said, eYou may come only this far and no more.
Your majestic waves will stop here.f?
12gHave you ever commanded the morning at any time during your life?
Do you know where the dawn lives,
13where it seizes the edge of the earth
and shakes the wicked out of it?
14Like clay is molded by a signet ring,
the earthfs hills and valleys then stand out
like the colors of a garment.
15Then from the wicked their light is withheld
and their upraised arm is broken.
16gHave you been to the source of the sea
and walked about in the recesses of the deepest ocean?
17Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18Do you understand the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, since you know it all!
19gWhere is the road to where the light lives?
Or where does the darkness live?
20Can you take it to its homeland,
since you know the path to his house?
21You should know! After all, you had been born back then,
so the number of your days is great!
22gHave you entered the storehouses of the snow
or seen where the hail is stored,
23which Ifve reserved for the tribulation to come,
for the day of battle and war?
24Where is the lightning diffused
or the east wind scattered around the earth?
25gWho cuts canals for storm floods,
and paths for the lightning and thunder,
26to bring rain upon a land without inhabitants,
a desert in which no human beings live,
27to satisfy a desolate and devastated desert,
causing it to sprout vegetation?
28gDoes the rain have a father?
Who fathered the dew?
29Whose womb brings forth the ice?
Who gives birth to frost out of an empty sky,
30when water solidifies like stone
and the surface of the deepest sea freezes?
31gCan you bind the chains of Pleiades
or loosen the cords of Orion?
32Can you bring out constellations in their season?
Can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you regulate their authority over the earth?
34gCan you call out to the clouds,
so that abundant water drenches you?
35Can you command the lightning,
so that it goes forth and calls to you, eLook at us!f
36gWho sets wisdom within you,
or imbues your mind with understanding?
37Who has the wisdom to be able to count the clouds,
or to empty the water jars of heaven,
38when dust dries into a mass
and then breaks apart into clods?
39gCan you hunt prey for the lioness
to satisfy young lions
40when they crouch in their dens
and lie in ambush in their lairs?
41Who prepares food for the raven,
when its offspring cry out to God
as they wander for lack of food?h
Chapter 39
1gDo you know when the mountain goat gives birth?
Do you watch the doe as it calves its young?
2Can you count the months of their gestation?
Do you know the time when they give birth,
3when they crouch down to give birth to their offspring,
and let go of their birth pangs?
4Their young are strong;
they grow up in the open field;
then they go off
and donft return to them.h
5gWho sets the wild donkey free?
Who loosens the bonds of the wild donkey
6to whom Ifve given the Arabah for a home;
the salt plain for his dwelling place?
7He despises city noises;
he ignores the shouts of the driver.
8He ranges the mountains that are his pasture
to search for anything green.
9Is the wild ox willing to serve you?
Will he sleep at night near your feeding trough?
10Can you bind the ox to plow a furrow with a rope?
Will he harrow after you in the valley?
11Will you trust him because of his great strength
and entrust your labor to him?
12Will you trust him that hefll bring in your grain,
and gather it to your threshing floor?h
13gThe wings of the ostrich flap joyously,
but arenft its pinions and feathers like the stork?
14She abandons her eggs on the ground
and lets them be warmed in the sand,
15but she forgets that a foot might crush them
or any wild animal might trample them.
16She mistreats her young as though theyfre not hers,
and she has no fear that her labor may be in vain,
17because God didnft grant her wisdom
and never gave her understanding.
18And yet when she gets ready to run,
she laughs at the horse and its rider.h
19Do you instill the horse with strength?
Do you clothe its neck with a mane?
20Can you make him leap like the locust,
and make the splendor of his snorting terrifying?
21He paws the ground in the valley
and rejoices in his strength;
he goes out to face weapons.
22He scoffs at fear
and is never scared;
he never retreats from a sword.
23A quiver of arrows rattles against his side,
along with a flashing spear and a lance.
24Leaping in his excitement, he takes in the ground;
he cannot stand still when the trumpets sound!
25When the trumpet blasts hefll neigh, eAha! Aha!f
From a distance he can sense war,
the war cry of generals, and their shouting.h
26gIs it by your understanding that the hawk flies,
spreading its wings toward the south?
27Does the eagle soar high at your command
and build its nest on the highest crags?
28He dwells on the crags where he makes his home,
there on the rocky crag is his stronghold.
29From there he searches for prey,
and his eyes recognize it from a distance.
30His young ones feast on blood;
hefll be found wherever therefs a carcass.h
Chapter 40
1The Lord continued his response to Job by saying:
2gShould the one who is fighting the Almighty find fault with him?
Let Godfs accuser answer.h
3Then Job replied to the Lord. He said:
4gI must look insignificant to you!
How can I answer you?
Ifm speechless.
5I spoke once,
but I canft answer;
I tried a second time,
but I wonft do so anymore.h
6The Lord answered Job from the wind storm and told him:
7gStand up like a man!
Ifll ask you some questions,
and you give me some answers!
8Indeed would you annul my justice and condemn me,
just so you can claim that youfre righteous?
9Do you have strength like God?
Can you create thunder with a sound like he can?h
10gWhen you have adorned yourself with exalted majesty,
clothed yourself with splendor and dignity,
11dispensed the fury of your anger,
made sure that you have humbled every proud person,
12stared down and subdued every proud person,
trampled the wicked right where they are,
13buried them in the dust together,
and sent them bound to that secret place,
14then I will applaud you myself!
Ifll admit that you can deliver yourself by your own efforts!h
15gPlease observe Behemoth, which I made along with you.
He eats grass like an ox.
16Now take a look at the strength that he has in his loins,
and in the muscles of his abdomen.
17His tail protrudes stiffly, like cedar;
the sinews of his thigh interlink for strength.
18His bones are conduits of bronze;
his strong bones are like bars of iron.
19He is the grandest of Godfs undertakings,
yet his creator is approaching him with his sword.
20Mountains produce food for him,
where all the wild animals frolic.
21He lies under the lotus trees,
hiding under reeds and marshes.
22The lotus trees cover him with their shade,
and willows that line the wadis surround him.
23What you see as a raging river doesnft alarm him;
he is confident when the Jordan overflows.
24Are your eyes looking to capture him,
or to pierce his snout with a bridle?h
Chapter 41
1gCan you draw Leviathan out of the water with a hook,
or tie down his tongue with a rope?
2Can you attach a bridle to his snout,
or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3Will he make many supplications to you,
or will he beg you for mercy?
4Will he try to make a deal with you,
so that you may take him in servitude forever?
5gWill you play with him like a pet bird?
Will you put a leash on him for your little girls?
6Will your business be able to buy him,
Will you divide him among your merchant friends?
7Will you fill his flesh with harpoons,
or his head with lances?
8Lay your hand on him,
and youfll remember the struggle.
Youfll never do that again!
9gLook! Anyonefs hope to capture him will prove itself false;
anyone would be terrified just by looking at him.
10No one is fierce enough to dare to arouse him.
gWho, then, can stand in my presence and face me?
11Who can take me to court and be reconciled to me?
All of heaven is mine.
12gI wonft be silent concerning his limbs,
his mighty strength, and orderly frame.
13Who can strip off his outer armor?
Who can approach him with a bridle?
14Who dares to open his mouth,
since it is ringed with his terrible teeth!
15His protective scales are his pride,
they lie sealed tightly together.
16Each one is so close to the other
that not even air comes in between them.
17Each is attached to the other,
grasping each other so they cannot be separated.
18gHis snorting releases flashes of light;
his eyes are like the rays of the dawn.
19Flames blaze from his mouth;
streams of sparking fire fly out.
20Smoke billows from his nostrils;
like a boiling pot or burning reeds.
21His breath can ignite coal;
and flames proceed from his mouth.
22gHis neck is so powerful
that all who meet him are terrified.
23There is no flaw in his bodyfs armor;
it is firmly fixed on him and unbreachable.
24His heart is as strong as stone,
it is as hard as a lower millstone.
25When he rears up, the mighty are terrified;
they are bewildered as he thrashes about.
26gThrusting at him with a sword wonft be effective,
nor will spears, darts, or javelins.
27He regards iron like straw,
and hardened bronze like a dead tree.
28Arrows wonft make him flee;
stones from a sling are only pebbles to him.
29Clubs are like twigs;
he laughs at the whoosh of the javelin.
30gBeneath him he is armored as with sharp potsherds;
he tears through muddy ground
like a threshing sledge through grain.
31He causes the deep to boil like water in a pot,
and churns the sea like one stirs ointment.
32The sea is luminescent behind him;
his wake turns the sea white, like those with gray hair.
33gTherefs nothing like him on earth;
he was created without the ability to fear.
34He looks down on everything that is high;
he rules over every kind of pride.h
Chapter 42
1Job replied to the Lord:
2gI know that you can do anything
and nothing that you plan is impossible.
3You asked, eWho is this that darkens counsel without knowledge?f
Well now, I have talked about what I donft understand\
awesome things beyond me that I donft know.
4Listen now, and I will speak for myself;
Ifll interrogate you and then inform me.
5Ifve heard you with my ears;
and now Ifve seen you with my eyes.
6As a result, I despise myself and repent
in dust and ashes.h
7After these words had been spoken by the Lord to Job, the Lord spoke to Eliphaz from Teman: gMy anger is burning against you along with your two friends, since you havenft spoken correctly about me, as did my servant Job. 8So take seven bulls and seven rams and bring them to my servant Job. And bring a whole burnt offering for yourselves and my servant Job will pray for you. Ifll encourage him by not responding as your disgraceful folly deserves, since you didnft speak about me correctly as did my servant Job. 9So Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, and Zophar from Naamath did precisely as the Lord had spoken to them, because the Lord showed favor to Job.
10The Lord restored Jobfs prosperity after he prayed for his friends. The Lord doubled everything that Job had once possessed. 11Then all his brothers and sisters and all those who knew him before arrived. They ate food with him in his house, mourned for him, and consoled him for all the trouble that the Lord had brought and placed on him. Some gave him gold bullion and some brought gold earrings.
12The Lord blessed Job during the latter part of his life more than the former, since he owned 14,000 thousand sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. 13He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14He named the first daughter Jemima, the second Keziah, and the name of the third was Keren-happuch. 15No one could find more beautiful women in the whole land than Jobfs daughters. Their father gave them their inheritance along with their brothers. 16Job lived 140 years after this, and saw his children and grandchildren to the fourth generation. 17Then Job died at an old age, having lived a full life.
Psalms
Psalm 1
1How blessed is the person,
who does not take the advice of the wicked,
who does not stand on the path with sinners,
and who does not sit in the seat of mockers.
2But he delights in the Lordfs instruction,
and meditates in his instruction day and night.
3He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
yielding its fruit in its season,
and whose leaf does not wither.
He will prosper in everything he does.
4But this is not the case with the wicked.
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5Therefore the wicked will not escape judgment,
nor will sinners have a place in the assembly of the righteous.
6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.
Psalm 2
1Why are the nations in an uproar,
and their people involved in a vain plot?
2As the kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his anointed one, they say,
3gLet us tear off their shackles from us,
and cast off their chains.h
4He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5In his anger he rebukes them,
and in his wrath he terrifies them:
6gI have set my king on Zion,
my holy mountain.h
7Let me announce the decree of the LORD
that he told me:
gYou are my son,
today I have become your father.
8Ask of me, and I will give you
the nations as your inheritance,
the ends of the earth as your possession.
9You will break them with an iron rod,
you will shatter them like pottery.h
10Therefore, kings, act wisely!
Earthly rulers, be warned!
11Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the son before he becomes angry,
and you die where you stand.
Indeed, his wrath can flare up quickly.
How blessed are those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 3
0A Davidic Psalm, when he fled from his son Absalom.
1LORD, I have so many persecutors!
Many are rising up against me!
2Many are saying about me,
gGod will never deliver him!h - Interlude
3But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4I cry aloud to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. - Interlude
5I lie down and sleep,
I wake up, because the LORD sustains me.
6I will not fear multitudes of people,
who set themselves against me on every side.
7Arise, LORD!
Deliver me, my God!
For you strike the jaw of all my enemies,
and you break the teeth of the wicked.
8Deliverance comes from the LORD!
May your blessing be on your people. - Interlude
Psalm 4
0To the Director: With stringed instruments. A Davidic Psalm
1When I call, answer me,
my righteous God!
When I was in distress, you set me free.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
2You people,
how long will you malign my reputation?
How long will you love what is vain
 and what is false? - Interlude
3But understand this:
the LORD has set apart the godly for himself!
The LORD will hear me when I cry out to him!
4Be angry, yet do not sin.
Think about this when upon your beds,
and be silent. - Interlude
5Offer sacrifices that are righteous,
and put your confidence in the LORD.
6Many are asking, gWho will help us to see better days?h
LORD, may the light of your favor shine upon us.
7You have given me more joy in my heart than at harvest times,
when grain and wine abound.
8I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, LORD, enable me to live securely.
Psalm 5
0To the Director: For flutes. A Davidic Psalm
1LORD, listen to my words,
consider my groaning.
2Pay attention to my cry for help,
my king and my God,
for unto you will I pray.
3LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice;
in the morning I will pray to you,
and I will watch for your answer.
4Indeed, you arenft a God who delights in wickedness;
evil will never dwell with you.
5Boastful ones will not stand before you;
you hate all those who practice wickedness.
6You will destroy those who speak lies.
The LORD abhors the person of bloodshed and deceit.
7But I, because of the abundance of your gracious love,
may come into your house.
In awe of you, I will worship in your holy Temple.
8LORD, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies.
Make your path straight before me.
9But as for the wicked,
they do not speak truth at all.
Inside them there is only wickedness.
Their throat is an open grave,
on their tongue is deceitful flattery.
10Declare them guilty, God!
Let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them away because of their many transgressions,
for they have rebelled against you.
11Let all those who take refuge in you rejoice!
Let them shout for joy forever,
and may you protect them.
Let those who love your name exult in you.
12Indeed, you will bless the righteous one, LORD,
like a large shield, you will surround him with favor.
Psalm 6
0To the Director: With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Davidic Psalm
1LORD, in your anger, do not rebuke me,
in your wrath, do not discipline me.
2Be gracious to me, LORD,
because I am fading away.
Heal me,
because my body is distressed.
3And my soul is deeply distressed.
But you, LORD, how long do I wait?
4Return, LORD,
save my life!
Deliver me, because of your gracious love.
5In death, there is no memory of you.
Who will give you thanks where the dead are?
6I am weary from my groaning.
Every night my couch is drenched with tears,
my bed is soaked through.
7My eyesight has faded because of grief,
it has dimmed because of all my enemies.
8Get away from me, all of you who practice evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9The LORD has heard my plea;
the Lord receives my prayer.
10As for all my enemies, they will be put to shame;
they will be greatly frightened
and suddenly turn away ashamed.
Psalm 7
0A Davidic psalm, which he sang to the Lord, because of the words of Cush the descendant of Benjamin.
1LORD, my God,
I seek refuge in you.
Deliver me from those who persecute me!
Rescue me!
2Otherwise, they will rip me to shreds like a lion,
tearing me apart with no one to rescue me.
3LORD, my God, if I have done this thing,
if there is injustice on my hands,
4if I have rewarded those who did me good with evil,
if I have plundered my enemy without justification,
5then, let my enemy pursue me,
let him overtake me,
and let him trample my life to the ground. - Interlude
Let him put my honor into the dust.
6Get up, LORD, in your anger!
Rise up, because of the fury of my enemies;
Arouse yourself for me;
you have ordained justice.
7Let the assembly of the peoples gather around you,
and you will sit high above them.
8For the LORD will judge the peoples.
Judge me according to my righteousness, LORD,
and according to my integrity, Exalted One.
9Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous.
For you are the righteous God
who discerns the inner thoughts.
10God is my shield,
the one who delivers the upright in heart.
11God is a righteous judge,
a God who is angry with sinners every day.
12If the ungodly one doesnft repent,
God will sharpen his sword;
he will string his bow and prepare it.
13He prepares weapons of death for himself,
he makes his arrows into fiery shafts.
14But the wicked one travails with evil,
he conceives malice and gives birth to lies.
15He digs a pit, even excavates it;
 then he fell into the hole that he had made.
16The trouble he planned will return on his own head,
and his violence will descend on his skull.
17But as for me,
I will praise the LORD for his righteousness,
and I will sing to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 8
0To the Director: On a stringed instrument. A Davidic Psalm.
1LORD, our Lord,
how excellent is your name in all the earth!
You set your glory above the heavens!
2Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
you have established strength
on account of your adversaries,
in order to silence the enemy and vengeful foe.
3When I look at the heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you established\
4what is man that you take notice of him,
or the son of man that you pay attention to him?
5You made him a little less than divine,
but you crowned him with glory and honor.
6You gave him dominion over the work of your hands,
you put all things under his feet:
7Sheep and cattle\all of them,
wild creatures of the field,
8birds in the sky,
fish in the sea\
whatever moves through the currents of the oceans.
9LORD, our Lord,
how excellent is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 9
0To the Director: Accompanied by female voices. A Davidic Psalm.
1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
I will declare all your wonderful deeds.
2I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praises to your name, Most High!
3When my enemies turn back,
they will stumble and perish before you.
4For you have brought about justice for me and my cause;
you sit on the throne judging righteously.
5You rebuked the nations,
you destroyed the wicked,
you wiped out their name forever and ever.
6The enemy has perished,
reduced to ruins forever.
You uprooted their cities,
the very memory of them vanished.
7But the LORD sits on his throne forever;
his throne is established for judgment.
8He will judge the world righteously
and make just decisions for the people.
9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of distress.
10Those who know your name will trust you,
for you have not forsaken those who seek you, LORD.
11Sing praises to the LORD who dwells in Zion;
declare his mighty deeds among the peoples.
12As an avenger of blood, he remembers them;
he has not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.
13Be gracious to me, LORD,
take note of my affliction,
because of those who hate me.
You snatch me away from the gates of death,
14so I may declare everything for which you should be praised
in the gates of the daughter of Zion,
so I will rejoice in your deliverance.
15The nations have sunk down into the pit they made,
their feet are ensnared in the trap they set.
16The LORD has made himself known,
executing judgment.
The wicked are ensnared
by what their hands have made. - Interlude
17The wicked will turn back to where the dead are\
all the nations that have forgotten God.
18For he will not always overlook the plight of the poor,
nor will the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19Rise up, LORD,
do not let man prevail!
The nations will be judged in your presence.
20Make them afraid, LORD,
Let the nations know that they are only human. - Interlude
Psalm 10
1Why do you stand far away, LORD?
Why do you hide in times of distress?
2The wicked one arrogantly pursues the afflicted,
who are trapped in the schemes he devises.
3For the wicked one boasts about his own desire;
he blesses the greedy
and despises the LORD.
4With haughty arrogance, the wicked thinks,
gGod will not seek justice.h
He always presumes gThere is no God.h
5Their ways always seem prosperous.
Your judgments are on high,
far away from them.
They scoff at all their enemies.
6They say to themselves,
gWe will not be moved throughout all time,
and we will not experience adversity.h
7Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression,
their tongues spread trouble and iniquity.
8They wait in ambush in the villages,
they kill the innocent in secret.
9Their eyes secretly watch the helpless,
lying in wait like a lion in his den.
They lie in wait to catch the afflicted.
They catch the afflicted when they pull him into their net.
10The victim is crushed,
and he sinks down;
the helpless fall by their might.
11The wicked say to themselves,
gGod has forgotten,
he has hidden his face,
he will never see it.h
12Rise up, LORD!
Raise your hand, God.
Donft forget the afflicted!
13Why do the wicked despise God
and say to themselves, gGod will not seek justice.h?
14But you do see!
You take note of trouble and grief
in order to take the matter into your own hand.
The helpless one commits himself to you;
you have been the orphanfs helper.
15Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
so that when you seek out his wickedness
you will find it no more.
16The LORD is king forever and ever;
nations will perish from his land.
17LORD, you heard the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen them,
you will listen carefully,
18to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that men of the earth may cause terror no more.
Psalm 11
0To the Director: A Davidic Song.
1I take refuge in the LORD.
So how can you say to me,
gFlee like a bird to the mountains.h?
2Look, the wicked have bent their bow
and placed their arrow on the string,
to shoot from the darkness at the upright in heart.
3When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
4The LORD is in his holy Temple;
the LORDfs throne is in the heavens.
His eyes see,
his glance examines humanity.
5The LORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked and those who love violence, he hates.
6He rains on the wicked burning coals and sulfur;
a scorching wind is their destiny.
7Indeed, the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteousness;
the upright will see him face-to-face.
Psalm 12
0To the Director: On an eight stringed harp. A Davidic Psalm.
1Help, LORD, for godly people no longer exist;
trustworthy people have disappeared from humanity.
2Everyone speaks lies to his neighbor;
they speak with flattering lips and hidden motives.
3The LORD will cut off all slippery lips,
and the tongue that boasts great things,
4those who say,
gBy our tongues we will prevail;
our lips belong to us.
Who is master over us?h
5gBecause the poor are being oppressed,
because the needy are sighing,
I will now arise,h says the LORD,
gI will establish in safety those who yearn for it.h
6The words of the LORD are pure,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times over.
7You, LORD, will keep them safe,
you will guard them from this generation forever.
8The wicked, however, keep walking around,
exalting the vileness of human beings.
Psalm 13
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1How long? LORD, will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2How long must I struggle in my soul at night
and have sorrow in my heart during the day?
How long will my enemy rise up against me?
3Look at me!
Answer me, LORD, my God!
Give light to my eyes!
Otherwise, I will sleep in death;
4Otherwise, my enemy will say,
gI have overcome him;h
Otherwise, my persecutor will rejoice
when I am shaken.
5As for me, I have trusted in your gracious love,
my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6I will sing to the LORD,
for he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 14
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1Fools say to themselves, gThere is no God.h
They are corrupt and commit evil deeds;
not one of them practices what is good.
2The LORD looks down from the heavens upon humanity
to see if anyone shows discernment as he searches for God.
3All have turned away,
together they have become corrupt;
no one practices what is good, not even one.
4Will those who do evil ever learn?
They devour my people like they devour bread,
and never call on the LORD.
5There they are seized with terror,
because God is with those who are righteous.
6You would frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD is their refuge.
7May Israelfs deliverance come from Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice, and Israel will be glad.
Psalm 15
0A Davidic Psalm.
1LORD, who may stay in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
2The one who lives with integrity,
who does righteous deeds,
and who speaks truth to himself.
3The one who does not slander with his tongue,
who does no evil to his neighbor,
and who does not destroy his friendfs reputation.
4The one who despises those who are utterly wicked,
but who honors the one who fears the LORD,
who keeps his word even when it hurts and does not change,
5who does not loan his money with interest,
and who does not take a bribe against those who are innocent.
The one who does these things will stand firm forever.
Psalm 16
0A special Davidic Psalm.
1Keep me safe, God,
for I take refuge in you.
2I told the LORD,
gYou are my master,
I have nothing good apart from you.h
3As for the saints that are in the land,
they are noble, and all my delight is in them.
4Those who hurry after another god will have many sorrows;
I will not present their drink offerings of blood,
nor will my lips speak their names.
5The LORD is my inheritance and my cup;
you support my lot.
6The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places for me;
truly, I have a beautiful heritage.
7I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
indeed, my conscience instructs me during the night.
8I have set the LORD before me continually;
because he stands at my right hand, I will stand firm.
9Therefore, my heart is glad,
my whole being rejoices,
and my body will dwell securely.
10For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,
you will not allow your holy one to experience corruption.
11You cause me to know the path of life;
in your presence is joyful abundance,
at your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 17
0A Davidic Prayer.
1LORD, hear my just plea!
Pay attention to my cry!
Listen to my prayer,
since it does not come from lying lips.
2Justice for me will come from your presence;
your eyes see what is right.
3When you probe my heart,
and examine me at night;
when you refine me,
you will find nothing wrong,
for I have determined that I will not transgress with my mouth.
4As for the ways of mankind,
I have, according to the words of your lips,
avoided the ways of the violent.
5Because my steps have held fast to your paths,
my footsteps have not faltered.
6I call upon you, for you will answer me, God.
Listen closely to me
and hear my prayer.
7Show forth your gracious love,
save those who take refuge in you
from those who rebel against your sovereign power.
8Protect me as the most precious part of the eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings
9from the wicked who have afflicted me,
from my enemies who have surrounded me.
10They are imprisoned by their own prosperity,
they have boasted proudly with their mouth.
11Now they have encircled our paths
and are determined to cast us down to the ground.
12Like a lion they desire to rip us to pieces,
like a young lion waiting in ambush.
13Arise, LORD,
confront them,
bring them to their knees!
Deliver me from the wicked by your sword\
14from men, Lord, by your hand\
from men who belong to this world,
whose reward is only in this life.
But as for your treasured ones,
may their stomachs be full,
may their children have an abundance,
and may they leave wealth to their offspring.
15But as for me, justified, I will behold your face;
when I awake, your presence will satisfy me.
Psalm 18
0To the Director: By the servant of the Lord, David, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
1He said:
gI love you, Lord, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God,
my stronghold in whom I take refuge, my shield, the glory
of my salvation, and my high tower.h
3I cried out to the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I was delivered from my enemies.
4The cords of death entangled me;
the rivers of Belial made me afraid.
5The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I cried to the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his Temple he heard my voice;
my cry reached his ears.
7The world shook and trembled;
the foundations of the mountains quaked,
they shook because he was angry.
8In his anger smoke poured out of his nostrils,
and consuming fire from his mouth;
coals were lit from it.
9He bent the sky and descended,
and darkness was under his feet.
10He rode upon a cherub and flew;
he soared upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding place,
his canopy surrounding him was dark waters and thick clouds.
12The brightness before him scattered the thick clouds,
with hail stones and flashes of fire.
13Then the LORD thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High sounded aloud,
calling for hail stones and flashes of fire.
14He shot his arrows and scattered them;
with many lightning bolts he frightened them.
15Then the channels of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were uncovered
because of your rebuke, LORD,
because of the blast from the breath of your nostrils.
16He reached down and took me;
he drew me from many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemies,
from those who hated me because
they were stronger than I.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
19He brought me out to a spacious place;
he delivered me, for in me he takes delight.
20The LORD will reward me because I am righteous;
because my hands are clean he will restore me;
21because I have kept the ways of the LORD,
and I have not wickedly departed from my God;
22because all his judgments were always before me,
and I did not cast off his statutes.
23I was upright before him,
and I kept myself from iniquity.
24So the LORD restored me according to my righteousness,
because my hands were clean in his sight.
25To the holy, you show your gracious love,
to the upright, you show yourself upright;
26to the pure, you show yourself pure,
and to the morally corrupt, you appear to be perverse.
27Indeed, you deliver the oppressed,
but you bring down those who exalt themselves
in their own eyes.
28For you, LORD, make my lamp shine;
my God enlightens my darkness.
29With your help I will run through an army,
with help from my God I leap over walls.
30As for God, his way is upright;
the word of God is pure;
he is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
31For who is God but the LORD,
and who is a Rock other than our God?\
32the God who clothes me with strength,
and who makes my way upright;
33who makes my feet swift as the deer;
who makes me stand on high places;
34who teaches my hands to make war,
and my arms to bend a bronze bow.
35You have given to me the shield of your deliverance,
and your right hand holds me up;
your gentleness made me great.
36You make a broad place for my steps,
 so my feet wonft slip.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn around until they were utterly defeated.
38I struck them down,
so they are not able to rise up;
they fell under my feet.
39You clothed me with strength for war;
you will subdue under me those who rise up against me.
40You have made my enemies turn their back to me,
and I will destroy those who hate me.
41They cried out for deliverance,
but there was no one to deliver;
they cried out to the LORD,
but he did not answer them.
42I ground them like wind-swept dust;
I emptied them out like dirt in the street.
43You rescued me from conflict with the people;
you made me head of the nations.
People who did not know me will serve me.
44When they hear of me, they will obey me;
foreigners will submit to me.
45Foreigners will wilt away;
they will come trembling out of their stronghold.
46The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
May the God of my deliverance be exalted!
47He is the God who executes vengeance on my behalf;
who destroys peoples under me;
48who delivers me from my enemies.
Truly you will exalt me above those who oppose me;
you will deliver me from the violent person.
49Therefore, I will give thanks to you among the nations, LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
50He is the one who gives victories to his king;
who shows gracious love to his anointed,
to David and his seed forever.
Psalm 19
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1The heavens are declaring the glory of God,
and their expanse shows the work of his hands.
2Day after day they pour forth speech,
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3There is no speech nor are there words\
their voice is not heard\
4yet their message goes out into all the world,
and their words to the ends of the earth.
He has set up a tent for the sun in the heavens,
5which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
or like a champion who rejoices at the beginning of a race.
6Its circuit is from one end of the sky to the other,
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
7The Law of the LORD is perfect,
restoring life.
The testimony of the LORD is steadfast,
making foolish people wise.
8The precepts of the LORD are upright,
making the heart rejoice.
The commandment of the LORD is pure,
giving light to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean,
standing forever.
The judgments of the LORD are true;
they are altogether righteous.
10They are more desirable than gold,
even much fine gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even the drippings from a honeycomb.
11Moreover your servant is warned by them;
and there is great reward in keeping them.
12Who can detect his own mistake?
Cleanse me from hidden sin.
13Preserve your servant from arrogant people;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be upright
and acquitted of great wickedness.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 20
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1May the LORD answer you in the day of distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and may he sustain you from Zion.
3May he remember all your gifts,
and may he accept your burnt offerings. - Interlude
4May he give you what your heart desires,
and may he fulfill all your plans.
5May we shout for joy at your deliverance
and unfurl our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
6Now I know that the LORD has delivered his anointed;
he has answered him from his sanctuary
with the strength of his right hand of deliverance.
7Some boast in chariots,
others in horses;
but we will boast in the name of the LORD our God.
8While they bowed down and fell,
we arose and stood upright.
9Deliver us, LORD!
Answer us, our King, on the day we cry out!
Psalm 21
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1The king rejoices in your strength, LORD.
How greatly he rejoices in your deliverance.
2You have granted him the desire of his heart,
and have not withheld what his lips requested. - Interlude
3You go before him with wonderful blessings,
and put a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked life from you, and you gave it to him\
a long life for ever and ever.
5His glory is great because of your deliverance,
you have given him honor and majesty.
6Indeed, you have given him eternal blessings;
 you will make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7The king trusts in the LORD;
because of the gracious love of the Most High,
he will stand firm.
8Your hand will find all your enemies,
your right hand will find those who hate you.
9When you appear,
you will set them ablaze like a fire furnace.
In his wrath, the Lord will consume them,
and the fire will devour them.
10You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
even their offspring from the ranks of mankind.
11Though they plot evil against you and devise schemes,
they will not succeed.
12Indeed, you will make them retreat,
when you aim your bow at their faces.
13Rise up, LORD, because you are strong;
we will sing and praise your power.
Psalm 22
0To the Director: To the tune of gDoe of the Dawnh. A Davidic Psalm.
1My God! My God!
Why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far from delivering me\
from my groaning words?
2My God, I cry out to you throughout the day,
but you do not answer;
and throughout the night,
but I have no rest.
3You are holy,
 enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4Our ancestors trusted in you;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5They cried out to you and escaped;
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6But as for me,
I am only a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by people.
7Everyone who sees me mocks me;
they gape at me with open mouths
and shake their heads at me.
8They say, gCommit yourself to the LORD;
perhaps the LORD will deliver him,
perhaps he will cause him to escape,
since he delights in him.h
9Yet, you are the one who took me from the womb,
and kept me safe on my motherfs breasts.
10I was dependent on you from birth;
from my motherfs womb you have been my God.
11Do not be so distant from me,
for trouble is at hand;
indeed, there is no deliverer.
12Many bulls have surrounded me;
the vicious bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13Their mouths are opened wide toward me,
like roaring and attacking lions.
14I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax, melting within me.
15My strength is dried up like broken pottery;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth,
and you have brought me down to the dust of death.
16For dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of those who practice of evil has encircled me.
They gouged my hands and my feet.
17I can count all my bones.
They look at me;
they stare at me.
18They divide my clothing among themselves;
they cast lots for my clothing!
19But as for you, LORD, do not be far away from me;
My Strength, come quickly to help me.
20Deliver me from the sword;
my precious life from the power of the dog.
21Deliver me from the mouth of the lion,
from the horns of the wild oxen.
You have answered me.
22I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you, saying,
23gAll who fear the LORD, praise him!
All the seed of Jacob, glorify him!
All the seed of Israel, fear him!
24For he does not despise nor detest the afflicted person;
he does not hide his face from him,
but he hears him when he cries out to him.h
25My praise in the great congregation is because of you;
I will pay my vows before those who fear you.
26The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him,
gMay you live forever!h
27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations will bow in submission to the LORD.
28Indeed, the kingdom belongs to the LORD;
he rules over the nations.
29All the prosperous people will eat and bow down in submission.
All those who are about to go down to the grave
will bow down in submission,
along with the one who can no longer keep himself alive.
30Our descendants will serve him,
and that generation will be told about the Lord.
31They will come and declare his righteousness
to a people yet to be born;
indeed, he has accomplished it!
Psalm 23
0A Davidic Psalm.
1The LORD is the one who is shepherding me;
I lack nothing.
2He causes me to lie down in pastures of green grass;
he guides me beside quiet waters.
3He revives my life;
he leads me in pathways that are righteous
for the sake of his name.
4Even when I walk through a valley of deep darkness,
I will not be afraid
because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff\they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me,
even in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Truly, goodness and gracious love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will remain in the LORDfs Temple forever.
Psalm 24
0A Davidic Psalm.
1The earth and everything in it exists for the LORD\
the world and those who live in it.
2Indeed, he founded it upon the seas,
he established it upon deep waters.
3Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his Holy Place?
4The one who has innocent hands and a pure heart;
the person who does not delight in what is false
and does not swear an oath deceitfully.
5This person will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is the generation that seeks him.
Those who seek your face
are the true seed of Jacob. - Interlude
7Lift up your heads, gates!
Be lifted up, ancient doors,
so the King of Glory may come in.
8Who is the King of Glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, gates!
Be lifted up, ancient doors,
so the King of Glory may come in.
10Who is he, this King of Glory?
The LORD of the heavenly armies\
He is the King of Glory. - Interlude
Psalm 25
0Davidic
1I will lift up my soul to you, LORD.
2I trust in you, my God,
do not let me be ashamed;
do not let my enemies triumph over me.
3Indeed, no one who waits on you will be ashamed,
but those who offend for no reason will be put to shame.
4Cause me to understand your ways, LORD;
teach me your paths.
5Guide me in your truth and teach me;
for you are the God who delivers me.
All day long I have waited for you.
6Remember, LORD, your tender mercies and your gracious love;
indeed, they are eternal!
7Do not remember my youthful sins and transgressions;
but remember me in light of your gracious love,
in light of your goodness, LORD.
8The LORD is good and just;
therefore he will teach sinners concerning the way.
9He will guide the humble to justice;
he will teach the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD lead to gracious love and truth
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11For the sake of your name, LORD,
forgive my sin, for it is great.
12Who is the man who fears the LORD?
God will teach him the path he should choose.
13He will experience good things;
his descendants will inherit the earth.
14The intimate counsel of the LORD is for those who fear him
so they may know his covenant.
15My eyes look to the LORD continually,
because hefs the one who releases my feet from the trap.
16Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
for I am lonely and oppressed.
17The troubles of my heart have increased;
bring me out of my distress!
18Look upon my distress and affliction;
forgive all my sins.
19Look how many enemies I have gained!
They hate me with a vicious hatred.
20Preserve my life and deliver me;
do not let me be ashamed,
because I take refuge in you.
21Integrity and justice will preserve me,
because I wait on you.
22Redeem Israel, God, from all its troubles.
Psalm 26
0Davidic
1Vindicate me, LORD,
because I have walked in integrity;
I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2Examine me, LORD, and inspect me!
Test my heart and mind.
3For your gracious love precedes me,
and I continually walk according to your truth.
4I do not sit with those committed to what is false,
nor do I travel with hypocrites.
5I hate the company of those who practice evil,
nor do I sit with the wicked.
6I wash my hands innocently.
I go around your altar, LORD,
7so I may praise you loudly with thanksgiving
and declare all your wondrous acts.
8LORD, I love the dwelling place that is your house,
the place where your glory resides.
9Do not group me with sinners,
nor include me with men who shed blood.
10Their hands are filled with wicked schemes,
and their right hands with bribes.
11But as for me,
I walk in my integrity.
Redeem me and be gracious to me!
12My feet stand on level ground;
among the worshiping congregations
I will bless the LORD.
Psalm 27
0Davidic
1The LORD is my light and my salvation\
whom will I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2When those who practice evil, my enemies, and my oppressors
come near me to devour my flesh,
they stumble and fall.
3If an army encamps against me,
my heart will not fear.
If a war is launched against me,
I will even trust in that situation.
4I have asked one thing from the LORD;
it is what I really seek:
that I may remain in the Lordfs Temple
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD;
and to inquire in his Temple.
5For he will conceal me in his shelter on the day of evil;
He will hide me in a secluded chamber within his tent;
He will place me on a high rock.
6Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies,
even those who surround me.
I will sacrifice in his tent with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melodies to the LORD.
7Hear my voice, LORD, when I cry out!
Be gracious to me and answer me.
8My mind recalls your word,
gSeek my face,h
so your face, LORD, I will seek.
9Do not hide your face from me;
do not turn away in anger from your servant.
You have been my help,
therefore do not abandon or forsake me,
God of my salvation.
10Though my father and my mother abandoned me,
the LORD gathers me up.
11Teach me your way, LORD,
and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12Do not hand me over to the desires of my enemies;
for false witnesses have risen up against me;
even the one who breathes out violence.
13I believe that I will see the LORDfs goodness
in the land of the living.
14Wait on the LORD.
Be courageous, and he will strengthen your heart.
Wait on the LORD!
Psalm 28
0Davidic
1To you, LORD, I cry out!
My Rock, do not refuse to answer me.
If you remain silent,
I will become like those who descend into the Pit.
2Hear the sound of my supplications when I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
3Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who practice iniquity,
who speak peace to their neighbors
while harboring evil in their hearts.
4Reward them according to their deeds;
according to the evil of their actions.
Reward them based on what they do;
give them what they deserve.
5Because they do not understand the deeds of the LORD
or the work of his hands,
He will tear them down and never build them up.
6Blessed be the LORD!
For he has heard the sound of my supplications.
7The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him,
and I received help.
My heart rejoices,
and I give thanks to him with my song.
8The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is a refuge of deliverance for his anointed.
9Deliver your people
 and bless your inheritance!
Shepherd them
and lift them up forever!
Psalm 29
0A Davidic Psalm.
1Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings;
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD wearing holy attire.
3The voice of the LORD was heard above the waters;
the God of glory thundered;
the LORD was heard over many waters.
4The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5The voice of the LORD snaps the cedars;
the LORD snaps the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes them stagger like a calf,
even Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7The voice of the LORD shoots out flashes of fire.
8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9The voice of the LORD causes deer to give birth,
and strips the forest bare.
In his Temple all of them shout, gGlory!h
10The LORD sat enthroned over the flood,
and the LORD sits as king forever.
11The LORD will give strength to his people;
the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 30
0A Davidic Psalm for the dedication of the Temple.
1I exalt you, LORD,
for you have lifted me up,
and my enemies could not gloat over me.
2LORD, my God!
I cried out to you for help
and you healed me.
3LORD, you brought me from death;
you kept me alive so that I did not descend into the Pit.
4You, his godly ones,
sing to the LORD,
give thanks at the mention of his holiness.
5For his wrath is only momentary;
yet his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may lodge for the night,
but shouts of joy will come in the morning.
6As for me,
I said in my prosperity,
gI will never be moved.h
7By your favor, LORD,
you established me as a strong mountain;
Then you hid your face,
and I was dismayed.
8I cried out to you, LORD,
and I make supplication to the Lord:
9gWhat profit is there in my death if I go down to the Pit?
Can dust worship you?
Can it proclaim your faithfulness?h
10Hear me, LORD,
 and have mercy on me!
LORD, help me!
11You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you took off my sackcloth
and clothed me with a garment of joy,
12so that I may sing praise to you
and not remain silent.
LORD, my God,
I will give you thanks forever!
Psalm 31
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1In you, LORD, I have taken refuge.
Let me never be ashamed.
Because you are righteous, deliver me!
2Listen to me,
and deliver me quickly.
Become a rock of safety for me,
a fortified citadel to deliver me;
3For you are my rock and my fortress;
for the sake of your name guide me and lead me.
4Rescue me from the net that they concealed to trap me;
for you are my strength.
5Into your hands I commit my spirit;
for you have redeemed me,
LORD God of truth.
6I despise those who trust vain idols;
but I have trusted in the LORD.
7I will rejoice and be glad in your gracious love,
for you see my affliction
and take note that my soul is distressed.
8You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy,
but you have set my feet in a sturdy place.
9Be gracious to me, LORD,
 for I am in distress.
My eyes have been consumed by my grief
along with my soul and my body.
10My life is consumed by sorrow,
 my years with groaning.
My strength has faltered because of my iniquity;
my bones have been consumed.
11I have become an object of reproach to all my enemies,
 especially to my neighbors.
I have become an object of fear to my friends,
and whoever sees me outside runs away from me.
12Like a dead man, I am forgotten in their thoughts\
like broken pottery.
13I have heard the slander of many;
it is like terror all around me,
as they conspire together and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in you, LORD.
I say, gYou are my God.h
15My times are in your hands.
Deliver me from the hands of my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
16May your face shine on your servant;
in your gracious love, deliver me.
17Let me not be ashamed, LORD,
for I have called upon you.
Let the wicked be put to shame,
let them be silent in the next life.
18Let the lying lips be made still,
especially those who speak arrogantly
against the righteous with pride and contempt.
19How great is your goodness
that you have reserved for those who fear you,
that you have set in place for those who take refuge in you,
in the presence of the children of men.
20You will hide them in the secret place of your presence,
away from the conspiracies of men.
You will hide them in your tent,
away from their contentious tongues.
21Blessed be the LORD!
In a marvelous way he demonstrated his gracious love to me,
when I was in a city under siege.
22When I said in my panic,
gI have been cut off in your sight,h
then you surely heard the voice of my prayer
in my plea to you for help.
23Love the LORD, all his godly ones!
The LORD preserves the faithful
and repays those who act with proud motives.
24Be strong,
and let your heart be courageous,
all you who put your hope in the LORD.
Psalm 32
0A Davidic instruction.
1How blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2How blessed is the person against whom the LORD does not charge iniquity,
 and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3When I kept silent about my sin,
my body wasted away
by my groaning all day long.
4For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
my strength was exhausted
as in a summer drought. - Interlude
5My sin I acknowledged to you;
my iniquity I did not hide.
I said, gI will confess my transgressions to the LORD.h
And you forgave the guilt of my sin! - Interlude
6Therefore every godly person should pray to you at such a time.
Surely a flood of great waters will not reach him.
7You are my hiding place;
you will deliver me from trouble
and surround me with shouts of deliverance. - Interlude
8I will instruct you and teach you
concerning the path you should walk;
I will direct you with my eye.
9Donft be like a horse or mule,
without understanding.
They are held in check by a bit and bridle in their mouths;
otherwise they will not remain near you.
10The wicked have many sorrows,
but gracious love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.
11Righteous ones, be glad in the LORD and rejoice!
Shout for joy, all of you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 33
1Rejoice in the LORD, righteous ones;
for the praise of the upright is beautiful.
2With the lyre, give thanks to the LORD;
with the ten stringed harp, play music to him;
3with a new song, sing to him;
with shouts of joy, play skillfully.
4For the word of the LORD is upright;
and all his works are done in faithfulness.
5He loves righteousness and justice;
the world is filled with the gracious love of the LORD.
6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;
all the heavenly bodies by the breath of his mouth.
7He gathered the oceans into a single place;
he put the deep water into storehouses.
8Let all the world fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him;
9because he spoke and it came to be,
because he commanded, it stood firm.
10The LORD makes void the counsel of nations;
he frustrates the plans of peoples.
11But the LORDfs counsel stands firm forever,
the plans in his mind for all generations.
12How blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen as his own inheritance.
13When the LORD looks down from heaven,
he observes every human being.
14From his dwelling place,
he looks down on all the inhabitants of the earth.
15He formed the hearts of them all;
he understands everything they do.
16A king is not saved by a large army;
a mighty soldier is not delivered by his great strength.
17It is vain to trust in a horse for deliverance,
even with its great strength, it cannot deliver.
18Indeed, the LORD watches those who fear him;
those who trust in his gracious love
19to deliver them from death;
to keep them alive in times of famine.
20We wait on the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21Indeed, our heart will rejoice in him,
because we have placed our trust in his holy name.
22LORD, may your gracious love be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Psalm 34
0By David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away. So David left.
1I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise will be in my mouth continually.
2My soul will glorify the LORD;
 the humble will hear about it and rejoice.
3Magnify the LORD with me!
Let us lift up his name together!
4I sought the LORD and he answered me;
he delivered me from all of my fears.
5Look to him and be radiant;
and you will not be ashamed.
6This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard
and delivered him from all of his distress.
7The angel of the LORD surrounds those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8Taste and see that the LORD is good!
How blessed is the person who trusts in him!
9Fear the LORD, you holy ones of his;
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10Young lions lack and go hungry,
but those who seek the LORD will never lack any good thing.
11Come, children, listen to me,
and I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12Who among you desires life,
and wants long life in order to see good?
13Then keep your tongue from doing evil
and your lips from spreading lies.
14Avoid evil and do good!
Seek peace and pursue it!
15The LORD looks on the righteous,
and he listens to their cries.
16The face of the LORD is set against those who do evil,
and he will remove peoplefs recollection of them from the earth.
17The LORD hears those who cry out,
and he delivers them from all their distress.
18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted,
and he delivers those whose spirit has been crushed.
19A righteous person will have many troubles,
but the LORD will deliver him from them all.
20God protects all his bones;
not one of them will be broken.
21Evil will kill the wicked;
those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.
22The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
and none of those who trust in him will be held guilty.
Psalm 35
0Davidic
1Argue my case, LORD,
against those who argue against me.
Fight against those who fight against me.
2Take up the buckler and the shield,
and rise up to help me.
3Take out the spear and the ax to confront the one who pursues me;
say to me, gI am your deliverer!h
4Let those who seek my life be ashamed and disgraced;
let those who plot evil against me be driven back and confounded.
5Make them like the chaff before the wind,
as the messenger of the LORD pushes them aside.
6May their path be dark and slippery,
as the messenger of the LORD tracks them down.
7Without justification they laid a snare for me;
without justification they dug a pit to trap me.
8Let destruction come upon them unawares,
and let the net that he hid catch him;
let him fall into destruction.
9My soul will rejoice in the LORD
and be glad in his deliverance.
10All my bones will say,
gLORD, who is like you?
Who delivers the weak from the one who is stronger than he,
and the weak and the needy from the one who wants to rob him?h
11False witnesses stepped forward
and questioned me concerning things
about which I knew nothing.
12They paid me back evil for good;
my soul mourns.
13But when they were sick,
I wore sackcloth, humbled myself with fasting,
and prayed from my heart repeatedly for them.
14I paced about as for my friend or my brother,
and fell down mourning as one weeps for onefs mother.
15But when I stumbled,
they rejoiced and gathered together.
They gathered together against me\
attackers whom I did not know.
They tore me apart and would not stop.
16Malicious mockers\
they gnashed their teeth against me.
17Lord, how long will you just watch?
Rescue me from their destruction,
my precious life from these young lions.
18Then I will give you thanks in front of the great congregation;
in the midst of the mighty throng I will praise you.
19Do not let my deceitful enemies gloat over me,
nor let those who hate me without justification mock me with their eyes.
20For they do not speak peace;
they devise clever lies against the peaceful people of the land.
21They open their mouth wide against me,
claiming, gYes! Yes! We saw him do it with our own eyes!h
22You see this, LORD,
so do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me!
23Wake up! Arouse yourself to vindicate me
and argue my case, my God and my Lord.
24Judge me according to your righteousness, LORD my God!
But do not let them gloat over me.
25Donft let them say in their hearts,
gYes! We got what we wanted.h
Donft let them say,
gWe have swallowed him up.h
26Instead, let those who gloat over the evil directed against me
be ashamed and confounded together;
Let those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and dishonor.
27Let those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and rejoice!
Let them continually say,
gMagnify the LORD, who delights in giving peace to his servant.h
28My tongue will declare your righteousness
and praise you all day long.
Psalm 36
0To the Director: By the servant of the Lord, David.
1An oracle that came to me about the transgressions of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2He flatters himself too much to discover his transgression and hate it.
3The words from his mouth are vain and deceptive.
He has abandoned behaving wisely and doing good.
4He devises iniquity on his bed
and is determined to follow a path that is not good.
He does not resist evil.
5Your gracious love, LORD, reaches to the heavens;
your truth extends to the skies.
6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your justice is like the great depths of the sea.
You deliver both people and animals, LORD.
7How precious is your gracious love, God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They are refreshed from the abundance of your house;
You cause them to drink from the river of your pleasures.
9For with you is a fountain of life,
and in your light we will see light.
10Send forth your gracious love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to those who are upright in heart.
11Do not let the foot of the proud crush me;
and do not let the hand of the wicked dissuade me.
12There, those who do evil have fallen;
They have been thrown down,
and they cannot get up.
Psalm 37
0Davidic
1Donft be angry because of those who do evil,
do not be jealous because of those who commit iniquity.
2Indeed, they soon will wither like grass,
and like green herbs they will fade away.
3Trust in the LORD and do good.
Dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD;
Trust him, and he will act.
6He will bring forth your righteousness as a light,
and your justice as the noonday sun.
7Be silent in the LORDfs presence
and wait patiently for him.
Donft be angry because of the one whose way prospers
or the one who implements evil schemes.
8Calm your anger and abandon wrath.
Donft be angry\
it only leads to evil.
9Those who do evil will perish.
But those who wait on the LORD will inherit the land.
10Yet a little while longer,
and the wicked will be no more.
You will search for his place,
but he will not be there.
11The humble will inherit the land;
they will take in abundant peace.
12The wicked person plots against the righteous,
and grinds his teeth at him.
13But the Lord laughs at him
because he sees that his day is coming!
14The wicked take out a sword and bend the bow,
to bring down the humble and the poor
to slay those who are righteous in conduct.
15But their sword will pierce their own heart,
and their bows will be broken!
16Better is the little that the righteous have
than the abundance of many wicked people.
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18The LORD knows the day of the blameless,
and their inheritance will last forever.
19They will not experience shame in times of trouble;
in times of famine they will have plenty.
20Indeed, the wicked will perish.
The Lordfs enemies will be consumed like flowers in the fields.
They will vanish like smoke.
21The wicked borrow but never pay back;
but the righteous are generous and give.
22For those blessed by God will inherit the land,
but those cursed by him will be cut off.
23A manfs steps are established by the LORD,
and the LORD delights in his way.
24Though he stumbles,
he will not fall down flat,
for the LORD will hold up his hand.
25I once was young and now I am old,
but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken
or his descendants begging for bread.
26Every day he is generous, lending freely,
and his descendants are blessed.
27Depart from evil, and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28Indeed, the LORD loves justice,
and he will not abandon his godly ones.
They are kept safe forever,
but the lawless will be chased away,
and the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29The righteous will inherit the land,
and they will dwell in it forever.
30The mouth of the righteous one produces wisdom;
his tongue speaks justice.
31The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps will not slip.
32The wicked stalks the righteous person, seeking to kill him,
33but the LORD will not let him fall into his hands.
He will not be condemned when he is put on trial.
34Wait on the LORD,
Keep faithful to his way,
and he will exalt you to possess the land.
You will see the wicked cut off.
35I once observed a wicked and oppressive person,
flourishing like a green tree in native soil.
36But then he passed away;
in fact, he simply was not there.
When I looked for him,
he could not be found.
37Observe the blameless!
Take note of the upright!
Indeed, the future of that man is peace.
38Sinners will be destroyed together;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39But deliverance for the righteous one comes from the LORD;
he is their strength in times of distress.
40The LORD helps and delivers them;
he will deliver them from the wicked,
and he will save them because they have sought refuge in him.
Psalm 38
0A Davidic Psalm: As a Reminder.
1LORD! Do not rebuke me in your anger;
do not correct me in your wrath,
2because your arrows have sunk deep into me,
and your hand has come down hard on me.
3My body is unhealthy due to your anger,
and my bones have no rest due to my sin.
4My iniquities loom over my head;
like a cumbersome burden, they are too heavy for me.
5My wounds have putrefied and festered
because of my foolishness.
6I am bent over and walk about greatly bowed down;
all day long I go around mourning.
7My insides are burning
and my body is unhealthy.
8I am weak and utterly crushed;
I cry out in distress because of my heartfs anguish.
9Lord, all my longings are before you,
and my groaning is not hidden from you.
10My heart pounds,
my strength fails me,
even the gleam in my eye is gone.
11As for my friends and my neighbors,
they stand aloof from my distress;
even my close relatives stand at a distance.
12Those who seek my life lay snares for me;
those who seek to do me harm brag all day long about their wicked planning.
13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
and like the mute, who cannot open his mouth.
14Indeed, I have become like a man who hears nothing,
and in whose mouth there is no rebuke.
15Because I have placed my hope in you, LORD,
you will answer, Lord, my God.
16For I said, gDo not let them gloat over me,
as they congratulate themselves when my foot slips.h
17Indeed, I am being set up for a fall,
and I am continually reminded of my pain.
18I confess my iniquity,
and my sin troubles me.
19But my enemies are alive and well;
those who hate me for no reason are numerous.
20They reward my good with evil,
opposing me because I seek to do good.
21Donft forsake me, LORD.
My God, do not be so distant from me.
22Come quickly and help me,
Lord, my deliverer.
Psalm 39
0To the Director: To Jeduthun. A Davidic Psalm.
1I told myself, gI will keep watch over my tongue to keep from sinning.
I will muzzle my mouth when the wicked are around.h
2I was as silent as a mute person;
I said nothing, not even something good,
and my distress deepened.
3My heart within me became incensed;
as I thought about it, the fire burned.
Then I spoke out:
4gLORD, let me know how my life ends,
and the standard by which you will measure my days, whatever it is!
Then I will know how transient my life is.
5Look, you have made my life span fit in your hand;
It is nothing compared to yours.
Surely every person at their best is a puff of wind. - Interlude
6In fact, people walk around as shadows.
Surely, they busy themselves for nothing,
heaping up possessions but not knowing who will get them.
7How long, Lord, will I wait expectantly?
I have placed my hope in you.
8Deliver me from all my transgressions,
and do not let fools scorn me.h
9I remain silent;
I do not open my mouth,
for you are the one who acted.
10Stop scourging me,
since I have been crushed by your heavy hand.
11You rebuke by chastening a man with the consequence of iniquities;
you destroy what is attractive to him, as one would treat a moth.
Indeed, every person is a puff of wind. - Interlude
12Hear my prayer, LORD,
pay attention to my cry,
and do not ignore my tears.
I am an alien in your presence,
a stranger just like my ancestors were.
13Stop looking at me with chastisement, so I can smile again,
before I depart and am no more.
Psalm 40
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1I waited expectantly for the LORD,
and he took notice of me
and heard my cry.
2He plucked me out of a pit of confusion,
even out of the quicksand;
he placed my feet on a rock
and established my steps.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
praise to our God!
Many will watch and be in awe,
and they will place their trust in the LORD.
4How blessed is that strong person
who places his trust in the LORD,
and who has not acknowledged the proud
nor resorted to lies.
5LORD, my God,
You have done great things:
marvelous works and your thoughts toward us.
There is no one who compares to you!
I will try to recite your actions,
even though there are too many to number.
6You take no delight in sacrifices and offerings\
you have prepared my ears to listen\
you require no burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.
7Then I said, gHere I am! I have come!
In the scroll of the book it is written about me.
8I delight to do your will, my God.
Your Law is part of my inner being.h
9In the great congregation I have proclaimed the righteous good news.
Behold, I did not seal my lips, LORD, as you know.
10I have not ignored your righteousness in my heart;
instead, I have proclaimed your faithfulness and deliverance.
I have not concealed your gracious love and truthfulness
from the great congregation.
11LORD, do not withhold your mercy from me,
for your gracious love and truthfulness will keep me safe continuously.
12Innumerable evils have surrounded me;
my iniquities have overtaken me so that I cannot see.
They are more in number than the hair on my head,
and my courage has forsaken me.
13Be pleased, LORD, to deliver me;
LORD, hurry up and help me!
14May those who seek to destroy my life be ashamed and confounded;
let them be driven backwards and humiliated,
particularly those who wish me evil.
15Let shame be the reward for those who say to me, gAha! Aha!h
16Let all who seek you shout for joy and be glad in you.
May those who love your deliverance say,
gThe LORD be magnified!h continuously.
17But I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think about me.
You are my help and deliverer.
My God, do not tarry too long!
Psalm 41
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1Blessed is the one who is considerate of the destitute;
the LORD will deliver him when the times are evil.
2The LORD will protect him and keep him alive;
he will be blessed in the land;
and he will not be handed over to the desires of his enemies.
3The LORD will uphold him even on his sickbed;
you will transform his bed of illness into health.
4As for me, I said,
gLORD, be gracious to me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!h
5As for my enemies, with malice they said,
gWhen will he die and memory of his name perish?h
6The one who comes to visit me speaks lies;
in his heart he thinks slanderous things about me
and goes around spreading them.
7As for all who hate me,
they whisper together against me;
they desire to do me harm.
8They say, gWickedness is entrenched in him.
Once he is brought low,
he will not rise again.h
9As for my best friend,
the one in whom I trusted,
the one who ate my bread,
even he has insulted me!
10But you, LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up
so that I may pay them back!
11In this way I will know that you are pleased with me,
and that my enemies will not shout in triumph over me.
12As for me, you will maintain my just cause,
and you will cause me to stand in your presence forever.
13Blessed be the LORD God of Israel,
from eternity to eternity.
Amen and amen!
Psalm 42
0To the Director: An instruction of the Sons of Korah.
1As an antelope pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When may I come and appear in Godfs presence?
3My tears have been my food day and night,
while people keep asking me all day long,
gWhere is your God?h
4These things I will recall as I pour out my troubles within me:
I used to go with the crowd in a procession to the house of God,
accompanied with shouts of joy and thanksgiving.
5Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God,
for once again I will praise him,
since his presence saves me.
6My God, my soul feels depressed within me;
therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan,
from the heights of Hermon,
even from the foothills.
7Deep waters call out to what is deeper still;
at the roar of your waterfalls
all your breakers and your waves swirled over me.
8By day the LORD will command his gracious love,
and by night his song is with me\
a prayer to the God of my life.
9I will ask God, my Rock, gWhy have you forsaken me?
Why do I go around mourning under the enemyfs oppression?h
10Like the shattering of my bones are the taunts of my oppressors,
saying to me all day long,
gWhere is your God?h
11Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God,
for once again I will praise him,
since his presence saves me
and he is my God.
Psalm 43
1 You be my judge, God,
and plead my case against an unholy nation;
rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2Since you are the God who strengthens me,
why have you forsaken me?
Why do I go around mourning under the enemyfs oppression?h
3Send forth your light and your truth
so they may guide me.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain and to your dwelling places.
4Then I will approach the altar of God,
even to God in whom my joy finds its source.
Then I will praise you with the lyre,
God, my God,
5Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God,
because I will praise him once again,
since his presence saves me
and he is my God.
Psalm 44
0To the Director: An instruction of the Sons of Korah.
1God, we heard it with our ears;
our ancestors told us about what you did in their day\
a long time ago.
2With your hand you expelled the nations
and established our ancestors.
You afflicted nations
and cast them out.
3It was not with their sword that they inherited the land,
nor did their own arm deliver them.
But it was by your power, your strength,
and by the light of your face;
because you were pleased with them.
4You are my king, God,
command victories for Jacob.
5Through you we will knock down our oppressors;
through your name we will tread down those who rise up against us.
6For I place no confidence in my bow,
nor will my sword deliver me.
7For you delivered us from our oppressors
and put to shame those who hate us.
8We will praise God all day long;
and to your name we will give thanks forever. - Interlude
9However, you cast us off and made us ashamed!
You did not even march with our armies!
10You made us retreat from our oppressors.
Our enemies ransacked us.
11You handed us over to be slaughtered like sheep
and you scattered us among the nations.
12You sold out your people for nothing,
and made no profit at that price.
13You made us a laughing stock to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and derision to those around us.
14You made us an object lesson among the nations;
people shake their heads at us.
15My dishonor tortures me continuously;
the shame on my face overwhelms me
16because of the voice of the one who mocks and reviles,
because of the enemy and the avenger.
17All this came upon us,
yet we did not forsake you,
and we have not dealt falsely with your covenant;
18Our hearts have not turned away;
our steps have not swerved from your path.
19Nevertheless, you crushed us in the lair of jackals,
and covered us in deep darkness.
20If we had forgotten the name of our God
or lifted our hands to a foreign god,
21wouldnft God find out
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22For your sake we are being killed all day long.
We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.
23Wake up! Why are you asleep, Lord?
Get up! Donft cast us off forever!
24Why are you hiding your face?
Why are you ignoring our affliction and oppression?
25For we have collapsed in the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26Arise! Deliver us!
Redeem us according to your gracious love!
Psalm 45
0To the Director: An instruction by the Sons of Korah. A love song to the tune of gLiliesh.
1My heart is overflowing with good news;
I speak what I have composed to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of an articulate scribe.
2You are the most handsome of Adamfs descendants;
grace has anointed your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3Strap your sword to your side,
mighty warrior, along with your honor and majesty.
4In your majesty ride forth for the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness;
and your strong right hand will teach you awesome things.
5Your arrows are sharpened
to penetrate the hearts of the kingfs enemies.
People will fall under you.
6Your throne, God, exists forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom is a righteous scepter.
7You love justice and hate wickedness.
That is why God, even your God, has anointed you
rather than your companions with the oil of gladness.
8All your clothes are scented with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
9The kingfs daughters are among your honorable women;
the queen, dressed in gold from Ophir, has taken her place at your right hand.h
10Listen, daughter! Consider and pay attention.
Forget your people and your fatherfs house,
11and the king will greatly desire your beauty.
Because he is your lord, you should bow in respect before him.
12The daughter of Tyre will come with a wedding gift;
wealthy people will entreat your favor.
13In her chamber, the kingfs daughter is glorious;
her clothing is embroidered with gold thread.
14In embroidered garments
she is presented to the king.
Her virgin companions who follow her train
will be presented to you.
15Filled with joy and gladness, they are presented
when they enter the kingfs palace.
16Your sons will take the place of your ancestors,
and you will set them up as princes in all the earth.
17From generation to generation,
I will cause your name to be remembered.
Therefore people will thank you forever and ever.
Psalm 46
0To the Director: A song by the Sons of Korah, to the tune of gThe Maidensh.
1God is our refuge and strength,
a great help in times of distress.
2Therefore we will not be frightened
when the earth roars,
when the mountains shake in the depths of the seas,
3when its waters roar and rage,
when the mountains tremble despite their pride. - Interlude
4Look! There is a river
whose streams make the city of God rejoice,
even the Holy Place of the Most High.
5Since God is in her midst,
she will not be shaken.
God will help her
at the break of dawn.
6The nations roared;
the kingdoms were shaken.
His voice boomed;
the earth melts.
7The LORD of the heavenly armies is with us;
our refuge is the God of Jacob. - Interlude
8Come, observe the mighty works of the LORD,
who causes desolation in the earth.
9He causes wars to cease all over the earth,
he causes the bow to break, the spear to snap,
the chariots to ignite and burn.
10Be in awe and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted throughout the earth.
11The LORD of the heavenly armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. - Interlude
Psalm 47
0To the Director: A song by the Sons of Korah.
1Clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with a loud cry of joy!
2For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
3He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4He chose our inheritance for us,
even the pride of Jacob whom he loved. - Interlude
5God has ascended on high with a shout,
the LORD has ascended with the blast of a trumpet.
6Sing songs to God!
Sing songs!
Sing songs to our King!
Sing songs!
7Indeed, God is king over all the earth;
sing a song of praise.
8God is king over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9The nobles among the nations
have joined the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
10+
Psalm 48
0A song: Lyrics by the Sons of Korah.
1Great is the LORD!
For he is to be praised greatly,
even in the city of our God,
his holy mountain.
2Beautifully situated,
the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion towards the north,
the city of the great King.
3Within her citadels
God is known as a place of refuge.
4Behold, when the kings assembled together,
when they traveled together,
5they looked and were awestruck;
they became afraid and ran away.
6Trembling seized them there,
pains like those of a woman in labor,
7as when an east wind destroyed the ships of Tarshish.
8Just as we have heard,
so have we seen;
in the city of the LORD of the heavenly armies\
even in the city of our God\
God will establish her forever. - Interlude
9God, we have meditated on your gracious love
in the midst of your Temple.
10God, according to your name,
so is your praise to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11Mount Zion will be glad;
the towns of Judah will rejoice because of your judgments.
12March around Zion;
encircle her;
count her towers.
13Take note of her ramparts;
investigate her citadels;
that you may speak about them to the next generation.
14For this God is our God forever and ever.
He will guide us until death.
Psalm 49
0To the Director: A song by the Sons of Korah.
1Listen to this, all you people!
Pay attention, all you who live in the world,
2both average people and those of means,
the rich and the poor together.
3My mouth will speak wisely,
and I will understand what I think about.
4I will focus my attention on a proverb;
I will use the harp to expound my riddle.
5Why should I be afraid when evil days come my way,
when the wickedness of those who deceive me surrounds me\
6those who put confidence in their wealth
and boast about their great riches?
7No man can redeem the life of another,
nor can he give to God a sufficient payment for him\
8for it would cost too much to redeem his life,
and the payments would go on forever\
9that he should go on living
and not see corruption.
10Indeed, he will see wise people die;
the stupid and the senseless will meet their doom
and leave their wealth to others.
11Their inner thoughts are on their homes forever;
their dwellings from generation to generation.
They even name their lands after themselves.
12But humanity cannot last, despite its conceit;
it will pass away just like the animals.
13This is the fate of those who are foolish
and of those who correct their words after they speak. - Interlude
14Like sheep, they are destined for the realm of the dead,
with death as their shepherd.
The upright will have dominion over them in the morning;
their strength will be consumed in the afterlife,
so that they have no home.
15God will truly redeem me from the power of Sheol.
He will surely receive me! - Interlude
16Donft be afraid when someone gets rich,
when the glory of his household increases.
17When he dies, he will not be able to take it all with him\
his possessions will not follow him to the grave,
18although he considers himself blessed while hefs alive.
Though people praise you for doing well,
19you will end up like your ancestorsf generation,
never again to see the light of day!
20Humanity, despite its conceit, does not understand
that it will perish, just like the animals.
Psalm 50
0A song of Asaph.
1God, the LORD, has spoken.
He has summoned the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting place.
2From Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God has shined forth.
3Our God has appeared and he has not been silent;
a devouring fire blazed before him,
and a mighty storm swirled around him.
4He summoned the heavens above
and the earth below,
to sit in judgment on his people.
5gAssemble before me, my saints,
who have entered into my covenant by sacrifice.h
6The heavens revealed his justice,
for God is himself the judge. - Interlude
7gListen, my people,
for I am making a pronouncement:
Israel, I, God, your God, am testifying against you.
8I do not rebuke you because of your sacrifices;
indeed, your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9I will no longer accept a sacrificial bull from your household;
nor goats from your pens.
10Indeed, every animal of the forest is mine,
even the cattle on a thousand hills.
11I know all the birds in the mountains;
indeed, everything that moves in the field is mine.
12gIf I were hungry, I would not tell you;
for the world is mine along with everything in it.
13Why should I eat the flesh of oxen
or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer to God a thanksgiving praise;
pay your vows to the Most High.
15Call on me in the day of distress;
I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.h
16As for the wicked, God says,
gHow dare you recite my statutes
or speak about my covenant with your lips!
17You hate instruction
and toss my words behind you.
18When you see a thief, you befriend him,
and you keep company with adulterers.
19You give your mouth free reign for evil,
and your tongue devises deceit.
20You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own motherfs son.
21These things you did, and I kept silent,
because you assumed that I was like you.
But now I am going to rebuke you,
and I will set forth my case before your very own eyes.h
22Consider this, you who have forgotten God\
Otherwise, I will tear you in pieces
and there will be no deliverer:
23Whoever offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me,
and I will reveal the salvation of God
to whomever continues in my way.h
Psalm 51
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm. When the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1Have mercy, God, according to your gracious love,
according to your unlimited compassion,
erase my transgressions.
2Wash me from my iniquity,
cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgression;
my sin remains continually before me.
4Against you, you only, have I sinned,
and done what was evil in your sight.
As a result, you are just in your pronouncement
and clear in your judgment.
5Indeed, in iniquity I was brought forth;
in sin my mother conceived me.
6Indeed, you are pleased with truth in the inner person,
and you will teach me wisdom in my innermost parts.
7Purge me with hyssop,
and I will be clean.
Wash me,
and I will be whiter than snow.
8Let me know joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9Hide your countenance from my sins
and erase the record of my iniquities.
10God, create a pure heart in me,
and renew a right attitude within me.
11Do not cast me from your presence;
do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and let a willing attitude control me.
13Then I will teach transgressors about your ways,
and sinners will turn to you.
14Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood,
God, God of my salvation.
Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness.
15Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16Indeed, you do not delight in sacrifices,
or I would give them,
nor do you desire burnt offerings.
17True sacrifice to God is a broken spirit.
A broken and chastened heart, God,
you will not despise.
18Show favor to Zion in your good pleasure;
and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices,
with burnt offerings, and with whole burnt offerings.
Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Psalm 52
0To the Director: A Davidic instruction about Doeg, the Edomite, when he went to Saul and told him, gDavid went to the house of Abimelech.h
1Why do you make evil
the foundation of your boasting, mighty one?
Godfs gracious love never ceases.
2Your tongue, like a sharp razor, devises wicked things
and crafts treachery.
3You love evil rather than good,
falsehood rather than speaking uprightly. - Interlude
4You love all words that destroy, you deceitful tongue!
5But God will tear you down forever;
he will take you away,
even snatching you out of your tent!
He will uproot you from the land of the living. - Interlude
6The righteous will fear when they see this,
but then they will laugh at him, saying,
7gLook, here is a young man who refused to make God his strength;
instead, he trusted in his great wealth
and made his wickedness his strength.
8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the gracious love of God forever and ever.
9Therefore I will praise you forever
because of what you did;
I will proclaim that your name is good
in the midst of your faithful ones.
Psalm 53
0To the Director: Upon machalath. A Davidic instruction.
1Fools say to themselves gThere is no God.h
They are corrupt and commit iniquity;
not one of them practices what is good.
2God looks down from the heavens upon humanity
to see if anyone shows discernment as he searches for God.
3All of them have fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
no one does what is good, not even one.
4Will those who do evil ever learn?
They devour my people like they devour bread,
and never call on God.
5There the Israelis were seized with terror,
when there was nothing to fear.
For God scattered the bones of those who laid siege against you\
you put them to shame,
for God rejected them.
6Would that Israelfs deliverance come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.
Psalm 54
0To the Director: With stringed instruments. A Davidic instruction, when the Ziphites came and told Saul, gDavid is hiding among us, is he not?h
1God, by your name deliver me,
and by your power vindicate me.
2God, listen to my prayer,
and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
3For the arrogant have arisen against me;
oppressors have sought to take my life.
They do not keep God in mind! - Interlude
4Look, God is my helper;
the Lord is with those who are guarding my life.
5He will turn the evil upon those who lie in wait for me.
Cut them off with your truth.
6With a free will offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, LORD,
because it is good,
7for he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eyes have seen the end of my enemies.
Psalm 55
0To the Director: With stringed instruments. A Davidic instruction.
1Pay attention to my prayer, God,
and do not hide yourself from my appeal.
2Pay attention to me and answer me.
I moan and groan in my thoughts,
3because of the voice of the enemy,
and because of the oppression of the wicked.
They bring down evil upon me,
and in anger they hate me.
4My heart is trembling within me,
and the terrors of death have assaulted me.
5Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me,
and horror has covered me.
6I said, gO, who will give me the wings of a dove,
so that I could fly away and live somewhere else?
7Look, I want to flee far away;
I want to settle down in the wilderness. - Interlude
8I want to deliver myself quickly
from this windstorm and tempest.h
9Confound them, Lord,
and confuse their speech,
because I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they prowl around its walls;
evil and iniquity are within it.
11Wickedness is at the center of it;
fraud and lies never leave its streets.
12For it is not an enemy who insults me\
I could have handled that\
nor is it someone who hates me and who now arises against me\
I could have hidden myself from him\
13but it is you\
a man whom I treated as my equal\
my personal confidant,
my close friend!
14We had good fellowship together;
and we even walked together in the house of God!
15Let death seize them!
May they be plunged alive into the afterlife,
for wicked things are in their homes
and among them.
16I call upon God,
and the LORD will deliver me.
17Morning, noon, and night,
I mulled over these things
and cried out in my distress,
and he heard my voice.
18He calmly ransomed my soul from the war waged against me,
for there was a vast crowd who stood against me.
19God, who is enthroned from long ago,
will hear me and humble them. - Interlude
Because they do not repent,
they do not fear God.
20Each of my friends raises his hand against his allies;
each of my friends breaks his word.
21His mouth is as smooth as butter,
while war is in his heart.
His words were as smooth as olive oil,
while his sword is drawn.
22Cast on the LORD whatever he sends your way,
and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23But you, God, bring them down to the Pit of corruption;
bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days.
But I put my full confidence in you.
Psalm 56
0To the Director: A special Davidic psalm to the tune of gA Silent Dove Far Away,h when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1Have mercy on me, God,
because men have harassed me.
Those who oppress me have fought against me all day long.
2Those who watch me all day have harassed me,
for there are many who fight against me out of conceit.
3On days when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4In God, whose word I praise,
in God I put my trust.
I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.
5All day long people distort what I say;
all their schemes against me are for evil purposes.
6They gather together
and hide in ambush.
They watch my every step
as they lie in wait for my life.
7Cast them away because of their wickedness.
In wrath, God, cast down these people!
8You have kept count of my wanderings.
Put my tears in your bottle\
have not you recorded them in your book?
9My enemies will retreat when I call on you.
This has been my experience,
because God is with me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11in God I will put my trust.
I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.
12God, I have taken vows before you;
therefore I will offer thanksgiving sacrifices to you.
13For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
so that I may walk before God in the light of the living!
Psalm 57
0To the Director: A special Davidic psalm to the tune of gDo Not Destroy,h when he fled from Saul into a cave.
1Have mercy on me, God, have mercy,
for in you I have placed my trust.
Even in the shadow of your wings
will I find my refuge until this calamity passes.
2I call upon the God Most High;
to the God who completes what he began in me.
3He will send help from heaven to deliver me
from those who harass and despise me. - Interlude
God will send his gracious love and truth.
4I am surrounded by lions.
I lie down with those who burn with fire\
that is, with people whose teeth are like spears and arrows\
whose tongues are like sharp swords.
5Be exalted above the heavens, God!
May your glory cover the earth!
6They have set a snare for my feet,
which makes me depressed.
They dug a pit in front of me,
but they are the ones who fell into it! - Interlude
7My heart is committed, God,
my heart is committed,
so I will sing and play music.
8Wake up, my soul,
wake up, lyre and harp!
I will awaken at dawn.
9I will exalt you among the peoples, Lord.
I will play music among the nations.
10For your gracious love is great,
extending even to the heavens,
and your truth even to the skies.
11Be exalted above the heavens, God!
May your glory cover the earth!
Psalm 58
0To the Director: A special Davidic psalm to the tune of gDo Not Destroyh.
1How is it that by remaining silent you can speak righteously?
How can you judge people fairly?
2As a matter of fact, in your heart you plan iniquities!
In the land your hands are violent!
3The wicked go astray from the womb;
they go astray, telling lies even from birth.
4Their venom is like a poisonous snake;
even like a deaf serpent that shuts its ears,
5refusing to hear the voice of the snake charmer,
the cunning enchanter.
6God, shatter their teeth in their mouths;
LORD, break the fangs of the young lions!
7May they flow away like rain water that runs off,
may they become like someone who shoots broken arrows.
8May they be like a snail that dries up as it crawls;
like a womanfs stillborn baby, who never saw the sun.
9Before your clay pots are placed on a fire of burning thorns\
whether green or ablaze\
wrath will sweep them away like a storm.
10The righteous person will rejoice when he sees your vengeance;
when he washes his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11A person will say,
gCertainly, the righteous are rewarded;
certainly there is a God who judges the earth.h
Psalm 59
0To the Director: A special Davidic psalm to the tune of gDo Not Destroy,h when Saul sent men to watch the house in order to kill him.
1Save me from my enemies, my God!
Keep me safe from those who rise up against me.
2Save me from those who practice evil;
deliver me from bloodthirsty men.
3Look, they lie in ambush for my life;
these violent men gather together against me,
but not because of any transgression or sin of mine, LORD.
4Without any fault on my part,
they rush together and prepare themselves.
Get up!
Come help me!
Pay attention!
5You, LORD God of the Heavenly Armies, God of Israel,
stir yourself up to punish all the nations.
Show no mercy to those wicked transgressors. - Interlude
6At night they return like howling dogs;
they prowl around the city.
7Look what pours out of their mouths!
They use their lips like swords,
saying gWho will hear us?h
8But you, LORD, will laugh at them;
you will mock all the nations.
9My Strength, I will watch for you,
for God is my fortress.
10My God of Gracious Love will meet me;
God will enable me to see what happens to my enemies.
11Donft kill them!
Otherwise, my people may forget.
By your power make them stumble around;
bring them down low,
Lord, our Shield.
12The sin of their mouth is the word on their lips.
They will be caught in their own conceit;
for they speak curses and lies.
13Go ahead and destroy them in anger!
Wipe them out,
and they will know to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob. - Interlude
14At night they return like howling dogs;
they prowl around the city.
15They scavenge for food.
If they find nothing,
they become hungry and growl.
16But I will sing of your power
and in the morning I will shout for joy about your gracious love.
For you have been a fortress for me;
and a refuge when I am distressed.
17My Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, God of Gracious Love, are my fortress.
Psalm 60
0To the Director: A special Davidic psalm to the tune of gLily of The Covenant,h for teaching about his battle with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, when Joab returned and attacked 12,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley.
1God, you have cast us off;
you have breached our defenses
and you have become enraged.
Return to us!
2You made the earth quake;
you broke it open.
Repair its fractures,
because it has shifted.
3You made your people go through hard times;
you had us drink wine that makes us stagger.
4But you have given a banner to those who fear you,
so they may display it in honor of truth. - Interlude
5So your loved ones may be delivered,
save us by your power
and answer us quickly!
6Then God spoke in his holiness,
gI will rejoice\
I will divide Shechem;
I will portion out the Succoth Valley.
7Gilead belongs to me,
and Manasseh is mine.
Ephraim is my helmet,
and Judah my scepter.
8Moab is my wash basin;
over Edom I will throw my shoes;
over Philistia I will celebrate my triumph.h
9Who will lead me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10Arenft you the one, God, who has cast us off?
Didnft you refuse, God, to accompany our armies?
11Help us in our distress,
for human help is worthless.
12Through God we will fight valiantly;
and it is he who will crush our enemies.
Psalm 61
0To the Director: A composition by David for stringed instruments.
1God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth I will cry to you
whenever my heart is overwhelmed.
Place me on the rock thatfs too high for me.
3For you have been a refuge for me,
a tower of strength before the enemy.
4Let me make my home in your tent forever;
let me hide under the shelter of your wings. - Interlude
5For you, God, have heard my promises;
you have assigned to me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6Add day after day to the kingfs life;
may his years continue for many generations.
7May he be enthroned before God forever;
Appoint your gracious love and truth to guard him.
8So I will sing songs to your name forever;
I will fulfill my promises day by day.
Psalm 62
0To the Director: According to Jeduthunfs style. A Davidic Psalm.
1My soul rests quietly only when it looks to God;
from him comes my deliverance.
2He alone is my rock, my deliverance, and my high tower;
nothing will shake me.
3How long will you rage against someone?
Would you attack him
as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
4They plan to cast him down from his exalted position.
They delight in lies;
their mouth utters blessings,
while their heart is cursing. - Interlude
5My soul, be quiet before God,
for from him comes my hope.
6He alone is my rock, my deliverance, and my high tower;
nothing will shake me.
7I rely on God who is my deliverance and my glory;
he is my strong rock,
and my refuge is in God.
8People, in every situation put your trust in God;
pour out your heart before him;
for God is a refuge for us. - Interlude
9Human beings are a mere vapor,
while people in high positions are not what they appear.
When they are placed on the scales, they weigh nothing;
even when weighed together, they are less than nothing.
10Donft trust in oppression
or put false hope in stealing;
if you become wealthy,
do not set your heart on it.
11God spoke once,
but I heard it twice,
gPower belongs to God.h
12Also to you, Lord, belongs gracious love,
because you reward each person according to what he does.
Psalm 63
0A Davidic Psalm, while he was in the Judean wilderness.
1God, you are my God!
I will fervently seek you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my flesh longs for you in a dry, weary, and parched land.
2So I have looked for you in the sanctuary,
to behold your power and glory.
3Because your gracious love is better than life itself,
my lips will praise you.
4So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in your name.
5Just as I am satisfied with the choicest of foods,
so my lips will praise you joyfully.
6When I think of you in bed,
I will meditate on you in the night watches.
7For you have been my strength,
and in the shadow of your wings I will shout for joy.
8My soul clings to you,
even as your right hand supports me.
9But as for those who seek to destroy me,
they will go down to the depths of the earth;
10May they be given over to the power of the sword;
may they become carrion for jackals.
11But as for the king,
he will rejoice in God.
Indeed, everyone who swears by God will exult,
because the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Psalm 64
0To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
1Hear, God, as I express my concern;
protect me from fear of the enemy.
2Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the mob of those who practice evil,
3who sharpen their tongues like swords,
and aim their bitter words like arrows,
4shooting at the innocent from concealment.
Suddenly they shoot, fearing nothing.
5They concoct an evil scheme for themselves;
they enumerate their hidden snares;
they say, gWho will see them?h
6They devise wicked schemes, saying,
gWe have completed our plans,
hiding them deep in our hearts.h
7But God shot an arrow at them,
and they were wounded immediately.
8They tripped over their own tongues,
and everyone who was watching ran away.
9Everyone was gripped with fear
and acknowledged Godfs deeds,
understanding what he had done.
10The righteous rejoiced in the LORD,
because they had fled to him for refuge.
Let all the upright in heart exult.
Psalm 65
0To the Director: A song. Lyrics by David.
1In Zion, God, praise silently awaits you,
and vows will be paid to you.
2Since you hear prayer,
everybody will come to you.
3My acts of iniquity\they overwhelm me!
Our transgressions\you blot them out!
4How blessed is the one you choose,
the one you cause to live in your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
yes, even with the holiness of your Temple.
5With awesome deeds of justice
you will answer us, God our Deliverer;
you are the confidence for everyone at the ends of the earth,
even for those far away overseas.
6The One who established the mountains by his strength
is clothed with omnipotence.
7He calmed the roar of seas,
the roaring of the waves,
and the turmoil of the peoples.
8Those living at the furthest ends of the earth are seized by fear because of your miraculous deeds.
You make the going forth of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
9You take care of the earth,
you water it,
and you enrich it greatly with the river of God that overflows with water.
You provide grain for them,
for you have ordained it this way.
10You fill the furrows of the field with water
so that their ridges overflow.
You soften them with rain showers;
their sprouts you have blessed.
11You crown the year with your goodness;
your footsteps drop prosperity behind them.
12The wilderness pastures drip with dew,
and the hills wrap themselves with joy.
13The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are covered with grain.
They shout for joy;
yes, they burst out in song!
Psalm 66
0To the Director: A song. A Psalm.
1Shout praise to God all the earth!
2Sing praise about the glory of his name.
Make his praise glorious.
3Say to God: gHow awesome are your works!
Because of your great strength
your enemies cringe before you.h
4The whole earth worships you.
They sing praise to you.
They sing praise to your name. - Interlude
5Come and see the awesome works of God
on behalf of human beings:
6He turned the sea into dry land.
Israel crossed the river on foot;
let us rejoice in him.
7He rules by his power forever,
his eyes watching over the nations.
Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. - Interlude
8Bless our God, people,
and let the sound of his praise be heard.
9He gives us life
and does not permit our feet to slip.
10For you, God, tested us,
to purify us like fine silver.
11You have led us into a trap
and set burdens on our backs.
12You caused men to ride over us.
You brought us through fire and water,
but you led us to abundance.
13I will come to your house with burnt offerings.
I will fulfill my vows to you
14that my lips uttered and that my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat,
along with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams.
I will offer bulls along with goats. - Interlude
16Come and listen, all of you who fear God,
and I will tell you what he did for me.
17I called aloud to him
and praised him with my tongue.
18Were I to cherish iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not listen to me.
19Surely God has heard,
and he paid attention to my prayers.
20Blessed be God, who did not turn away my prayers
nor his gracious love from me.
Psalm 67
0To the Director of music: Accompanied by stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.
1May God show us favor and bless us;
may he truly show us his favor. - Interlude
2Let your ways be known by all the nations of the earth,
along with your deliverance.
3Let the people thank you, God.
Let all the people thank you.
4Let the nations rejoice and sing for joy,
because you judge people with fairness
and you govern the people of the earth. - Interlude
5Let the people thank you, God;
let all the people thank you.
6May the earth yield its produce.
May God, our God, bless us.
7May God truly bless us
so that all the peoples of the earth will fear him.
Psalm 68
0To the Director of music: A Psalm. A song.
1God arises,
and his enemies are scattered.
Those who hate him flee from his presence.
2As smoke is driven away, so you drive them away.
As wax melts in the presence of fire,
so the wicked die in the presence of God.
3But the righteous rejoice and exult before God;
they are overwhelmed with joy.
4Sing to God!
Sing praise to his name!
Exalt the one who rides on the clouds.
The Lord is his name.
Be jubilant in his presence.
5A father to orphans and an advocate for widows
is God in his holy dwelling place.
6God causes the lonely to dwell in families.
He leads prisoners into prosperity,
but rebels live on parched land.
7God, when you led out your people,
when you marched through the desert, - Interlude
8the land quaked.
Indeed, the heavens poured down rain
from the presence of God,
this God of Sinai,
from the presence of God,
the God of Israel.
9God, you poured out abundant rain on your inheritance.
When Israel was weary, you sustained her.
10Your people live there;
you sustain the needy with your goodness, God.
11The Lord issues a command.
Numerous are the women who announce the news:
12gKings of armies retreat and flee,
while the lady of the house divides the spoil.
13When you men lie down among the sheepfolds,
you are like the wings of the dove covered with silver,
with its feathers in glittering gold.h
14When the Almighty scattered the kings there,
there was snow on Mt. Zalmon.
15The mountain of God is as the mountain of Bashan;
a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.
16You mountains of many peaks, why do you watch with envy
the mountain in which God has chosen to dwell?
Indeed, the Lord will live there forever.
17Godfs chariots were many thousands.
The Lord was there with them at Sinai in holiness.
18You ascended to the heights,
you took captives.
You received gifts among mankind,
even the rebellious,
so the Lord God may live there.
19Blessed be the Lord who daily carries us.
God is our deliverer.
20God is for us the God of our deliverance.
The Lord God rescues us from death.
21God surely strikes the heads of his enemies,
even the hairy heads of those who continue in their guilt.
22The Lord says, gFrom Bashan I will bring them,
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
23that your feet may wade through blood.
The tongues of your dogs will have their portions
from your enemies.h
24They have observed your processions, God,
the processions of my God,
my king, in the sanctuary.
25The singers are in front,
the musicians follow,
strumming their stringed instruments
among the maidens who are playing their tambourines.
26Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord who is the fountain of Israel.
27Little Benjamin is there, leading them,
and the princes of Judah all together
with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
28Summon the power of your God,
the power, God, that you have shown us.
29Because of your Temple in Jerusalem,
kings bring tribute to you.
30Rebuke the wildlife that lives among the reeds,
the nations that congregate like bulls and cows,
humbling themselves with pieces of silver,
for God scatters the nations that delight in battle.
31Envoys will come from Egypt.
Let the Ethiopians stretch out their hands to God.
32You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!
Sing praises to the Lord, - Interlude
33to the one who rides the heavens, the ancient heavens.
Behold! He thunders with a mighty voice.
34Ascribe power to God, whose glory is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.
35You are awesome, God, from your sanctuaries.
The God of Israel is the one
who gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!
Psalm 69
0To the Director: To the tune of gThe Liliesh. Davidic.
1Deliver me, God,
because the waters are up to my neck.
2I am sinking in deep mire,
and there is no solid ground.
I have come into deep water,
and the flood overwhelms me.
3I am exhausted from calling for help.
My throat is parched.
My eyes are strained from looking for God.
4Those who hate me without cause
are more than the hairs of my head.
My persecutors are mighty,
and they want to destroy me.
Must I be forced to return what I did not steal?
5God, you know my sins,
and my guilt is not hidden from you.
6Do not let those who look up to you be ashamed
because of me,
Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
Let not those who seek you be humiliated
because of me,
God of Israel.
7I am being mocked because of you.
Dishonor overwhelms me.
8I am a stranger to my brothers,
a foreigner to my motherfs sons.
9Zeal for your house consumes me,
and the mockeries of those who insult you fall on me.
10I weep and fast,
and I am mocked for it.
11When I dressed in sackcloth,
I became an object of gossip among them.
12The prominent people mock me,
composing drinking songs.
13As for me, Lord, may my prayer to you come at a favorable time.
God, in the abundance of your gracious love,
answer me with your sure deliverance.
14Rescue me from the mud
and do not let me sink.
Rescue me from those who hate me,
and from the deep waters.
15Let neither the floodwaters overwhelm me
nor let the deep swallow me up,
nor the mouth of the well close over me.
16Answer me, Lord, for your gracious love is good;
Turn to me in keeping with your great compassion,
17and do not ignore your servant,
because I am in distress.
Hurry to answer me!
18Draw near and redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies.
19Truly you know my reproach, shame, and disgrace.
All my enemies are known to you.
20Insults broke my heart.
I despaired and looked for sympathy;
but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.
21They put poison in my food,
in my thirst they forced me to drink vinegar.
22May their dining tables entrap them,
and become a snare for their allies.
23May their eyes be blinded
and may their bodies tremble continually.
24May you pour out your fury on them.
May your burning anger overtake them.
25May their camp become desolate
and their tents remain unoccupied.
26For they persecute those whom you have struck,
and they brag about the pain of those you have wounded.
27May you punish them for their crimes;
may they receive no verdict of innocence from you.
28May they be erased from the Book of Life,
and their names not be written with the righteous.
29As for me, I am afflicted and hurting;
may your deliverance, God, establish me on high.
30Let me praise the name of God with a song
that I may magnify him with thanksgiving.
31That will please the Lord
more than oxen and bulls with horns and hooves.
32The afflicted will watch and rejoice.
May you who seek God take courage.
33For the Lord listens to the needy
and doesnft despise those in bondage.
34Let the heavens and earth praise him,
along with the sea and its swarming creatures.
35For God will deliver Zion
and will rebuild the cities of Judah
so they may live there and possess them.
36The descendants of his servants will inherit it,
and those who cherish his name will live there.
Psalm 70
0To the Music director. Davidic. As a memorial.
1God, come to my rescue.
Lord, hurry to help me.
2May those who seek to kill me be publicly humiliated.
May those who take pleasure in my harm
be turned back in humiliation.
3May those who say gAha! Aha!h
be turned back because of their shameful deeds.
4Let those who seek you greatly rejoice in you.
Let those who love your deliverance say,
gMay God be continually exalted.h
5As for me, I am poor and needy.
God, come quickly to me.
You are my helper and my deliverer.
Lord, please do not delay.
Psalm 71
1In you, Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be humiliated.
2Rescue and deliver me, because you are righteous.
Turn your ear to me and save me.
3Be my sheltering refuge where I may go continually;
command my deliverance
for you are my rock and fortress.
4My God, deliver me from the power of the wicked
and the grasp of ruthless practicers of evil.
5For you are my hope, Lord God,
my security since I was young.
6I depended on you since birth,
when you brought me from my motherfs womb;
I praise you continually.
7I have become an example to many
that you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is filled with your praise
and your splendor daily.
9Donft throw me away when I am old;
do not abandon me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies talk against me;
those who seek to kill me plot together
11and say, gGod has abandoned him.
Run after him and seize him,
because therefs no deliverer.h
12God, do not be distant from me.
My God, come quickly to help me.
13Let my adversaries be ashamed and consumed;
let those who seek my destruction
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14As for me, I will hope continually
and will praise you more and more.
15I will declare your righteousness
and your salvation every day,
though I do not fully understand
what the outcome will be.
16Lord God, I will come in the power of your mighty acts,
remembering your righteousness\yours alone.
17God, you taught me from my youth,
so I am still declaring your awesome deeds.
18Also, when I reach old age and have gray hair,
God, do not forsake me,
until I have declared your power
to this generation
and your might to the next one.
19Your many righteous deeds, God, are great,
20God, who can compare to you,
who caused me to experience troubles 
that were numerous and disastrous?
You will return to revive me
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.
22I also will praise you with the harp;
because of your faithfulness, my God,
I will praise you with the lyre\
Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you,
whose life you have redeemed.
24Moreover, my tongue will speak all day about your justice;
for those who seek my destruction will be utterly humiliated.
Psalm 72
0Solomonic
1God, endow the king with ability to render your justice,
and the kingfs son to render your right decisions.
2May he rule your people with right decisions
and your oppressed ones with justice.
3May the mountains bring prosperity to the people
and the hills bring righteousness.
4May he defend the afflicted of the people
and deliver the children of the poor,
but crush the oppressor.
5May they fear you as long as the sun and moon shine\
from generation to generation.
6May he be like the rain that descends on mown grass,
like showers sprinkling on the ground.
7The righteous will flourish at the proper time
and peace will prevail until the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea,
from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
9May the nomads bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring gifts,
and may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer tribute.
11May all kings bow down to him,
and all nations serve him.
12For he will deliver the needy when they cry out for help,
and the poor when there is no deliverer.
13He will have compassion on the poor and the needy,
and he will save the lives of the needy.
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
since their lives are precious in his sight.
15May he live long and be given gold from Sheba,
and may prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed every day.
16May grain be abundant in the land
all the way to the mountain tops;
may its fruits flourish
like the forests of Lebanon,
and may the cities sprout
like the grass of the earth.
17May his fame be eternal\
as long as the sun\
may his name endure,
and may they be blessed through him,
and may all nations call him blessed.
18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does awesome deeds.
19And blessed be his glorious name forever,
and may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!
20This ends the prayers of Jessefs son David.
Psalm 73
0A song of Asaph.
1God is indeed good to Israel,
to those pure in heart.
2Now as for me, my feet nearly stumbled,
as I almost lost my step.
3For I was envious of the proud
when I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
4For there is no struggle at their deaths,
and their bodies are healthy.
5They do not experience problems common to ordinary people;
they arenft afflicted as others are.
6Therefore pride is their necklace
and violence covers them like a garment.
7Their eyes bulge from obesity
and the imaginations of their mind cross the border into sin.
8In their mockery they speak evil;
from their arrogant position they speak oppression.
9They choose to speak against heaven;
while they talk about things on earth.
10Therefore Godfs people return there
and drink it all in like water until theyfre satiated.
11Then they say,
gHow can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?h
12Just look at these wicked people!
Theyfre perpetually carefree
as they increase their wealth.
13I kept my heart pure for nothing
and kept my hands clean from guilt.
14For I suffer all day long
and I am punished every morning.
15If I say, gI will talk like this,h
I would betray a generation of your children.
16When I tried to understand this,
it was too difficult for me
17until I entered the sanctuaries of God.
Then I understood their destiny.
18You have certainly set them in slippery places;
you will make them fall to their ruin.
19How desolate they quickly become,
completely destroyed by calamities.
20Like a dream when one awakens, Lord,
you will despise their image when you arise.
21When I chose to be bitter
I was emotionally pained.
22Then, I was too stupid
and didnft realize I was acting like a wild animal with you.
23But now I am always with you,
for you keep holding my right hand.
24You will guide me with your wise advice,
and later you will receive me with honor.
25Whom do I have in heaven but you?
I desire nothing on this earth.
26My body and mind may fail,
but God is my strength and my portion forever.
27Those far from you will perish;
you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.
28As for me, how good for me it is that God is near!
I have made the Lord God my refuge
so I can tell about all your deeds.
Psalm 74
0An instruction of Asaph
1Why, God? Have you rejected us forever?
Your anger is burning against the sheep of your pasture.
2Remember your community,
whom you purchased long ago,
the tribe whom you redeemed
for your possession.
Remember Mount Zion,
where you live.
3Hurry! Look at the permanent ruins\
every calamity the enemy brought upon the Holy Place.
4Those who are opposing you roar
where we were meeting with you;
they unfurl their war banners as signs.
5As one blazes a trail
through a forest with an ax,
6now theyfre tearing down all its carved work
with hatchets and hammers.
7They burned your sanctuary to the ground,
desecrating your dwelling place.
8They say to themselves,
gWefll crush them completely;h
They burned down all the meeting places of God in the land.
9We see no signs for us;
there is no longer a prophet,
and no one among us knows the future.
10God, how long will the adversary scorn
while the enemy despises your name endlessly?
11Why do you not withdraw your hand\
your right hand\from your bosom
and destroy them?
12But God is my king from ancient times,
who brings acts of deliverance throughout the earth.
13You split the sea by your own power.
You shattered the heads of sea monsters in the water.
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan.
 You set it as food for desert creatures.
15You opened both the spring and the river;
you dried up flowing rivers.
16Yours is the day, and yours is the night;
you established the moon and the sun.
17You set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made summer and winter.
18Remember this: The enemy scorns the Lord
and a foolish people despises your name.
19Donft hand over the life of your dove to beasts;
do not continually forget your afflicted ones.
20Pay attention to your covenant,
for the dark regions of the earth are full of violence.
21Donft let the oppressed return in humiliation.
The poor and needy will praise your name.
22Get up, God, and prosecute your case\
remember that youfre being scorned
by fools all day long.
23Donft ignore the shout of those opposing you,
The uproar of those who rebel against you continuously.
Psalm 75
0To the Director: To the tune of gDo not Destroy!h A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1We praise you, God!
 We praise you\your presence draws near\
as we declare your wonderful deeds.
2gAt the time that I choose
I will judge the righteous.
3While the earth and all its inhabitants melt away,
it is I who keep its pillars firm.h - Interlude
4I will say to the proud, gDonft brag,h
and to the wicked,
gDonft vaunt your strength.
5Donft use your strength to fight heaven
or speak from stubborn arrogance.h
6For exaltation comes not from the east,
the west, or the wilderness,
7since God is the judge.
This one he will debase or that one he will exalt.
8For there is a cup in the hand of the Lord,
foaming with well-mixed wine
that he will pour out, leaving only the dregs,
from which all the wicked of the earth will drink.
9But as for me, I will declare forever,
singing praise to the God of Jacob.
10I will cut down the strength of the wicked,
but the strength of the righteous will be lifted up.
Psalm 76
0To the Director: With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1God is known in Judah;
in Israel his reputation is great.
2His abode is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
3There he shattered sharp arrows,
shields, swords, and weapons of war. - Interlude
4You are enveloped by light;
more majestic than mountains filled with game.
5Brave men were plundered
while they slumbered in their sleep.
All the men of the army were immobilized.
6At the sound of your battle cry, God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot rider fell into deep sleep.
7You are awesome!
who can stand in your presence when youfre angry?
8From heaven you declared judgment.
The earth stands in awe and is quiet
9when God arose to execute justice
and to deliver all the afflicted of the earth. - Interlude
10Even human anger praises you;
you will wear the survivors of your wrath as an ornament.
11Let everyone who surrounds the Lord your God
make a vow and fulfill it to the Awesome One.
12He will humble the arrogant commanders-in-chief,
instilling fear among the kings of the earth.
Psalm 77
0To the director: To Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.
1I cry out to God!
I cry out to God and he hears me.
2When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
my hands were raised at night
and they did not grow weary.
I refused to be comforted.
3I remember God, and I groan;
I meditate, while my spirit grows faint. - Interlude
4You kept my eyes open;
I was troubled and couldnft speak.
5I thought of ancient times,
considering years long past.
6During the night I remembered my song.
I meditate in my heart,
and my spirit ponders.
7Will the Lord reject me forever
and not show favor again?
8Has his gracious love ceased forever?
Will his promise be unfulfilled in future generations?
9Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion? - Interlude
10So I say: gIt causes me pain
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.h
11I will remember the Lordfs deeds;
indeed, I will remember your awesome deeds from long ago.
12As I meditate on all your works,
I will consider your awesome deeds.
13God, your way is holy.
What god is like our great God?
14God, you are the one performing awesome deeds.
You reveal your might among the nations.
15You delivered your people\
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph\
with your power. - Interlude
16The waters saw you, God;
the waters saw you and writhed.
Indeed, the depths of the sea quaked.
17The clouds poured rain;
the skies rumbled.
Indeed, your lightning bolts flashed.
18Your thunderous sound was in a whirlwind;
your lightning lights up the world;
the earth becomes agitated and quakes.
19Your way was through the sea,
and your path through mighty waters,
but your footprints cannot be traced.
20You have led your people like a flock
by the hands of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 78
0An instruction of Asaph
1Listen, my people, to my instruction.
Hear the words of my mouth.
2I will tell a parable,
speaking riddles from long ago\
3things that we have heard and known
and that our ancestors related to us.
4We will not withhold them from their descendants;
wefll declare to the next generation the praises of the Lord\
his might and awesome deeds that he has performed.
5He established a decree in Jacob,
and established the Law in Israel,
that he commanded our ancestors
to reveal to their children
6in order that the next generation\
children yet to be born\
will know them and
in turn teach them to their children.
7Then they will put their trust in God
and they will not forget his awesome deeds.
Instead, they will keep his commandments.
8They will not be like the rebellious generation of their ancestors,
a rebellious generation,
whose heart was not steadfast,
and whose spirits were unfaithful to God.
9The descendants of Ephraim were sharp shooters with the bow,
but they retreated in the day of battle.
10They did not keep Godfs covenant,
and refused to live by his Law.
11They have forgotten what he has done,
his awesome deeds that they witnessed.
12He performed marvelous things
in the presence of their ancestors
in the land of Egypt\
in the fields of Zoan.
13He divided the sea so that they were able to cross;
he caused the water to stand in a single location.
14He led them with a cloud during the day,
and during the night with light from the fire.
15He caused the rocks to split in the wilderness,
and gave them water as from an abundant sea.
16He brought streams from rock,
causing water to flow like a river.
17But time and again, they sinned against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18To test God was in their minds,
when they demanded food to satisfy their cravings.
19They spoke against God by asking,
gIs God able to prepare a feast in the desert?
20Itfs true that Moses struck the rock so that water flowed forth
and torrents of water gushed out,
but is he also able to give bread
or to supply meat for his people?h
21Therefore, when the Lord heard this, he was angry,
and fire broke out against Jacob.
Moreover, his anger flared against Israel,
22because they didnft believe in God
and didnft trust in his deliverance.
23Yet he commanded the skies above
and the doors of the heavens to open,
24so that manna rained down on them for food
and he sent them the grain of heaven.
25Mortal men ate the food of angels;
he sent provision to them in abundance.
26He stirred up the east wind in the heavens
and drove the south wind by his might.
27He caused meat to rain on them like dust
and winged birds as the sand of the sea.
28He caused these to fall in the middle of the camp
and all around their tents.
29So they ate and were very satisfied,
because he granted their desire.
30However, before they had fulfilled their desire,
while their food was still in their mouths,
31the anger of God flared against them,
and he killed the strongest men
and humbled Israelfs young men.
32In spite of all of this, they kept on sinning
and didnft believe in his marvelous deeds.
33So he made their days end in futility,
and their years with sudden terror.
34When he struck them, they sought him;
they repented, and eagerly sought God.
35Then they remembered that God was their rock,
and the Most High God was their deliverer.
36But they deceived him with their mouths;
 they lied to him with their tongues.
37For their hearts werenft committed to him,
and they werenft faithful to his covenant.
38But he, being merciful, forgave their iniquity
and didnft destroy them;
He restrained his anger
and didnft vent all his wrath.
39For he remembered that they were only flesh,
a passing wind that doesnft return.
40How they rebelled against him in the desert,
grieving him in the wilderness!
41They tested God again and again,
provoking the Holy One of Israel.
42They did not remember his power\
the day he delivered them from their adversary,
43when he set his signs in Egypt
and his wonders in the plain of Zoan.
44He turned their rivers into blood
and made their streams undrinkable.
45He sent swarms of insects to bite them
and frogs to destroy them.
46He gave their crops to caterpillars
and what they worked for to locusts.
47He destroyed their vines with hail
and their sycamore trees with frost.
48He delivered their beasts to hail
and their livestock to lightning bolts.
49He inflicted his burning anger,
wrath, indignation, and distress,
sending destroying angels among them.
50He blazed a path for his anger;
he did not stop short from killing them,
but handed them over to pestilence.
51He struck every firstborn in Egypt,
the first fruits of their manhood in the tents of Ham.
52Yet he led out his people like sheep,
guiding them like a flock in the desert.
53He led them to safety so they would not fear.
As for their enemies, the sea covered them.
54He brought the people to the border of his holy mountain,
which he acquired by his might.
55He drove out nations before them
and allotted their tribal inheritance,
settling the tribes of Israel in their tents.
56But they tested the Most High God by rebelling against him,
and they did not obey his statutes.
57They fell away and were as disloyal as their ancestors.
They became unreliable, like a defective bow;
58they angered him with their high places
and with their carved images they made him jealous.
59God heard and became furious,
and he completely rejected Israel.
60He abandoned the tent at Shiloh,
the tent that he established among mankind.
61Then he sent his might into captivity
and his glory into the control of the adversary.
62He delivered his people over to the sword
and was angry with his possession.
63The young men were consumed by fire,
and the virgins had no marriage celebrations.
64The priests fell by the sword,
yet their widows couldnft weep.
65The Lord awoke as though from sleep,
like a mighty warrior stimulated by wine.
66He beat back his adversaries,
permanently disgracing them.
67He rejected the clan of Joseph;
and the tribe of Ephraim he did not choose.
68But he chose the tribe of Judah,
the mountain of Zion, which he loves.
69He built his sanctuary, high as the heavens,
like the earth that he established forever.
70Then he chose his servant David,
whom he took from the sheepfold.
71He brought him from birthing sheep
to care for Jacob, his people,
Israel, his possession.
72David shepherded them with a devoted heart,
and led them with skillful hands.
Psalm 79
0A Psalm of Asaph
1God, nations have invaded your land
to desecrate your holy Temple,
to destroy Jerusalem,
2to give the corpses of your servants
as food for the birds of the skies
and the flesh of your godly ones
to the beasts of the earth;
3to make their blood flow like water around Jerusalem,
with no one being buried.
4We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
a mockery and a derision to those around us.
5How long, Lord, will you be angry? Forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6Pour out your wrath upon the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
and over the kingdoms
that do not call on your name.
7For they consumed Jacob,
making his dwelling place desolate.
8Donft charge us for previous iniquity,
but let your compassion come quickly to us,
for we have been brought very low.
9Help us, God, our deliverer,
on account of your glorious name,
deliver us and forgive our sins
on account of your name.
10Why should the nations say, gWhere is their God?h
Let vengeance for the blood of your servants be meted out
before our eyes and among the nations.
11Let the cries of the prisoners reach you.
With the strength of your power,
release those condemned to death.
12Pay back our neighbors seven times
the reproach with which they reproached you, Lord.
13Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you always, from generation to generation.
We will declare your praise.
Psalm 80
0For the Director of Music: According to gThe Liliesh. A testimony of Asaph. A psalm.
1Shepherd of Israel, listen!
The one who leads Joseph like a flock,
the one enthroned on the cherubim,
display your glory.
2Reveal your power before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
then come to our rescue.
3God, restore us,
show your favor and deliver us.
4Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,
when will your smoldering anger
toward your peoplefs prayers cease?
5You fed them tears as their food,
and caused them to drink a full measure of tears.
6You have set us at strife against our neighbors
and our enemies deride us.
7God of the Heavenly Armies, restore us
and show your favor,
so we may be delivered.
8You uprooted a vine from Egypt,
and drove out nations to transplant it.
9You cleared the ground so that its roots grew
and filled the land.
10Mountains were covered by its shadows,
and the mighty cedars by its branches.
11Its branches spread out to the Mediterranean Sea
and its shoots to the Euphrates River.
12Why did you break down its walls
so that those who pass by pluck its fruits?
13Wild boars of the forest gnaw at it,
and creatures of the field feed on it.
14God of the Heavenly Armies, return!
Look down from heaven and see.
Show care toward this vine.
15The root that your right hand planted,
the shoot that you tended for yourself,
16was burned with fire, cut off,
and destroyed on account of your rebuke.
17May you support the man at your right hand;
the son of man whom you have raised for yourself.
18Then we will not turn away from you.
Restore us, so we can call upon your name.
19God of hosts, restore to us the light of your favor.
Then wefll be delivered.
Psalm 81
0For the Director: On the Gittith. By Asaph.
1Sing joyfully to God, our strength.
Raise a shout to the God of Jacob.
2Sing a song and play the tambourine,
the pleasant-sounding lyre along with the harp.
3Blow the ramfs horn when there is a New Moon,
when there is a full moon,
on our festival day,
4because it is a statute in Israel,
an ordinance by the God of Jacob,
5a decree that he prescribed for Joseph
when he went throughout the land of Egypt,
speaking a language I did not recognize.
6I removed the burden from your shoulder;
your hands were freed of the burdensome basket.
7In a time of need you called out and I delivered you;
I answered you from the dark thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. - Interlude
8Listen, My people and I will warn you.
Israel, if only you would obey me!
9You must neither have a foreign god over you
or worship a strange god.
10I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
open your mouth that I may fill it.
11Yet my people didnft obey my voice;
 Israel didnft submit to me.
12So I allowed them to continue in their stubbornness,
living by their own advice.
13If only my people would obey me,
if only Israel would walk in my ways!
14Then I would quickly subdue their enemies.
I would turn against their foes.
15Those who hate the Lord will cringe before him;
their punishment will be permanent.
16But I will feed Israel with the finest wheat,
satisfying you with honey from the rock.
Psalm 82
0A Psalm of Asaph
1 God takes his stand in the divine assembly;
among the divine beings he renders judgment:
2gHow long will you judge partially
by showing favor on the wicked? - Interlude
3gDefend the poor and the fatherless.
Vindicate the afflicted and the poor.
4Rescue the poor and the needy,
delivering them from the power of the wicked.
5They neither know nor understand;
they walk about in the dark
while all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6gIndeed I said, eYou are gods,
and all of you are sons of the Most High.
7However, as all human beings do, you will die,
and like other rulers, you will fall.f
8Arise, God, to judge the earth,
for all nations belong to you.
Psalm 83
0A song. A Psalm of Asaph
1God, do not rest!
Donft be silent!
Donft stay inactive, God!
2See! Your enemies rage;
those who hate you issue threats.
3They plot against your people
and conspire against your cherished ones.
4They say, gLet us go and erase them as a nation
so the name of Israel will not be remembered anymore.h
5Indeed, they shrewdly planned together,
forming an alliance against you\
6the tents of Edom, the Ishmaelites,
Moab, the Hagrites,
7Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia,
and the inhabitants of Tyre.
8Even Assyria joined them
to strengthen the descendants of Lot. - Interlude
9Deal with them as you did to Midian,
Sisera, and Jabin at the Kishon Brook.
10They were destroyed at En-dor
and became as dung on the ground.
11Punish their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12who said, gLet us possess the pastures of God.h
13God, set them up like dried thistles,
like straw before the wind.
14Like a fire burning a forest,
and a flame setting mountains ablaze.
15Pursue them with your storm and
terrify them with your whirlwind.
16Fill their faces with shame
until they seek your name, God.
17Let them be humiliated and terrified permanently
until they die in shame.
18Then they will know that you alone\
whose name is Lord\
are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 84
0To the Director: On the Gittith. A Psalm by the descendants of Korah.
1How lovely are your dwelling places,
Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
2I desire and long
for the Temple courts of the Lord.
My heart and body sing for joy
to the living God.
3Even the sparrow found a house for herself
and the swallow a nest
to lay her young at your altar,
Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
my king and God.
4How happy are those who live in your Temple,
for they can praise you continuously. - Interlude
5How happy are those whose strength is in you,
whose heart is on your path.
6They will pass through the Baca Valley
where he will prepare a spring for them;
even the early rain will cover it with blessings.
7They will walk from strength to strength;
each will appear before God in Zion.
8Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, hear my prayer!
Listen, God of Jacob! - Interlude
9God, look at our shield,
and show favor to your anointed,
10for a day in your Temple courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather stand
at the entrance of Godfs house
than live in the tent of wickedness.
11For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord grants grace and favor;
the Lord will not withhold any good thing
from those who walk blamelessly.
12Lord of Heavenly Armies,
how happy are those who trust in you.
Psalm 85
0To the Director: A Psalm by the descendants of Korah.
1Lord you have favored your land
and restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You took away the iniquity of your people,
forgiving all their sins - Interlude
3You withdrew all your wrath
and turned away from your burning anger.
4Restore us, God of our salvation,
and stop being angry with us.
5Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger from generation to generation?
6Will you restore our lives again
so that your people may rejoice in you?
7Lord, show your gracious love
and deliver us.
8Let me listen to what God, the Lord, says;
for the Lord will promise peace
to his people, to his holy ones;
may they not return to foolishness.
9Surely, he will soon deliver those who fear him,
for his glory will live in our land.
10Gracious love and truth meet;
righteousness and peace kiss.
11Truth sprouts up from the ground,
while righteousness looks down from the sky.
12The Lord will also provide what is good,
and our land will yield its produce.
13Righteousness will go before him
to prepare a path for his steps.
Psalm 86
0A Davidic prayer
1Lord, listen and answer me,
for I am afflicted and needy.
2Protect me, for I am faithful;
My God, deliver your servant who trusts in you.
3Have mercy on me Lord,
for I call on you all day long.
4Your servant rejoices,
because, Lord, I set my hope on you.
5Indeed you, Lord, are kind and forgiving,
overflowing with gracious love to everyone who calls on you.
6Hear my prayer, Lord;
attend to my prayer of supplication.
7In my troubled times I will call on you,
for you will answer me.
8No one can compare with you among the gods, Lord;
No one can accomplish your work.
9All the nations that you have established will come
and worship you, my Lord.
They will honor your name.
10For you are great,
and you are doing awesome things;
you alone are God.
11Teach me your ways, Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
let me wholeheartedly revere your name.
12I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole being;
and I will honor your name continuously.
13For great is your gracious love to me;
youfve delivered me from the depths of Sheol.
14God, arrogant men rise up against me,
while a company of ruthless individuals want to kill me.
They do not have regard for you.
15But you, Lord, are a compassionate God,
merciful and patient,
with unending gracious love and faithfulness.
16Return to me and have mercy on me;
clothe your servant with your strength
and deliver the son of your maid servant.
17Show me a sign of your goodness,
so that those who hate me will see it and be ashamed.
For you, Lord, will help and comfort me.
Psalm 87
0A psalm by the descendants of Korah. A song.
1Godfs foundation is in the holy mountains.
2The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken about you,
city of God. - Interlude
4I will mention Rahab and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me\
including Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia\
gThis one was born there,h they say.
5Indeed, about Zion it will be said:
gMore than one person was born in it,h and
gThe Most High himself did it.h
6The Lord will record,
as he registers the peoples,
gThis one was born there.h - Interlude
7Then singers, as they play their instruments, will declare,
gAll my roots are in you.h
Psalm 88
0A song. A psalm by the descendants of Korah. According to Machalath Leannoth. An instruction by Heman the Ezrahite.
1Lord, God of my salvation,
by day and by night I cry out before you.
2Let my prayer come before you;
listen to my cry.
3For my life is filled with troubles
as I approach Sheol.
4I am considered as one of those descending into the Pit,
like a mighty man without strength,
5released to remain with the dead,
lying in a grave like a corpse,
remembered no longer,
and cut off from your power.
6You have assigned me to the lowest part of the Pit,
to the darkest depths.
7Your anger lies heavily upon me;
you pound me with all your waves. - Interlude
8You caused my acquaintances to shun me;
you make me extremely abhorrent to them.
Restrained, I am unable to go out.
9My eyes languish on account of my affliction;
all day long I call out to you, Lord,
I spread out my hands to you.
10Can you perform wonders for the dead?
Can departed spirits stand up to praise you? - Interlude
11Can your gracious love be declared in the grave
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12Can your awesome deeds be known in darkness
or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
13As for me, I cry out to you Lord,
and in the morning my prayer greets you.
14Why, Lord, have you rejected me?
Why have you hidden your face from me?
15Since my youth I have been oppressed
and in danger of death.
I bear your dread
and am overwhelmed.
16Your burning anger overwhelms me;
your terrors destroy me.
17Like waters, they engulf me all day long;
they surround me on all sides.
18You caused my friend and neighbor to shun me;
and my acquaintances are confused.
Psalm 89
0An instruction. By Ethan, the Ezrahite
1I will sing forever about the gracious love of the Lord;
from generation to generation
I will declare your faithfulness with my mouth.
2I will declare that your gracious love was established forever;
in the heavens itself, you have established your faithfulness.
3I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have made a promise to David, my servant.
4gI will establish your dynasty forever,
and I will lift up one who will build your throne
from generation to generation.h - Interlude
5Even the heavens praise your awesome deeds, Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6For who in the skies compares to the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the divine beings?
7God is feared in the council of the holy ones,
revered by all those around him.
8Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,
who is as mighty as you, Lord?
Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9You rule over the majestic sea;
when its waves surge,
you calm them.
10You crushed the proud one to death;
with your powerful arm
you scattered your enemies.
11Heaven and the earth belong to you,
the world and everything it contains\
you established them.
12The north and south\you created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13Your arm is strong;
your hand is mighty;
indeed, your right hand is victorious.
14Righteousness and justice make up
the foundation of your throne;
gracious love and truth meet before you.
15How happy are the people who can worship joyfully!
Lord, they walk in the light of your presence.
16In your name they rejoice all day long;
they exult in your justice.
17For you are their strengthfs grandeur;
by your favor you exalted our power.
18Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19You spoke to your faithful ones through a vision:
gI will set a helper over a warrior.
I will raise up a chosen one from the people.
20I have found my servant David;
I have anointed him with my sacred oil,
21with whom my power will be firmly established;
for my arm will strengthen him.
22No enemy will deceive him;
no wicked person will afflict him.
23I will crush his enemies before him
and strike those who hate him.
24My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him,
and in my name his power will be exalted.
25I will place his hand over the sea,
and his right hand over the rivers.
26He will announce to me
eYou are my father,
my God, and the rock of my salvation.f
27gIndeed, I myself made him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
28I will show my gracious love toward him forever,
since my covenant is securely established with him.
29I will establish his dynasty forever,
and his throne as long as heaven endures.
30gBut if his sons abandon my laws and
do not follow my ordinances,
31if they profane my statutes;
and do not keep my commands,
32then I will punish their disobedience with a rod
and their iniquity with lashes.
33But I will not cut off my gracious love from him,
and I will not stop being faithful.
34I will not dishonor my covenant,
because I will not change what I have spoken.
35I have sworn by my holiness once for all:
I will not lie to David.
36His dynasty will last forever
and his throne will be like the sun before me.
37It will be established forever like the moon,
a faithful witness in the sky.h - Interlude
38But you have spurned, rejected,
and became angry with your anointed one.
39You have dishonored the covenant with your servant;
you have defiled his crown on the ground.
40You have broken through all his walls;
you have laid his fortresses in ruin.
41All who pass by on their way plunder him;
he has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
you have caused all of his enemies to rejoice.
43Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and did not support him in battle.
44You have caused his splendor to cease
and cast down his throne to the ground.
45You have caused the days of his youth to be cut short;
you have covered him with shame. - Interlude
46How long, Lord, will you hide yourself? Forever?
Will your anger continuously burn like fire?
47Remember how short my lifetime is!
How powerless have you created all human beings!
48What valiant man can live and not see death?
Who can deliver himself from the power of Sheol. - Interlude
49Where is your gracious love of old, Lord,
that in your faithfulness you promised to David?
50Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servant!
I carry inside me all the insults of many people,
51when your enemies reproached you, Lord,
when they reproached the footsteps of your anointed.
52Blessed is the Lord forever!
Amen and amen!
Psalm 90
0A prayer by Moses, the godly man
1Lord, youfve been our refuge
from generation to generation.
2Before the mountains were formed
or the earth and the world were brought forth,
you are God from eternity to eternity.
3You return people to dust
merely by saying, gReturn, you mortals!h
4One thousand years in your sight are but a single day
that passes by, just like a night watch.
5You will sweep them away while they are asleep\
by morning they are like growing grass.
6In the morning it blossoms and is renewed,
but toward evening, it fades and withers.
7Indeed, we are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your wrath.
8You have set our iniquities before you,
what we have concealed in the light of your presence.
9All our days pass away in your wrath;
our years fade away and end like a sigh.
10We live for 70 years,
or 80 years if wefre healthy,
yet even in the prime years there are troubles and sorrow.
They pass by quickly and we fly away.
11Who can know the intensity of your anger?
Because our fear of you matches your wrath,
12teach us to keep account of our days
so we may develop inner wisdom.
13Please return, Lord! When will it be?
Comfort your servants.
14Satisfy us in the morning with your gracious love
so we may sing for joy
and rejoice every day.
15Cause us to rejoice throughout the time when you have afflicted us,
the years when we have known trouble.
16May your awesome deeds be revealed to your servants,
as well as your splendor to their children.
17May your favor be on us, Lord our God;
make our endeavors successful;
yes, make our endeavors secure!
Psalm 91
0A Davidic Psalm
1The one who lives in the shelter of the Most High,
who rests in the shadow of the Almighty,
2will say to the LORD,
gYou are my refuge, my fortress,
and my God in whom I trust!h
3He will surely deliver you from the hunterfs snare
and from the destructive plague.
4With his feathers he will cover you,
under his wings you will find safety.
His truth is your shield and armor.
5You need not fear terror that stalks in the night,
the arrow that flies in the day,
6plague that strikes in the darkness,
or calamity that destroys at noon.
7If a thousand fall at your side
or ten thousand at your right hand,
it will not overcome you.
8Only observe it with your eyes,
and you will see how the wicked are paid back.
9gLORD, you are my refuge!h
Because you chose the Most High as your dwelling place,
10no evil will fall upon you,
and no affliction will approach your tent,
11for he will command his angels
to protect you in all your ways.
12With their hands they will lift you up
so you will not trip over a stone.
13You will stomp on lions and snakes;
you will trample young lions and serpents.
14Because he has focused his love on me,
I will deliver him.
I will protect him
because he knows my name.
15When he calls out to me,
I will answer him.
I will be with him in his distress.
I will deliver him,
and I will honor him.
16I will satisfy him with long life;
I will show him my deliverance.
Psalm 92
0A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath Day
1It is good to give thanks to the Lord
and to sing praise to your name, Most High;
2to proclaim your gracious love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument and a lyre,
and the contemplative sound of a harp.
4Because you made me glad
with your awesome deeds, Lord,
I will sing for joy at the works of your hands.
5How great are your works, Lord!
Your thoughts are unfathomable.
6A stupid man doesnft know,
and a fool canft comprehend this:
7Though the wicked sprout like grass;
and all who practice iniquity flourish,
it is they who will be eternally destroyed.
8But you are exalted forever, Lord.
9Look at your enemies, Lord!
Look at your enemies, for they are destroyed;
everyone who practices iniquity will be scattered.
10Youfve grown my strength like the horn of a wild ox;
I was anointed with fresh oil.
11My eyes gloated over those who lie in wait for me;
when those of evil intent attack me, my ears will hear.
12The righteous will flourish like palm trees;
they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13Planted in the Lordfs Temple,
they will flourish in the courtyard of our God.
14They will still bear fruit even in old age;
they will be luxuriant and green.
15They will proclaim: gThe Lord is upright;
my rock, in whom there is no injustice.h
Psalm 93
1The Lord reigns! He is clothed in majesty;
the Lord is clothed,
and he is girded with strength.
Indeed, the world is well established,
and cannot be shaken.
2Your throne has been established since time immemorial;
you are king from eternity.
3The rivers have flooded, Lord;
the rivers have spoken aloud,
the rivers have lifted up their crushing waves.
4More than the sound of surging waters\
the majestic waves of the sea\
the Lord on high is majestic.
5Your decrees are very trustworthy,
and holiness always befits your house, Lord.
Psalm 94
1God of vengeance,
Lord God of vengeance,
display your splendor!
2Stand up, judge of the earth,
and repay the proud.
3How long will the wicked, Lord,
how long will the wicked continue to triumph?
4When they speak, they spew arrogance.
Everyone who practices iniquity brags about it.
5Lord, they have crushed your people,
afflicting your heritage.
6The wicked kill widows and foreigners;
they murder orphans.
7They say, gThe Lord cannot see,
and the God of Jacob will not notice.h
8Pay attention, you dull ones among the crowds!
You fools! Will you ever become wise?
9The one who formed the ear can hear, can he not?
The one who made the eyes can see, can he not?
10The one who disciplines nations can rebuke them, can he not?
The one who teaches mankind can discern, can he not?
11The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings\
that they are futile.
12How blessed is the man whom you instruct, Lord,
whom you teach from your Law,
13keeping him calm when times are troubled
until a pit has been dug for the wicked.
14For the Lord will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage.
15Righteousness will be restored with justice,
and all the pure of heart will follow it.
16Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will stand for me against those who practice iniquity?
17If the Lord had not been my helper,
I would have quickly become silent.
18When I say that my foot is shaking,
your gracious love, Lord, will sustain me.
19When my anxious inner thoughts become overwhelming,
your comfort encourages me.
20Will destructive national leaders,
who plan wicked things through misuse of the Law,
be allied with you?
21They gather together against the righteous,
condemning the innocent to death.
22But the Lord is my stronghold,
and my God, the rock, is my refuge.
23He will repay them for their sin;
he will annihilate them because of their evil.
The Lord our God will annihilate them.
Psalm 95
1Come! Let us sing joyfully to the Lord!
Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us shout with songs of praise to him.
3For the Lord is an awesome God;
a great king above all divine beings.
4He holds in his hand the lowest parts of the earth
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5The sea that he made belongs to him,
along with the dry land that his hands formed.
6Come! Let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel in the presence of the Lord, who made us.
7For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture
and the flock in his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today,
8do not be stubborn like your ancestors were at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah, in the wilderness,
9where your ancestors tested me.
They tested me,
even though they had seen my awesome deeds.
10For forty years I loathed that generation, so I said,
gThey are a people whose hearts continually err,
and they have not understood my ways.h
11So in my anger I declared an oath:
gThey are not to enter my place of rest.h
Psalm 96
1Sing a new song to the Lord!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2Sing to the Lord!
Bless his name!
Proclaim his deliverance every day!
3Declare his glory among the nations
and his awesome deeds among all the peoples!
4For the Lord is great,
and greatly to be praised;
he is awesome above all gods.
5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6Splendor and majesty are before him;
might and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7Ascribe to the Lord, you families of peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name,
bring an offering and enter his courts!
9Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10Declare among the nations, gThe Lord reigns!h
Indeed, he established the world so that it will not falter.
He will judge people fairly.
11The heavens will be glad
and the earth will rejoice;
even the sea and everything that fills it will roar.
12The field and all that is in it will rejoice;
then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13in the LORDfs presence,
because he is coming;
indeed, he will come to judge the earth.
He will judge the world fairly
and its people reliably.
Psalm 97
1The Lord reigns!
Let the earth rejoice!
May many islands be glad!
2Thick clouds are all around him;
righteousness and justice are his thronefs foundation.
3Fire goes out from his presence
to consume his enemies on every side.
4His lightning bolts light the world;
the earth sees and shakes.
5Mountains melt like wax in the Lordfs presence\
In the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6The heavens declare his righteousness
so that all the nations see his glory.
7All who serve carved images\
and those who praise idols\will be humiliated.
Worship him, all you ggodsh!
8Zion hears and rejoices;
the towns of Judah rejoice
on account of your justice, Lord.
9For you, Lord, are the Most High above all the earth;
you are exalted high above all divine beings.
10Hate evil, you who love the Lord!
He guards the lives of those who love him,
delivering them from domination by the wicked.
11Light shines on the righteous;
gladness on the morally upright.
12Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones!
Give thanks at the mention of his holiness!
Psalm 98
0A psalm
1Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done awesome deeds!
His right hand and powerful arm
have brought him victory.
2The Lord has made his deliverance known;
he has disclosed his justice before the nations.
3He has remembered his gracious love;
his faithfulness toward the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth saw our Godfs deliverance.
4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Break forth into joyful songs of praise!
5Sing praises to the Lord with a lyre\
with a lyre and a melodious song!
6With trumpets and the sound of a ramfs horn
shout in the presence of the Lord, the king!
7Let the sea and everything in it shout,
along with the world and its inhabitants;
8let the rivers clap their hands in unison;
and let the mountains sing for joy
9in the Lordfs presence, who comes to judge the earth;
Hefll judge the world righteously;
and its people fairly.
Psalm 99
1The Lord reigns\
let people tremble;
he is seated above the cherubim\
let the earth quake.
2The Lord is great in Zion
and is exalted above all peoples.
3Let them praise your great and awesome name.
He is holy!
4A mighty king who loves justice,
you have established fairness.
You have exercised justice
and righteousness over Jacob.
5Exalt the Lord our God;
worship and bow down at his footstool;
He is holy!
6Moses and Aaron were among his priests;
Samuel also was among those who invoked his name.
When they called on the Lord,
he answered them.
7In a pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they obeyed his decrees
and the Law that he gave them.
8Lord our God, you answered them;
you were their God who forgave them,
but also avenged their evil deeds.
9Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain,
for the Lord our God is holy!
Psalm 100
0A psalm of thanksgiving
1Shout to the Lord all the earth!
2Serve the Lord with joy.
Come before him with a joyful shout!
3Acknowledge that the Lord is God.
He made us and we belong to him;
we are his people
and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Thank him and bless his name,
5for the Lord is good
and his gracious love stands forever.
His faithfulness remains from generation to generation.
Psalm 101
0A Davidic Psalm
1I will sing about gracious love and justice;
Lord, I will sing praise to you.
2I will pay attention to living a life of integrity\
when will I attain it?
I will live with integrity of heart in my house.
3I will not even think about doing anything lawless;
I hate to do evil deeds;
I will have none of it.
4I will not allow anyone with a perverted mind in my presence;
I will not be involved with anything evil.
5I will destroy the one who secretly slanders a friend.
I will not allow the proud and haughty to prevail.
6My eyes are looking at the faithful of the land,
so they may live with me;
The one who lives a life of integrity will serve me.
7A deceitful person will not sit in my house;
A liar will not remain in my presence.
8Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
eliminating everyone who practices iniquity from the Lordfs city.
Psalm 102
0A prayer by the afflicted man who is overwhelmed and talks about his troubles with the Lord.
1Lord, hear my prayer!
May my cry for help come to you.
2Do not hide your face from me when I am in trouble.
Listen to me.
When I call to out you,
hurry to answer me!
3For my days are vanishing like smoke;
my bones are charred as in a fireplace.
4Withered like grass, my heart is overwhelmed,
and I have even forgotten to eat my food.
5Because of the sound of my sighing,
my bones cling to my skin.
6I resemble a pelican in the wilderness
or an owl in a desolate land.
7I lie awake,
yet I am like a bird isolated on a rooftop.
8My enemies revile me all day long;
those who ridicule me use my name to curse.
9I have eaten ashes as food
and mixed my drink with tears
10because of your indignation and wrath,
when you lifted and threw me away.
11My life is like a declining shadow,
and I am withering like a plant.
12But you, Lord, are enthroned forever;
You are remembered throughout all generations.
13You will arise to extend compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show her favor\
the appointed time has come.
14Your servants take pleasure in its stones
and delight in its debris.
15Nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth, your splendor.
16When the Lord rebuilds Zion,
he will appear in his glory.
17He will turn to the prayer of the destitute,
not despising their prayer.
18Write this for the next generation,
that a people yet to be created will praise the Lord.
19For when he looked down from his holy heights\
 the Lord looked over the earth from heaven\
20to listen to the groans of prisoners,
 to set free those condemned to death,
21so they would declare the name of the Lord in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem,
22when people and kingdoms gather together
to serve the Lord.
23He has weakened my strength along the way.
He has cut short my days.
24I say, gMy God, whose years continue through all generations,
do not take me in the middle of my life.
25You established the earth long ago;
the heavens are the work of your hands.
26They will perish,
but you will remain;
and they all will become worn out, like a garment.
You will change them like clothing,
and they will pass away.
27But you remain the same;
your years never end.
28May the descendants of your servants live securely,
and may their children be established in your presence.h
Psalm 103
0Davidic
1Bless the Lord, my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2Bless the Lord, my soul,
and never forget any of his benefits:
3He continues to forgive all your sins,
he continues to heal all your diseases,
4he continues to redeem your life from the Pit,
and he continually surrounds you
with gracious love and compassion.
5He keeps satisfying you with good things,
and he keeps renewing your youth like the eaglefs.
6The Lord continually does what is right,
executing justice for all who are being oppressed.
7He revealed his plans to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
patient, and abundantly rich in gracious love.
9He does not chasten continuously
or remain distant for all time.
10He neither deals with us according to our sins,
nor repays us equivalent to our iniquity.
11As high as heaven rises above earth,
so his gracious love strengthens those who fear him.
12As distant as the east is from the west,
that is how far he has removed our sins from us.
13As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14For he knows how we were formed,
aware that we were made from dust.
15A personfs life is like grass\
it blossoms like wild flowers,
16but when the wind blows through it,
it withers away and no one remembers where it was.
17Yet the Lordfs gracious love remains
throughout eternity for those who fear him
and his righteous acts extend to their childrenfs children,
18to those who keep his covenant
and to those who remember to observe his precepts.
19The Lord has established his throne in heaven
and his kingdom rules over all.
20Bless the Lord, you angels who belong to him,
you mighty warriors who carry out his commands,
who are obedient to the sound of his words.
21Bless the Lord, all his heavenly armies,
his ministers who do his will.
22Bless the Lord, all his creation,
in all the places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, my soul.
Psalm 104
0Davidic
1Bless the Lord, my soul;
Lord, my God, you are very great.
You are clothed in splendor and majesty;
2you are wrapped in light like a garment,
stretching out the sky like a curtain.
3He lays the beams of his roof loft on the water above,
making clouds his chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind.
4He makes the winds his messengers,
blazing fires his servants.
5He established the earth on its foundations,
so that it never falters.
6You covered the primeval ocean like a garment;
the water stood above the mountains.
7They flee at your rebuke;
they rush away at the sound of your thunders.
8Mountains rise up and valleys sink
to the place you have ordained for them.
9You have set a boundary they cannot cross;
they will never again cover the earth.
10He causes springs to gush forth into rivers
that flow between the mountains.
11They give water for animals of the field to drink;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12Birds of the sky live beside them
and chirp a song among the foliage.
13He waters the mountains from his heavenly rooms;
the earth is satisfied from the fruit of your work.
14He causes grass to sprout for the cattle
and plants for people to cultivate,
to produce food from the land,
15like wine that makes the heart of people happy,
oil that makes the face glow,
and food that sustains people.
16The loftiest trees are satisfied,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted,
17the birds build their nests there,
and the heron builds its nest among the evergreen.
18The high mountains are for wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for the rock badger.
19He made the moon to mark time;
the sun knows its setting time.
20You bring darkness and it becomes night;
when every beast of the forest prowls.
21Young lions roar for prey,
seeking their food from God.
22When the sun rises, they gather
and lie down in their dens.
23People go out to their work
and labor until evening.
24How numerous are your works, Lord!
You have made them all wisely;
the earth is filled with your creations.
25There is the deep and wide sea,
teeming with numberless creatures,
living things small and great.
26There, the ships pass through;
Leviathan, which you created, frolics in it.
27All of them look to you
to provide them their food at the proper time.
28They receive what you give them;
when you open your hand,
they are filled with good things.
29When you withdraw your favor,
they are disappointed;
Take away their breath,
and they die and return to dust.
30When you send your spirit, they are created,
and you replenish the surface of the earth.
31May the glory of the Lord last forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works!
32He looks at the earth and it shakes;
he touches the mountains and they smoke.
33I will sing to the Lord with my whole being;
I will sing to my God continuously!
34May my thoughts be pleasing to him;
indeed, I will rejoice in the Lord!
35May sinners disappear from the land
and the wicked live no longer.
Bless the Lord, my soul! Hallelujah!
Psalm 105
1Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name,
and make his deeds known among the people.
2Sing to him! Praise him!
Declare all his awesome deeds!
3Exult in his holy name;
let all those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face continuously.
5Remember his awesome deeds that he has done,
his wonders and the judgments he declared.
6You descendants of Abraham, his servant,
You children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7He is the Lord our God;
his judgments extend to the entire earth.
8He remembers his eternal covenant\
every promise he made for a thousand generations,
9like the covenant he made with Abraham,
and his promise to Isaac.
10He presented it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant.
11He said: gI will give Canaan to you
as the allotted portion that is your inheritance.h
12When the Hebrews were few in number\so very few\
and were sojourners in it,
13they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
14He did not allow anyone to oppress them,
or any kings to reprove them.
15gDonft touch my anointed
or hurt my prophets!h
16He declared a famine on the land;
destroying the entire food supply.
17He sent a man before them\
Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.
18They bound his feet with fetters
and placed an iron collar on his neck,
19until the time his prediction came true,
as the word of the Lord refined him.
20He sent a king who released him,
a ruler of people who set him free.
21He made him the master over his household,
the manager of all his possessions\
22to discipline his rulers at will
and make his elders wise.
23Then Israel came to Egypt;
indeed, Jacob lived in the land of Ham.
24He caused his people to multiply greatly;
and be more numerous than their enemies.
25He caused them to hate his people
and to deceive his servants.
26He sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron,
whom he had chosen.
27They performed his signs among them,
his wonders in the land of Ham.
28He sent darkness, and it became dark.
Did they not rebel against his words?
29He turned their water into blood,
so that the fish died.
30Their land swarmed with frogs
even to the chambers of their kings.
31He spoke,
and a swarm of insects invaded their land.
32He sent hail instead of rain,
and lightning throughout their land.
33It destroyed their vines and their figs,
breaking trees throughout their country.
34Then he commanded the locust to come\
grasshoppers without number.
35They consumed every green plant in their land,
and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36He struck down every firstborn in their land,
the first fruits of all their progeny.
37Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,
and no one among his tribes stumbled.
38The Egyptians rejoiced when they left,
because fear of Israel descended on them.
39He spread out a cloud for a cover,
and fire for light at night.
40Israel asked, and quail came;
food from heaven satisfied them.
41He opened a rock, and water gushed out
flowing like a river in the desert.
42Indeed, he remembered his sacred promise
to his servant Abraham.
43He led his people out with gladness,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy.
44He gave to them the land of nations;
they inherited the labor of other people
45so they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 106
1Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the Lord,
since he is good,
for his gracious love exists forever.
2Who can fully describe the mighty acts of the Lord
or proclaim all his praises?
3How happy are those who enforce justice,
who live righteously all the time.
4Remember me, Lord,
when you show favor to your people.
Visit us with your deliverance,
5to witness the prosperity of your chosen ones,
to rejoice in your nationfs joy,
to glory in your inheritance.
6We have sinned, along with our ancestors;
we have committed iniquity and wickedness.
7In Egypt, our ancestors neither comprehended your awesome deeds
nor remembered your abundant gracious love.
Instead, they rebelled beside the sea, the Reed Sea.
8He delivered for the sake of his name,
to make his power known.
9He shouted at the Reed Sea and it dried up;
and led them through the sea as though through a desert.
10He delivered them from the power of their foe;
redeeming them from the power of their enemy.
11The water overwhelmed their enemies,
so that not one of them survived.
12Then they believed his word
and sung his praise.
13But they quickly forgot his deeds
and did not wait for his counsel.
14They were overwhelmed with craving in the wilderness,
so God tested them in the wasteland.
15God granted them their request,
but sent leanness into their lives.
16They were envious of Moses in the camp,
and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
17The earth opened and swallowed Dathan,
closing over Abiramfs clan.
18Then a fire burned among their company,
a flame that set the wicked ablaze.
19They fashioned a calf at Horeb
and worshipped a carved image.
20They exchanged their glory
with the image of a grass-eating bull.
21They forgot God their Savior,
who performed great things in Egypt\
22awesome deeds in the land of Ham,
astonishing deeds at the Reed Sea.
23He would have destroyed them
but for Moses, his chosen one,
who stood in the breach before him
to avert his destructive wrath.
24They rejected the desirable land,
and they didnft trust his promise.
25They murmured in their tents,
and didnft listen to the voice of the Lord.
26So he swore an oath concerning them\
that he would cause them to die in the wilderness,
27to cause their children to perish among the nations
and be scattered among many lands.
28For they adopted the worship of Baal Peor
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29They had provoked anger by their deeds,
so that a plague broke out against them.
30But Phinehas intervened and prayed
so that the plague was restrained.
31And it was credited to him as a righteous act,
from generation to generation\to eternity.
32They provoked wrath at the waters of Meribah,
and Moses suffered on account of them.
33For they rebelled against him,
so that he spoke thoughtlessly with his lips.
34They never destroyed the people,
as the Lord had commanded them.
35Instead, they mingled among the nations
and learned their ways.
36They worshipped their idols,
and this became a trap for them.
37They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38They shed innocent blood\
the blood of their sons and daughters\
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
thereby polluting the land with blood.
39Therefore, they became unclean because of what they did;
they have acted like whores by their evil deeds.
40The Lordfs anger burned against his people,
so that he despised his own inheritance.
41He turned them over to domination by nations
where those who hated them ruled over them.
42Their enemies oppressed them,
so that they were humiliated by their power.
43He delivered them many times,
but they demonstrated rebellion by their evil plans;
therefore they sunk deep in their sins.
44Yet when he saw their distress
and heard their cries for help,
45he remembered his covenant with them,
and so relented
according to the greatness of his gracious love.
46He caused all their captors to show compassion toward them.
47Deliver us, Lord our God,
gather us from among the nations
so we may praise your holy name
and rejoice in praising you.
48Blessed are you, Lord God of Israel,
from eternity to eternity;
Let all the people say, gAmen!h
Hallelujah!
Psalm 107
1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His gracious love exists forever.
2Let those who have been redeemed by the Lord declare it\
those whom he redeemed
from the power of the enemy,
3those whom he gathered from other lands\
from the east, west, north, and south.
4They wandered in desolate wilderness;
they found no road to a city where they could live.
5Hungry and thirsty,
their spirits failed.
6Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7He led them in a straight way
to find a city where they could live.
8Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his gracious love
and his awesome deeds for mankind.
9He has satisfied the one who thirsts,
filling the hungry with what is good.
10Some sat in deepest darkness,
shackled with cruel iron,
11because they had rebelled against the command of God,
despising the advice of the Most High.
12He humbled them through suffering,
as they stumbled without a helper.
13Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
he delivered them from their distress.
14And he brought them out from darkness and the shadow of death,
shattering their chains.
15Let them give thanks to the Lord for his gracious love,
and for his awesome deeds to mankind.
16For he shattered bronze gates
and cut through iron bars.
17Because of their rebellious ways,
fools suffered for their iniquities.
18They loathed all food,
and even reached the gates of death.
19Yet when they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
he delivered them from certain destruction.
20He issued his command and healed them;
he delivered them from their destruction.
21Let them give thanks to the Lord for his gracious love,
and for his awesome deeds for mankind.
22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and talk about his works with shouts of joy.
23Those who go down to the sea in ships,
who work in the great waters,
24witnessed the works of the Lord\
his awesome deeds in the oceanfs depth.
25He spoke and stirred up a windstorm
that made its waves surge.
26The people ascended skyward and descended to the depths,
their courage melting away in their peril.
27They reeled and staggered like a drunkard,
as all their wisdom became useless.
28Yet when they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
the Lord brought them out of their distress.
29He calmed the storm
and its waves quieted down.
30So they rejoiced that the waves became quiet,
and he led them to their desired haven.
31Let them give thanks to the Lord for his gracious love
and for his awesome deeds on behalf of mankind.
32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the counsel of the elders.
33He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into dry ground,
34and a fruitful land into a salty waste,
due to the wickedness of its inhabitants.
35He turns a desert into a pool of water,
dry land into springs of water.
36There he settled the hungry,
where they built a city to live in.
37They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a productive harvest.
38Then he blessed them, and they became numerous;
he multiplied their cattle.
39But they became few in number, and humiliated
by continued oppression, agony, and sorrow.
40Having poured contempt on their nobles,
causing them to err aimlessly in the way.
41Yet he lifted the needy from affliction
and made them families like a flock.
42The upright see it and rejoice,
but the mouth of an evil person is shut.
43Let whoever is wise observe these things,
that they may comprehend the gracious love of the Lord.
Psalm 108
0A song. A Davidic psalm.
1My heart is firm, God;
I will sing and praise you with my whole being.
2Awake, harp and lyre!
I will wake up at dawn.
3I will give thanks to you among the peoples, Lord!
I will sing praise to you among the nations.
4For your gracious love extends to the sky,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5May you be exalted above the heavens, God,
and your glory be over all the earth.
6In order that those you love may be rescued,
deliver with your power and answer me!
7God had promised in his sanctuary:
gI will triumph and divide Shechem,
then I will measure the valley of Succoth!
8Gilead and Manasseh belong to me,
while Ephraim is my chief stronghold
and Judah is my scepter.
9Moab is my washbasin;
I will fling my shoe on Edom
and shout over Philistia.h
10Who will lead me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me as far as Edom?
11God, you have rejected us, have you not,
since you did not march out with our army, God?
12Give us help against the enemy,
because human help is useless.
13I will find strength in God,
for he will trample on our foes.
Psalm 109
0To the Director. A Davidic psalm.
1God, whom I praise,
do not be silent,
2for the mouths of wicked and deceitful people
are opened against me;
they speak against me with lying tongues.
3They surround me with hate-filled words,
attacking me for no reason.
4Instead of receiving my love, they accuse me,
though I continue in prayer.
5They devise evil against me instead of good,
and hatred in place of my love.
6Appoint an evil person over him;
may an accuser stand at his right side.
7When he is judged, may he be found guilty;
may his prayer be regarded as sin.
8May his days be few;
may another take over his position.
9May his children become fatherless,
and his wife a widow.
10May his children roam around begging,
seeking food while driven far from their ruined homes.
11May creditors seize all his possessions,
and may foreigners loot the property he has acquired.
12May no one extend gracious love to him,
or show favor to his fatherless children.
13May his descendants be eliminated,
and their memory be erased from the next generation.
14May his ancestorsf guilt be remembered in the Lordfs presence,
and may his motherfs guilt not be erased.
15May what they have done be continuously in the Lordfs presence;
and may their memory be excised from the earth.
16For he didnft think to extend gracious love;
he harassed to death the poor, the needy, and the broken hearted.
17He loved to curse\may his curses return upon him!
He took no delight in blessing others\
so may blessings be far from him.
18He wore curses like a garment\
may they enter his inner being like water
and his bones like oil.
19May those curses wrap around him like a garment,
or like a belt that one always wears.
20May this be the way the Lord repays my accuser,
those who speak evil against me.
21Now you, Lord my God, defend me for your namefs sake;
because your gracious love is good, deliver me!
22Indeed, I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
23I am fading away like a shadow late in the day;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24My knees give way from fasting,
and my skin is lean, deprived of oil.
25I have become an object of derision to them\
they shake their heads whenever they see me.
26Help me, Lord my God!
Deliver me in accord with your gracious love!
27Then they will realize that your hand is in this\
that you, Lord, have accomplished it.
28They will curse,
but you will bless.
When they attack, they will be humiliated,
while your servant rejoices.
29May my accusers be clothed with shame
and wrapped in their humiliation as with a robe.
30I will give many thanks to the Lord with my mouth,
praising him publicly,
31for he stands at the right hand of the needy one,
to deliver him from his accusers.
Psalm 110
0A Davidic psalm
1A declaration from the Lord to my Lord:
gSit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.h
2When the Lord extends your mighty scepter from Zion,
rule in the midst of your enemies.
3Your soldiers are willing volunteers on your day of battle;
in majestic holiness, from the womb,
from the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
4The Lord took an oath and will never recant:
gYou are a priest forever,
after the manner of Melchizedek.h
5The Lord is at your right hand;
he will utterly destroy kings in the time of his wrath.
6He will execute judgment against the nations,
filling graves with corpses.
He will utterly destroy leaders far and wide.
7He will drink from a stream on the way,
then hold his head high.
Psalm 111
1Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with all of my heart
in the assembled congregation of the upright.
2Great are the acts of the Lord;
they are within reach of all who desire them.
3Splendid and glorious are his awesome deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4He is remembered for his awesome deeds;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5He prepares food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6He revealed his mighty deeds to his people
by giving them a country of their own.
7Whatever he does is reliable and just,
and all his precepts are trustworthy,
8sustained through all eternity,
and fashioned in both truth and righteousness.
9He sent deliverance to his people;
he ordained his covenant to last forever;
his name is holy and awesome.
10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
sound understanding belongs to those who practice it.
Praise of God endures forever.
Psalm 112
1Hallelujah!
How happy is the person who fears the Lord,
who truly delights in his commandments.
2His descendants will be powerful in the land,
a generation of the upright who will be blessed.
3Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4A light shines in the darkness for the upright,
for the one who is gracious, compassionate, and just.
5It is good for the person who lends generously,
conducting his affairs with fairness.
6He will never be shaken;
the one who is just will always be remembered.
7He need not fear a bad report,
for his heart is unshaken, since he trusts in the Lord.
8His heart is steadfast, he will not fear.
In the end he will look in triumph over his enemy.
9He gives generously to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10The wicked person sees this and flies into a rage;
his teeth gnash and wear away.
The desire of the wicked will amount to nothing.
Psalm 113
1Hallelujah!
Give praise, you servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
2May the name of the Lord be blessed
from now to eternity.
3From rising to setting sun,
may the name of the Lord be praised.
4The Lord is exalted high above all the nations;
his glory beyond the heavens.
5Who is like the Lord our God,
enthroned on high,
6yet stooping low to observe
the sky and the earth?
7He lifts the poor person from the dust,
raising the needy from the trash pile
8and giving him a seat among nobles\
with the nobles of his people.
9He makes the barren woman among her household
a happy mother of joyful children.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 114
1When Israel came out of Egypt\
the household of Jacob from a people of foreign speech\
2Judah became his sanctuary
and Israel his place of dominion.
3The sea saw this and fled,
the Jordan River ran backwards,
4the mountains skipped like rams,
and the hills like lambs.
5What happened to you, sea, that you fled?
Jordan, that you ran backwards?
6Mountains, that you skipped like rams?
and you hills, that you skipped like lambs?
7Tremble then, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8who turned the rock into a pool of water,
the flinty rock into flowing springs.
Psalm 115
1Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name be given glory
on account of your gracious love and faithfulness.
2Why should the nations ask
gWhere now is their God?h
3when our God is in the heavens
and he does whatever he desires?
4Their idols are silver and gold,
crafted by human hands.
5They have mouths, but cannot speak;
they have eyes, but cannot see.
6They have ears, but cannot hear;
they have noses, but cannot smell.
7They have hands, but cannot touch;
feet, but cannot walk;
they cannot even groan with their throats.
8Those who craft them will become like them,
as will all those who trust in them.
9Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their helper and shield.
10House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their helper and shield.
11You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their helper and shield.
12The Lord remembers and blesses us.
He will indeed bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron.
13He will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the important and the insignificant together.
14May the Lord add to your numbers\
to you and to your descendants.
15May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made the heavens and the earth.
16The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but he gave the earth to human beings.
17Neither can the dead praise the Lord,
nor those who go down into the silence of death.
18But we will bless the Lord
from now to eternity.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 116
1I love the Lord
because he has heard my prayer for mercy;
2for he listens to me whenever I call.
3The ropes of death were wound around me
and the anguish of Sheol came upon me;
I encountered distress and sorrow.
4Then I called on the name of the Lord,
gLord, please deliver me!h
5The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is compassionate;
6the Lord watches over the innocent;
I was brought low, and he delivered me.
7Return to your resting place, my soul,
for the Lord treated you generously.
8Indeed, you delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from crying,
and my feet from stumbling.
9I will walk in the Lordfs presence
in the lands of the living.
10I will continue to believe, even when I say,
gI am greatly afflictedh
11and speak hastily,
gAll people are liars!h
12What will I return to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
13I will raise my cup of deliverance
and invoke the Lordfs name.
14I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15In the sight of the Lord,
the death of his faithful ones is valued.
16Lord, I am indeed your servant.
I am your servant.
I am the son of your handmaid.
You have released my bonds.
17I will bring you a thanksgiving offering
and call on the name of the Lord!
18I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the Lordfs house,
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 117
1Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Exalt him, all you peoples!
2For great is his gracious love toward us,
and the Lordfs faithfulness is eternal.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 118
1Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good;
his gracious love is eternal.
2Let Israel now say,
gHis gracious love is eternal.h
3Let the house of Aaron now say,
gHis gracious love is eternal.h
4Let those who fear the Lord now say,
gHis gracious love is eternal.h
5I called on the Lord in my distress;
the Lord answered me openly.
6The Lord is with me.
I will not be afraid.
What can people do to me?
7With the Lord beside me as my helper,
I will triumph over those who hate me.
8It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in people.
9It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10All the nations surrounded me;
but in the name of the Lord I will defeat them.
11They surrounded me, they are around me;
but in the name of the Lord I will defeat them.
12They surrounded me like bees;
but they will be extinguished like burning thorns.
In the name of the Lord I will defeat them.
13Indeed, you oppressed me so much that I nearly fell,
but the Lord helped me.
14The Lord is my strength and protector,
for he has become my deliverer.
15Therefs exultation for deliverance in the tents of the righteous:
gThe right hand of the Lord is victorious!
16The right hand of the Lord is exalted!
The right hand of the Lord is victorious!h
17I will not die, but I will live
to recount the deeds of the Lord.
18The Lord will discipline me severely,
but he wonft hand me over to die.
19Open for me the righteous gates
so I may enter through them to give thanks to the Lord.
20This is the Lordfs gate\
The righteous will enter through it.
21I will praise you because you have answered me
and have become my deliverer.
22The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23This is from the Lord\
it is awesome in our sight.
24This is the day that the Lord has made;
letfs rejoice and be glad in it.
25Please Lord, deliver us!
Please Lord, hurry and bring success now!
26Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Let us bless you from the Lordfs house.
27The Lord is God\he will be our light!
Bind the festival sacrifice with ropes
to the horn at the altar.
28You are my God, and I will praise you;
my God, and I will exalt you.
29Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his gracious love is eternal.
Psalm 119
1 [Alef ] How blessed are those whose life is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the Lord!
2How blessed are those who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all of their heart,
3who practice no evil
while they walk in his ways.
4You have commanded concerning your precepts,
that they be guarded with diligence.
5Oh, that my ways were steadfast,
so I may keep your statutes.
6Then I will not be ashamed,
since my eyes will be fixed on all of your commands.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
as I learn your righteous decrees.
8I will keep your statutes;
do not ever abandon me.
9 [Bet] How can a young man keep his behavior pure?
By guarding it in accordance with your word.
10I have sought you with all of my heart;
do not let me drift away from your commands.
11I have stored what you have said in my heart,
so I wonft sin against you.
12Blessed are you, Lord!
Teach me your statutes.
13I have spoken with my lips
about all your decrees that you have announced.
14I find joy in the path of your decrees,
as if I owned all kinds of riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts,
and I will respect your ways.
16I am delighted with your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
17[]Gimmel Deal kindly with your servant
so I may live and keep your word.
18Open my eyes
so that I will observe amazing things from your instruction.
19Since I am a stranger on the earth,
do not hide your commands from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing
for your decrees at all times.
21You rebuke the accursed ones,
who wander from your commands.
22Remove scorn and disrespect from me,
for I observe your decrees.
23Though nobles take their seat and gossip about me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24I take joy in your decrees,
for they are my counselors.
25[Daleth] My soul clings to the dust;
revive me according to your word.
26I have talked about my ways,
and you have answered me;
Teach me your statutes.
27Help me understand how your precepts function,
and I will meditate on your wondrous acts.
28I weep because of sorrow;
fortify me according to your word.
29Remove false paths from me;
and graciously give me your instruction.
30I have chosen the faithful way;
I have firmly placed your ordinances before me.
31I cling to your decrees;
Lord, do not put me to shame.
32I eagerly race along the way of your commands,
for you enable me to do so.
33[He] Teach me, Lord, about the way of your statutes,
and I will observe them without fail.
34Give me understanding
and I will observe your instruction.
I will keep it with all of my heart.
35Help me live my life by your commands,
because my joy is in them.
36Turn my heart to your decrees
and away from unjust gain.
37Turn my eyes away from gazing at worthless things,
and revive me by your ways.
38Confirm your promise to your servant,
which is for those who fear you.
39Turn away the shame that I dread,
because your ordinances are good.
40Look, I long for your precepts;
revive me through your righteousness.
41[Vav] May your gracious love come to me, Lord,
your salvation, just as you said.
42Then I can answer the one who insults me,
for I place my trust in your word.
43Never take your truthful words from me,
For I wait for your ordinances.
44Then I will always keep your Law,
forever and ever,
45I will walk in liberty,
for I seek your precepts.
46Then I will speak of your decrees before kings
and not be ashamed.
47I will take delight in your commands,
which I love.
48I will lift up my hands to your commands,
which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
49[Zayin] Remember what you said to your servant,
by which you caused me to hope.
50This is what comforts me in my troubles:
that what you say revives me.
51Even though the arrogant utterly deride me,
I do not turn away from your instruction.
52I have remembered your ancient ordinances, Lord,
and I take comfort in them.
53I burn with indignation because of the wicked
who forsake your instruction.
54Your statutes are my songs,
no matter where I make my home.
55In the night I remember your name, Lord,
and keep your instruction.
56I have made it my personal responsibility
to keep your precepts.
57[Cheth] The Lord is my inheritance;
I have given my promise to keep your word.
58I have sought your favor with all of my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59I examined my lifestyle
and set my feet in the direction of your decrees.
60I hurried and did not procrastinate
to keep your commands.
61Though the ropes of the wicked have ensnared me,
I have not forgotten your instruction.
62At midnight I will get up to thank you
for your righteous ordinances.
63I am united with all who fear you,
and with everyone who keeps your precepts.
64Lord, the earth overflows with your gracious love!
Teach me your statutes.
65[Teth] Lord, you have dealt well with your servant,
according to your word.
66Teach me both knowledge and appropriate discretion,
because I believe in your commands.
67Before I was humbled, I wandered away,
but now I observe your words.
68Lord, you are good, and do what is good;
teach me your statutes.
69The arrogant have accused me falsely;
but I will observe your precepts wholeheartedly.
70Their minds are clogged as with greasy fat,
but I find joy in your instruction.
71It was for my good that I was humbled;
so that I would learn your statutes.
72Instruction that comes from you is better for me
than thousands of gold and silver coins.
73[Yod] Your hands made and formed me;
give me understanding,
that I may learn your commands.
74May those who fear you see me and be glad,
for I have hoped in your word.
75I know, Lord, that your decrees are just,
and that you have rightfully humbled me.
76May your gracious love comfort me
in accordance with your promise to your servant.
77May your mercies come to me that I may live,
for your instruction is my delight.
78May the arrogant become ashamed,
because they have subverted me with deceit;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79May those who fear you turn to me,
along with those who know your decrees.
80May my heart be blameless with respect to your statutes
so that I may not become ashamed.
81[Kaf] I long for your deliverance;
I have looked to your word,
placing my hope in it.
82My eyes grow weary
with respect to what you have promised\
I keep asking, gWhen will you comfort me?h
83Though I have become like a water skin dried by smoke,
I have not forgotten your statutes.
84How many days must your servant endure this?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me
disobeying your instruction.
86All of your commands are reliable.
I am persecuted without cause\help me!
87Though the arrogant nearly destroyed me on earth,
I did not abandon your precepts.
88Revive me according to your gracious love;
and I will keep the decrees that you have proclaimed.
89[Lamed] Your word is forever, Lord;
it is firmly established in heaven.
90Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation.
You established the earth, and it stands firm.
91To this day they stand by means of your rulings,
for all things serve you.
92Had your instruction not been my pleasure,
I would have died in my affliction.
93I will never forget your precepts,
for you have revived me with them.
94I am yours, so save me,
since I have sought your precepts.
95The wicked lay in wait to destroy me,
while I ponder your decrees.
96I have observed that all things have their limit,
but your commandment is very broad.
97[Mem] How I love your instruction!
Every day it is my meditation.
98Your commands make me wiser than my adversaries,
since they are always with me.
99I am more insightful than my teachers,
because your decrees are my meditations.
100I have more common sense than the elders,
for I observe your precepts.
101I keep away from every evil choice
so that I may keep your word.
102I do not avoid your judgments,
for you pointed them out to me.
103How pleasing is what you have to say to me\
tasting better than honey.
104I obtain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.
105[Nun] Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light for my pathway.
106I have given my word and affirmed it,
to keep your righteous judgments.
107I am severely afflicted.
Revive me, Lord, according to your word.
108Lord, please accept my voluntary offerings of praise,
and teach me your judgments.
109Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I do not forget your instruction.
110Though the wicked lay a trap for me,
I havenft wandered away from your precepts.
111I have inherited your decrees forever,
because they are the joy of my heart.
112As a result, I am determined
to carry out your statutes forever.
113[Samek] I despise the double-minded,
but I love your instruction.
114You are my fortress and shield;
I hope in your word.
115Leave me, you who practice evil,
that I may observe the commands of my God.
116Sustain me, God, as you have promised,
and I will live.
Do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117Support me, that I may be saved,
and I will carry out your statutes consistently.
118You reject all who wander from your statutes,
since their deceitfulness is vain.
119You remove all the wicked of the earth like dross;
therefore I love your decrees.
120My flesh trembles out of fear of you,
and I am in awe of your judgments.
121[Ayin] I have acted with justice and righteousness;
do not abandon me to my oppressors.
122Back up your servant in a positive way;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123My eyes fail as I look for your salvation
and for your righteous promise.
124Act toward your servant consistent with your gracious love,
and teach me your statutes.
125Since I am your servant, give me understanding,
so I will know your decrees.
126It is time for the Lord to act,
since they have violated your instruction.
127I truly love your commands more than gold,
including fine gold.
128I truly consider all of your precepts\all of them\to be just,
while I despise every false way.
129[Peyh] Your decrees are wonderful\
thatfs why I observe them.
130The disclosure of your words illuminates,
providing understanding to the simple.
131I open my mouth and pant
as I long for your commands.
132Turn in my direction and show mercy to me,
as you have decreed regarding those who love your name.
133Direct my footsteps by your promise,
and do not let any kind of iniquity rule over me.
134Deliver me from human oppression
and I will keep your precepts.
135Show favor to your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136My eyes shed rivers of tears,
when others do not obey your instruction.
137[Tsade ] Lord, you are righteous,
and your judgments are right.
138You have ordered your decrees to us rightly,
and they are very faithful.
139My zeal consumes me
because my enemies forget your words.
140Your word is very pure,
and your servant loves it.
141Though I may be small and despised,
I do not neglect your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an eternal righteousness,
and your instruction is true.
143Though trouble and anguish overwhelm me,
your commands remain my delight.
144Your righteous decrees are eternal;
give me understanding, and I will live.
145[Qof] I have cried out with all of my heart.
Answer me, Lord!
I will observe your statutes.
146I have called out to you, gSave me,
so I may keep your decrees.h
147I get up before dawn and cry for help;
I place my hope in your word.
148I look forward to the night watches,
when I may meditate on what you have said.
149Hear my voice according to your gracious love.
Lord, revive me in keeping with your justice.
150Those who pursue wickedness draw near;
they remain far from your instruction.
151You are near, Lord,
and all of your commands are true.
152I discovered long ago about your decrees
that you have confirmed them forever.
153[Resh ] Look on my misery, and rescue me,
for I do not ignore your instruction.
154Defend my case and redeem me;
revive me according to your promise.
155Deliverance remains remote from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
156Your mercies are magnificent, Lord;
revive me according to your judgments.
157Though my persecutors and adversaries are numerous,
I do not turn aside from your decrees.
158I watch the treacherous, and despise them,
because they do not do what you have said.
159Look how I love your precepts, Lord;
revive me according to your gracious love.
160The sum of your word is truth,
and each righteous ordinance of yours is everlasting.
161[]Sin/Shin Though nobles persecute me for no reason,
my heart stands in awe of your words.
162I find joy at what you have said
like one who has discovered a great treasure.
163I despise and hate falsehood,
but I love your instruction.
164I praise you seven times a day
because of your righteous ordinances.
165Great peace belongs to those who love your instruction,
and nothing makes them stumble.
166I am looking in hope for your deliverance, Lord,
as I carry out your commands.
167My soul treasures your decrees,
and I love them deeply.
168I keep your precepts and your decrees
because all of my ways are before you.
169[Tav] May my cry arise before you, Lord;
give me understanding according to your word.
170Let my request come before you;
deliver me, as you have promised.
171May my lips utter praise,
for you teach me your statutes.
172May my tongue sing about your promise,
for all of your commands are right.
173May your hand stand ready to assist me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
174I am longing for your deliverance, Lord,
and your instruction is my joy.
175Let me live, and I will praise you;
let your ordinances help me.
176I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
come find your servant,
for I do not forget your commands.
Psalm 120
0A Song of Ascents
1I cried to the Lord in my distress,
and he responded to me.
2gLord, deliver me from lips that lie
and tongues that deceive.h
3What will be given to you,
and what will be done to you,
you treacherous tongue?
4Like a sharp arrow from a warrior,
along with fiery coals from juniper trees!
5How terrible for me,
that I am an alien in Meshech,
that I reside among the tents of Kedar!
6I have resided too long
with those who hate peace.
7I am in favor of peace;
but when I speak,
they are in favor of war.
Psalm 121
0A Song of Ascents
1I lift up my eyes toward the mountains\
from where will my help come?
2My help is from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
3He will never let your foot slip,
nor will your guardian become drowsy.
4Look! The one who is guarding Israel
never sleeps and does not take naps.
5The Lord is your guardian;
the Lord is your shade at your right side.
6The sun will not ravage you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7The Lord will guard you from all evil,
preserving your life.
8The Lord will guard your goings and comings,
from this time on and forever.
Psalm 122
0A Davidic Song of Ascents
1I rejoiced when they kept on asking me,
gLet us go to the Lordfs Temple.h
2Our feet are standing
inside your gates, Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem stands built up,
a city knitted together.
4To it the tribes ascend\
the tribes of the Lord\
as decreed to Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5For thrones are established there for judgment,
thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for peace for Jerusalem:
gMay those who love you be at peace!
7May peace be within your ramparts,
and prosperity within your fortresses.h
8For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will now say, gMay there be peace within you.h
9For the sake of the Temple of the Lord our God,
I will seek your welfare.
Psalm 123
0A Song of Ascents
1To you, who sit enthroned in heaven,
I lift up my eyes.
2Consider this: as the eyes of a servant focus
on what his master provides,
and as the eyes of a female servant focus
on what her mistress provides,
so our eyes focus on the Lord our God,
until he has mercy on us.
3Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
4Our lives overflow
with scorn from those who live at ease,
with contempt from those who are proud.
Psalm 124
0A Davidic Song of Ascents
1If the Lord had not been on our side\
let Israel now say\
2if the Lord had not been on our side,
when men came against us,
3then they would have devoured us alive,
when their anger burned against us.
4Then the flood waters would have overwhelmed us,
the torrent would have flooded over us;
5the swollen waters would have swept us away.
6Blessed be the Lord,
who did not give us as prey to their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird from the hunterfs trap.
The trap has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 125
0A Song of Ascents
1Those who are trusting in the Lord
are like Mount Zion, which cannot be overthrown.
They remain forever.
2Just as mountains encircle Jerusalem,
so the Lord encircles his people,
from now to eternity.
3For evilfs scepter will not rest
on the land that has been allotted to the righteous,
and so the righteous will not direct themselves to do wrong.
4Lord, do good to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in heart.
5But for those who choose their own devious paths,
the Lord will lead them away,
along with those who practice evil.
Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 126
0A Song of Ascents
1When the Lord brought back Zionfs exiles,
we were like dreamers.
2Then our mouths were filled with laughter,
and our tongues formed joyful shouts.
Then it was said among the nations,
gThe Lord has done great things for them.h
3The great things that the Lord has done for us
gladden us.
4Restore our exiles, Lord,
like the streams of the Negev.
5Those who weep while they plant
will sing for joy while they harvest.
6The one who goes out weeping,
carrying a bag of seeds,
will surely return with a joyful song,
bearing sheaves from his harvest.
Psalm 127
0A Solomonic Song of Ascents
1Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor uselessly.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
its security forces keep watch uselessly.
2It is useless to get up early
and to stay up late,
eating the food of exhausting labor\
truly he gives sleep to those he loves.
3Children are a gift from the Lord;
a productive womb, the Lordfs reward.
4As arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so also are children born during onefs youth.
5How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be ashamed
as they confront their enemies at the city gate.
Psalm 128
0A Song of Ascents
1How blessed are all who fear the Lord
as they follow in his ways.
2You will eat from the work of your hands;
you will be happy, and it will go well for you.
3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your children like olive shoots surrounding your table.
4See how the man will be blessed
who fears the Lord.
5May the Lord bless you from Zion,
and may you observe the prosperity of Jerusalem
every day that you live!
6And may you see your childrenfs children!
Peace be on Israel!
Psalm 129
0A Song of Ascents
1gSince my youth they have often persecuted me,h
let Israel repeat it,
2gSince my youth they have often persecuted me,
yet they havenft defeated me.
3Wicked people ploughed over my back,
creating long-lasting wounds.h
4The Lord is righteous\
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.
5Let all who hate Zion
be turned away and be ashamed.
6May they become like a tuft of grass on a roof top,
that withers before it takes root\
7not enough to fill onefs hand
or to bundle in onefs arms.
8And may those who pass by never tell them,
gMay the Lordfs blessing be upon you.
We bless you in the name of the Lord.h
Psalm 130
0A Song of Ascents
1I cry to you from the depths, Lord,
2Lord, listen to my voice;
let your ears pay attention
to what I ask of you!
3Lord, if you were to record iniquities,
Lord, who could remain standing?
4But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you may be feared.
5I wait for the Lord;
my soul waits,
and I will hope in his word.
6My soul looks to the Lord
more than watchmen look for the morning\
more, indeed, than watchmen for the morning.
7Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is gracious love,
along with abundant redemption.
8And he will redeem Israel
from all its sins.
Psalm 131
0A Davidic Song of Ascents
1Lord, my heart is not arrogant,
nor do I look haughty.
I do not aspire to great things,
nor concern myself with things beyond my ability.
2Instead, I have composed and quieted myself
like a weaned child with its mother;
I am like a weaned child.
3Place your hope in the Lord, Israel,
both now and forever.
Psalm 132
0A Song of Ascents
1Lord, remember in Davidfs favor
all of his troubles;
2how he swore an oath to the Lord,
vowing to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3gI will not enter my house,
or lie down on my bed,
4or let myself go to sleep
or even take a nap,
5until I locate a place for the Lord,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.h
6We heard about it in Ephrata;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7Letfs go to his dwelling place
and worship at his footstool.
8Arise, Lord,
and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your strength.
9May your priests be clothed with righteousness
and may your godly ones shout for joy.
10For the sake of your servant David,
donft turn away the face of your anointed one.
11The Lord made an oath to David
from which he will not retreat:
gOne of your sons
I will set in place on your throne.
12If your sons keep my covenant
and my statutes that I will teach them,
then their sons will also sit on your throne forever.h
13For the Lord has chosen Zion,
desiring it as his dwelling place.
14gThis is my resting place forever.
Here I will live,
because I desire to do so.
15I will bless its provisions abundantly;
I will satiate its poor with food.
16I will clothe its priests with salvation
and its godly ones will shout for joy.
17There I will create a power base for David\
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
18I will clothe his enemies with disgrace,
but on him his crown will shine.h
Psalm 133
0A Davidic Song of Ascents
1Look how good and how pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2It is like precious oil on the head,
descending to the beard\
even to Aaronfs beard\
and flowing down to the edge of his robes.
3It is like the dew of Hermon
falling on Zionfs mountains.
For there the Lord commanded his blessing\
life everlasting.
Psalm 134
0A Song of Ascents
1Now bless the Lord,
all you servants of the Lord
who serve nightly in the Lordfs Temple.
2Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
and bless the Lord.
3May the Lord who fashions heaven and earth
bless you from Zion.
Psalm 135
1Hallelujah!
Praise the name of the Lord!
Give praise, you servants of the Lord,
2	you who are standing in the Lordfs Temple,
in the courtyards of the house of our God.
3Praise the Lord,
because the Lord is good;
Sing to his name,
for he is gracious.
4It is Jacob whom the Lord chose for himself\
Israel as his personal possession\
5Indeed, I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord surpasses all gods.
6The Lord does whatever pleases him
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all its deep regions.
7He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
fashioning lightning for the rain,
bringing the wind from his storehouses.
8It was the Lord who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
including both men and animals.
9He sent signs and wonders among you, Egypt,
before Pharaoh and all his servants.
10He struck down many nations,
killing many kings\
11Sihon, king of the Amorites,
Og, king of Bashan,
and every kingdom of Canaan\
12and he gave their land as an inheritance,
an inheritance to his people Israel.
13Your name, Lord, exists forever,
and your reputation, Lord, throughout the ages.
14For the Lord will vindicate his people,
and he will show compassion on his servants.
15The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
worked by the hands of human beings.
16Mouths are attributed to them,
but they cannot speak;
sight is attributed to them,
but they cannot see;
17ears are attributed to them,
but they do not hear,
and there is no breath in their mouths.
18Those who craft them\
and all who trust in them\
will become like them.
19House of Israel, bless the Lord!
House of Aaron, bless the Lord!
20House of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
21Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who lives in Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 136
1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
2Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
3Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
4To the one who alone does great and wondrous things,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
5to the one who by wisdom made the heavens,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
6to the one who spread out the earth over the waters,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
7to the one who made the great lights,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
8the sun to illumine the day,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
9and the moon and stars to illumine the night,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
10to the one who struck the firstborn of Egypt,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
11and brought Israel out from among them,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
12with a strong hand and an active arm,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
13To the one who split the Reed Sea in two
for his gracious love is everlasting\
14and made Israel pass through the middle of it,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
15and cast Pharaoh and his armies into the Reed Sea,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
16To the one who led his people into the wilderness,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
17to the one who struck down great kings,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
18and killed famous kings,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
19including Sihon king of the Amorites,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
20and Og king of Bashan,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
21and gave their land as an inheritance,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
22to Israel his servant as a possession,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
23He it is who remembered us in our lowly circumstances,
for his gracious love is everlasting\
24and rescued us from our enemies,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
25He gives food to all creatures,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
26Give thanks to the God of Heaven,
for his gracious love is everlasting.
Psalm 137
1There we sat down and cried\
by the rivers of Babylon\
as we remembered Zion.
2On the willows there
we hung our harps,
3for it was there that our captors
asked us for songs
and our torturers demanded joy from us,
gSing us one of the songs about Zion!h
4How are we to sing the song of the Lord
on foreign soil?
5If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand cease to function.
6May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I donft remember you,
if I donft consider Jerusalem
to be more important than my highest joy.
7Remember the day of Jerusalemfs fall, Lord,
because of the Edomites,
who kept saying, gTear it down!
Tear it right down to its foundations!h
8Daughter of Babylon! You devastator!
How blessed will be the one who pays you back
for what you have done to us.
9How blessed will be the one who seizes your young children
and pulverizes them against the cliff!
Psalm 138
0-1Lord, I thank you with all of my heart;
because you heard the words that I spoke,
I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.
2I will bow down in worship toward your holy Temple
and give thanks to your name for your gracious love and truth,
for you have done great things
to carry out your word
consistent with your name.
3When I called out, you answered me;
you strengthened me.
4Lord, all the kings of the earth will give you thanks,
for they have heard what you have spoken.
5They will sing about the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord!
6Though the Lord is highly exalted,
yet he pays attention to those who are lowly regarded,
but he is aware of the arrogant from afar.
7Though I walk straight into trouble,
you preserve my life,
stretching out your hand
to fight the vehemence of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8The Lord will complete what his purpose is for me.
Lord, your gracious love is eternal;
do not abandon your personal work in me.
Psalm 139
0To the Music Director: A Davidic Song
1Lord, you have examined me;
you have known me.
2You know when I rest
and when I am active.
You understand what I am thinking
when I am distant from you.
3You scrutinize my life and my rest;
you are familiar with all of my ways.
4Even before I have formed a word with my tongue,
you, Lord, know it completely!
5You encircle me from back to front,
placing your hand upon me.
6Knowledge like this is too amazing for me.
It is beyond my reach,
and I cannot fathom it.
7Where can I flee from your spirit?
Or where will I run from your presence?
8If I rise to heaven, there you are!
If I lay down with the dead, there you are!
9If I take wings with the dawn
and settle down on the western horizon
10your hand will guide me there, too,
while your right hand keeps a firm grip on me.
11If I say, gDarkness will surely conceal me,
and the light around me will become night,h
12even darkness isnft dark to you,
darkness and light are the same to you.
13It was you who formed my internal organs,
fashioning me within my motherfs womb.
14I praise you,
because you are fearful and wondrous!
Your work is wonderful,
and I am fully aware of it.
15My frame was not hidden from you
while I was being crafted in a hidden place,
knit together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes looked upon my embryo,
and everything was recorded in your book.
The days scheduled for my formation were inscribed,
even though not one of them had come yet.
17How deep are your thoughts, God!
How great is their number!
18Were I to count them,
they would number more than the sand.
When I awake, I will be with you.
19God, if only you would execute the wicked,
so that the men guilty of bloodshed would get away from me,
20who speak against you with evil motives,
your enemies who are acting in vain.
21I hate those who hate you, Lord, do I not?
I loathe those who rebel against you, do I not??
22With consummate hatred I hate them;
I consider them my enemies.
23Examine me, God, and know my mind,
test me, and know my thoughts.
24See if there is any offensive tendency in me,
and lead me in the eternal way.
Psalm 140
0To the Music Director: A Davidic Song
1Deliver me, Lord, from evil people,
preserve me from violent men,
2who craft evil plans in their minds,
inciting wars every day.
3They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;
the venom of vipers is on their lips. - Interlude
4Protect me, Lord, from the control of evil people,
from violent men who have planned to trip me.
5The arrogant have laid a trap for me;
they have spread a net with ropes,
lining it with snares along the way. - Interlude
6So I say to the Lord, gYou are my God;
listen to my voice
as I plead for mercy, Lord.
7Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
you have protected my head in the time of battle.
8Never grant, Lord, the desires of the wicked;
never condone their plans
so they cannot exalt themselves. - Interlude
9May those who surround me discover
that the trouble they talk about falls on their own head!
10May burning coals fall on them;
may they be cast into fire,
and into miry pits, never to rise again.
11Let not the slanderer become established in the land.
May evil quickly hunt down the violent man.
12I know that the Lord will act on behalf of the tormented,
providing justice for the needy.
13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name,
while the upright live in your presence.
Psalm 141
0A Davidic Song
1Lord, I call to you,
be quick to listen to me when I cry out!
2Let my prayer be like incense offered before you,
and my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice.
3Lord, set a guard over my mouth;
keep watch over the door to my lips.
4Donft let my heart turn toward evil
or involve itself in wicked activities
with men who practice iniquity.
Let me not feast on their delicacies.
5Let one who is righteous strike me in gracious love and
let him rebuke me;
it is oil for my head,
do not let my head refuse it.
My prayers continually will be
against their wicked activities.
6When their judges are thrown off the cliff,
the people will hear my words,
for they are appropriate.
7Just as one plows and breaks up the earth,
our bones are scattered
near the entrance to the place of the dead.
8Nevertheless, my eyes are on you, Lord God,
as I seek protection in you.
Donft leave me defenseless!
9Protect me from the trap laid for me
and from the snares of those who practice evil.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I come through.
Psalm 142
0A Davidic Song, when he was in the cave. A prayer.
1My voice cries out to the Lord;
my voice pleads for mercy to the Lord.
2I pour out my complaint to him,
telling him all of my troubles.
3Though my spirit grows faint within me,
you are aware of my path.
Wherever I go,
they have hidden a trap for me.
4I look to my right and observe\
no one is concerned about me.
There is nowhere I can go for refuge,
and no one cares for me.
5So I cry to you, Lord,
declaring, gYou are my refuge,
my only possession while I am on this earth.h
6Pay attention to my cry,
for I have been brought very low.
Deliver me from my tormentors,
for they are far too strong for me.
7Break me out of this prison,
so I can give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal generously with me.
Psalm 143
0A Davidic Song
1Lord, hear my prayer;
pay attention to my request, because you are faithful;
answer me in your righteousness.
2Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
for no living person is righteous in your sight.
3For those who oppose me are pursuing my life,
crushing me to the ground,
making me sit in darkness
like those who died long ago.
4As a result, my spirit is desolate within me,
and my mind within me is appalled.
5I remember the former times,
meditating on everything you have done.
I think about the work of your hands.
6I stretch out my hands toward you,
longing for you like a parched land. - Interlude
7Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit is failing.
Do not hide your face from me;
otherwise, I will become like those who descend to the Pit,
8In the morning let me hear of your gracious love,
for in you I trust.
Cause me to know the way I should take,
because I have set my hope on you.
9Deliver me from my enemies, Lord.
I have taken refuge in you.
10Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11For the sake of your name, Lord,
preserve my life.
Because you are righteous,
bring me out of trouble.
12Because of your gracious love,
you will cut off my enemies.
You will destroy all who oppose me,
for I am your servant.
Psalm 144
0Davidic
1Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle
and my fingers for warfare,
2he is my gracious love and my fortress,
my strong tower and my deliverer,
my shield and the one in whom I find refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
3Lord, what are human beings,
that you should care about them,
or mortal man,
that you should think about him?
4The human person is a mere empty breath;
his days are like a fading shadow.
5Bow your heavens, Lord, and descend;
touch the mountains, and they will smolder.
6Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy,
shoot your arrows and confuse them.
7Reach down your hand from your high place;
rescue me and deliver me from mighty waters,
from the control of foreigners.
8Their mouths speak lies,
and their right hand deceives,
9God, I will sing a new song to you.
On a harp of ten strings I will play to you\
10to you who gives victory to kings,
rescuing his servant David from cruel swords.
11Rescue me and deliver me
from the control of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies,
and whose right hand deceives.
12May our sons in their youth be like full-grown plants,
and our daughters like pillars
destined to decorate a palace.
13May our granaries be filled,
storing produce in abundance;
may our sheep bring forth thousands,
even tens of thousands in our fields.
14May our cattle grow heavy with young,
with no damage or loss.
May there be no cry of anguish in our streets!
15Happy are the people to whom these things come;
happy are the people whose God is the Lord.
Psalm 145
0A Davidic Psalm
1I will speak highly of you, my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
2I will bless you every day
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
3The Lord is great,
and to be praised highly,
though his greatness is indescribable.
4One generation will acclaim your works to another
and will describe your mighty actions.
5I will speak about the glorious splendor of your majesty
as well as your awesome actions.
6People will speak about the might of your great deeds,
and I will announce your greatness.
7They will extol the fame of your abundant goodness,
and will sing out loud about your righteousness.
8Gracious and merciful is the Lord,
slow to become angry,
and overflowing with gracious love.
9The Lord is good to everyone
and his mercies extend to everything he does.
10Lord, everything you have done will praise you,
and your holy ones will bless you.
11They will speak about the glory of your kingdom,
and they will talk about your might,
12in order to make known your mighty acts to mankind
as well as the majestic splendor of your kingdom.
13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your authority endures from one generation to another.
13bGod is faithful about everything he says
and merciful in everything he does.
14The Lord supports everyone who falls
and raises up those who are bowed down.
15Everyonefs eyes are on you,
as you give them their food in due time.
16You open your hand continually
and keep on satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17The Lord is righteous in all of his ways
and graciously loving in all of his activities.
18The Lord remains near to all who call out to him,
to everyone who calls out to him sincerely.
19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him,
hearing their cry and saving them.
20The Lord preserves everyone who loves him,
but he will destroy all of the wicked.
21My mouth will praise the Lord,
and all creatures will bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 146
1Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, my soul!
2I will praise the Lord as long as I live,
singing praises to my God while I exist.
3Do not look to nobles,
nor to mere human beings who cannot save.
4When they stop breathing,
they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans evaporate!
5Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6maker of heaven and earth,
the seas and everything in them,
forever the guardian of truth,
7who brings justice for the oppressed,
and who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners;
8the Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the righteous.
9The Lord stands guard over the stranger;
he supports both widows and orphans,
but makes the path of the wicked slippery.
10The Lord will reign forever,
your God, Zion, for all generations!
Hallelujah!
Psalm 147
1Hallelujah!
It is good to sing praise to our God,
and it is fitting to sing glorious praise.
2The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3He heals the brokenhearted,
binding up their injuries.
4He keeps track of the number of stars,
assigning names to all of them.
5Our Lord is great,
and rich in power;
his understanding has no limitation.
6The Lord supports the afflicted
while he casts the wicked to the ground.
7Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving,
and compose music to our God with the lyre.
8He shields the heavens with clouds,
preparing rain for the earth
and making grass grow on the hills.
9He gives wild animals their food,
including the young ravens when they cry.
10He takes no delight in the strength of a horse,
and gains no pleasure in the runnerfs swiftness.
11But the Lord is pleased with those who fear him,
with those who depend on his gracious love.
12Glorify the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13For he has strengthened the bars of your gates,
blessing your children within you.
14He grants peace within your borders,
satisfying you with the finest of wheat.
15He sends out his command to the earth,
making his word go forth quickly.
16He supplies snow like wool,
scattering frost like ashes.
17He casts down his ice crystals like bread fragments.
Who can endure his freezing cold?
18He sends out his word
and melts them.
He makes his wind blow
and the water flows.
19He declares his words to Jacob,
his statutes and decrees to Israel.
20He has not dealt with any other nation like this;
they never knew his decrees.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 148
1Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from heaven;
praise him in the highest places.
2Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his armies!
3Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4Praise him, you heaven of heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
5Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he himself gave the command that they be created.
6He set them in place to last forever and ever;
he gave the command and will not rescind it.
7Praise the Lord, you from the earth,
you creatures of the sea
and all you depths,
8fire, hail, snow, fog, and wind storm
that carry out his command,
9mountains and every hill,
fruit trees and cedars,
10living creatures and livestock,
insects and flying birds,
11earthly kings and all peoples,
nobles and all court officials of the earth,
12young men and young women alike,
along with older people and children.
13Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is lifted up;
his majesty transcends earth and heaven.
14He has raised up a source of strength for his people,
an object of praise for all of his holy ones,
that is, for the people of Israel who are near him.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 149
1Hallelujah!
Sing a new song to the Lord,
praising him where the godly gather together.
2May Israel rejoice in its Maker,
and Zionfs descendants in their King!
3May they praise his name with dancing,
chanting songs to him with tambourines and lyres.
4For the Lord is pleased with his people;
he beautifies the afflicted with salvation.
5May those he loves be exalted,
singing for joy on their couches.
6Let high praises to God be heard in their throats,
while they wield two-edged swords in their hands
7as they bring retribution to nations
and punishment to peoples,
8binding their kings with chains,
their officials with iron bands,
9and executing the judgment written against them.
This is honor for all the ones he loves.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 150
1Hallelujah!
Praise God in his Holy Place.
Praise him in his great expanse.
2Praise him for his mighty works.
Praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him with trumpet sounding.
Praise him with stringed instrument and harp.
4Praise him with tambourine and dancing.
Praise him with stringed and wind instruments.
5Praise him with loud cymbals.
Praise him with reverberating cymbals.
6Let everyone who breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!
Proverbs
Chapter 1
1The proverbs of Davidfs son Solomon, king of Israel.
2These proverbs are for gaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
3for acquiring the discipline that produces wise behavior,
righteousness, justice, and upright living;
4for giving prudence to the na?ve,
and knowledge and discretion to the young.
5Let the wise listen and increase their learning;
let the person of understanding receive guidance
6in understanding proverbs, clever sayings,
words of the wise, and their riddles.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8My son, listen to your fatherfs instruction,
and do not let go of your motherfs teaching.
9They will be a graceful wreath for your head
and a chain for your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11If they say, gCome with us!
Letfs lie in wait for blood;
letfs ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.
12Letfs swallow them alive like Sheol,
and whole like those who go down into the Pit.
13Wefll find all kinds of valuable wealth,
and wefll fill our houses with spoil.
14Throw your lot in with us,
and all of us will have one purse.h
15My son, do not go along with them,
and keep your feet away from their paths!
16For they run toward evil;
these enticers shed blood without hesitation.
17Look, it is useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds,
18but these people lie in wait for their own blood.
They ambush only themselves.
19Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain\
 it takes away the lives of those who possess it.
20Wisdom cries out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares.
21She calls out at the busiest part of the noisy streets,
and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words:
22gYou na?ve ones, how long will you love naivet??
And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing
or fools hate knowledge?h
23Return to my correction!
Look, I will pour out my spirit on you,
and I will make my words known to you.
24gBecause I called out to you and you refused to respond\
I appealed, but no one paid attention\
25because you neglected all my advice
and did not want my correction,
26I will laugh at your calamity.
I will mock when what you fear comes,
27when what you dread comes like a storm,
and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28gThen they will call out to me,
but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently,
but they will not find me.
29gBecause they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord;
30they did not want my advice,
and they rejected all my correction.
31They will eat the fruit of their way,
and they will be filled with their own devices.
32Indeed, the waywardness of the na?ve will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33gBut the person who listens to me will live safely
and will be secure from the fear of evil.h
Chapter 2
1My son, if you accept my words,
and treasure my instructions\
2making your ear attentive to wisdom,
and turning your heart to understanding\
3if, indeed, you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,
5then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and learn to know God.
6For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright
and is a shield to those who walk in integrity\
8guarding the paths of the just
and protecting the way of his faithful ones.
9Then you will understand what is right, just,
and upright\every good path.
10For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11Discretion will protect you;
understanding will watch over you,
12delivering you from the way of evil,
from men who speak perverse things,
13and from those who abandon the right path
to travel along the ways of darkness;
14who delight in doing evil,
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil;
15whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways,
16delivering you from the adulteress,
from the immoral woman with her seductive words,
17someone who abandoned the companion of her youth
and forgot the covenant of her God.
18For her house leads down to death,
and her paths down to the realm of the dead.
19None who go to her return,
nor do they reach the paths of life.
20This is how you will walk in the way of good men
and will keep to the paths of the righteous.
21For the upright will live in the land,
and people of integrity will remain in it.
22But the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted from it.
Chapter 3
1My son, donft forget my instruction,
and keep my commandments carefully in mind.
2For they will add length to your days, years to your life,
and abundant peace to you.
3Do not let gracious love and truth leave you.
Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart,
4and find favor and a good reputation with God and men.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not depend on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8This will bring healing to your body,
and refreshment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first of all your produce,
10so your barns will be filled with abundance,
and your vats will burst open with new wine.
11My son, do not reject the Lordfs discipline,
and do not despise his correction,
12because the Lord corrects the person he loves,
just as a father corrects the son he delights in.
13How joyful is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gains understanding,
14because her profit is better than the profit of silver,
and her yield than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire compares with her.
16Long life is in her right hand,
and in her left are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peaceful.
18She is a tree of life for those who embrace her,
and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.
19By wisdom the Lord laid the earthfs foundations,
and by understanding he set the heavens in place.
20By his knowledge the depths broke open,
and the clouds drip with dew.
21My son, do not let wisdom leave your sight.
Carefully observe sound judgment and discernment,
22and they will be life to you
and a graceful ornament for your neck.
23Then you will travel safely on your way,
and your foot will not stumble.
24When you sit down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
25Do not be afraid of sudden disaster,
or the devastation that comes to the wicked.
26Indeed, the Lord will be your confidence,
and he will keep your foot from being caught.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28Do not say to your neighbor,
gGo, and come back.
I will pay you tomorrow,h
when you have cash with you.
29Do not plan to harm your neighbor,
when he is living peacefully beside you.
30Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31Do not envy a violent man,
and do not emulate his lifestyle.
32Indeed, a perverse man is utterly disgusting to the Lord,
but he takes the upright into his confidence.
33The Lordfs curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34Though God scoffs at scoffers,
he gives grace to the humble.
35The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds fools up for ridicule.
Chapter 4
1Listen, children, to your fatherfs instruction,
and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2I give you sound teaching,
so do not abandon my instruction.
3When I was a son to my father,
not yet strong and an only son to my mother,
4he taught me and told me,
gLet your heart fully embrace what I have to say;
keep my commandments and live!
5gGet wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
6gDo not abandon her, and she will protect you.
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7gWisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom,
and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
8gPrize her and she will exalt you.
Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9gShe will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will present to you a crown of beauty.h
10Listen, my son: accept my words,
and youfll live a long, long time.
11I have directed you in the way of wisdom,
and I have led you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your step will not be hindered,
and when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go!
Guard wisdom, because she is your life!
14Do not enter the path of the wicked,
or go along the way of evil men.
15Avoid it! Donft travel on it!
Turn away from it, and pass on by.
16For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil,
and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness,
and they drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn
that grows brighter until the full light of day.
19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness,
and they do not know what they are stumbling over.
20My son, pay attention to my words,
and listen closely to what I say.
21Do not let them out of your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23Above everything else guard your heart,
because from it flow the springs of life.
24Never talk deceptively
and donft keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.
25Let your eyes look directly ahead;
fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26Carefully measure the paths for your feet,
and all your ways will be established.
27Do not turn to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Chapter 5
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
and listen closely to my insight,
2so you may carefully practice discretion
and your lips preserve knowledge.
3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil.
4But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,
and as sharp as a double-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead to Sheol.
6You arenft thinking about where her life is headed;
her steps wander, but you do not realize it.
7Now, children, listen to me.
Donft turn away from what I am saying.
8Keep far away from her,
and donft go near the entrance to her house,
9so that you donft give your honor to others,
and waste your best years;
10so that strangers donft enrich themselves at your expense,
and your work wonft end up the possession of foreigners.
11You will cry out in anguish when your end comes,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12and you will say, gHow I hated instruction,
and my heart rejected correction!
13I did not obey my teachers
and did not listen to my instructors.
14Now I am at the point of utter disaster
in the assembly and in the congregation.h
15Drink water from your own cistern,
and fresh water from your own well.
16Should your springs flow outside,
or streams of water in the street?
17They should be for you alone
and not for strangers who are with you.
18Let your fountain be blessed
and enjoy the wife of your youth.
19Like a loving deer, a beautiful doe,
let her breasts satisfy you all the time.
Be constantly intoxicated by her love.
20Why should you be intoxicated by an adulteress, my son,
and embrace the bosom of a foreign woman?
21Indeed, what a man does is always in the Lordfs presence,
and he weighs all his paths.
22The wicked personfs iniquities will capture him,
and he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23He will die for lack of discipline,
and he goes astray because of his great folly.
Chapter 6
1My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor,
if you have agreed to a deal with a stranger,
2trapped by your own words,
and caught by your own words,
3then do this, my son, and deliver yourself,
because you have come under your neighborfs control.
Go, humble yourself!
Plead passionately with your neighbor!
4Donft allow yourself to sleep
or even to close your eyes.
5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a hunterfs hand,
or like a bird from a fowlerfs hand.
6Go to the ant, you lazy man!
Observe its ways and become wise.
7It has no commander,
officer, or ruler,
8but prepares its provisions in the summer
and gathers its food in the harvest.
9How long will you lie down, lazy man?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11and your poverty will come on you like a bandit
and your desperation like an armed man.
12A worthless man, a wicked man,
goes around with devious speech,
13winking with his eyes, making signs with his feet,
pointing with his fingers,
14planning evil with a perverse mind,
continually stirring up discord.
15Therefore, disaster will overtake him suddenly.
He will be broken in an instant,
and he will never recover.
16Here are six things that the Lord hates\
seven, in fact, are detestable to him:
17Arrogant eyes,
a lying tongue,
and hands shedding innocent blood;
18a heart crafting evil plans,
feet running swiftly to wickedness,
19a false witness snorting lies,
and someone sowing quarrels between brothers.
20Keep your fatherfs commands, my son,
and never forsake your motherfs rules,
21by binding them to your heart continually,
fastening them around your neck.
22During your travels wisdom will lead you;
she will watch over you while you rest;
and when you are startled from your sleep,
she will commune with you.
23Because the command is a lamp
and the Law a light,
rebukes that discipline are a way of life\
24to protect you from the evil woman,
from the words of the seductive woman.
25Do not focus on her beauty in your mind,
nor allow her to take you prisoner with her flirting eyes,
26because the price of a whore is a loaf of bread,
and an adulterous woman stalks a manfs precious life.
27Can a man scoop fire into his bosom
without burning his clothes?
28Can a man walk on hot coals
without scorching his feet?
29So also is it with someone who has sex with his neighborfs wife;
anyone touching her will not remain unpunished.
30A thief isnft despised
if he steals to meet his needs when he is hungry,
31but when he is discovered,
he must restore seven-fold,
forfeiting the entire value of his house.
32Whoever commits adultery with a woman is out of his mind;
by doing so he corrupts his own soul.
33He will receive a beating and dishonor,
and his shame wonft disappear,
34because jealousy incites a strong manfs rage,
and he will show no mercy when itfs time for revenge.
35He will not consider any payment,
nor will he be willing to accept it,
no matter how large the bribe.
Chapter 7
1My son, guard what I say
and treasure my commands.
2Keep my commands and youfll live.
Guard my teaching as you do your eyesight.
3Strap them to your fingers
and engrave them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, gYoufre my sister!h
and call understanding your close relative,
5so they can keep you from an adulterous woman,
from the immoral woman with her seductive words.
6For from a window in my house
I peered through the lattice work,
7and I noticed among the na?ve\
that is, I discerned among the youths\
a senseless young man.
8Proceeding down the street near her corner,
he makes his way toward her house
9at twilight, during the evening,
even during the darkest part of the night.
10Look! A woman makes her way to meet him,
dressed as a prostitute
and intending to entrap him.
11She is brazen and defiant\
her feet donft remain at home.
12Now she is in the street, now in the plazas,
she lurks near every corner.
13So she grabs hold of him and kisses him,
with a brazen face she speaks to him,
14gI have given my peace offerings,
and today I fulfilled my vows.
15Therefore, Ifve come out to meet you,
Ifve looked just for you,
and I found you!
16Ifve decorated my bed with new coverings\
embroidered linen from Egypt.
17Ifve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, letfs make love until dawn;
letfs comfort ourselves with love,
19because my husband isnft home.
He left on a long trip.
20He took a fist full of cash
and hefll return home in a month.h
21She leads him astray with great persuasion;
with flattering lips she seduces him.
22All of a sudden he follows her
like an ox fit for slaughter
or like a fool fit for a trap
23until an arrow pierces his liver.
As a bird darts into a snare,
he doesnft realize his fatal decision.
24So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to what I have to say.
25Donft be led astray by her lifestyle,
and donft imitate her behavior.
26For many are the victims whom she has conquered,
and many are her slain.
27Her house leads to Sheol,
descending to deathfs catacombs.
Chapter 8
1Isnft wisdom calling out;
isnft understanding raising her voice?
2On top of the highest places along the road
she stands where the roads meet.
3Beside the gates, at the city entrance\
at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud:
4gIfm calling to you, men!
What I have to say pertains to all mankind!
5Understand prudence, you na?ve people;
and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones.
6Listen, because I have noble things to say,
and what I have to say will reveal what is right.
7For my mouth speaks the truth\
wickedness is detestable to me.
8Everything I have to say is just;
there isnft anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.
9Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands,
and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.
10Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money
and knowledge instead of the finest gold,
11because wisdom is better than precious gems
and nothing you desire can compare to it.h
12gI, wisdom, am related to prudence.
I know how to be discreet.
13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle,
and perverted speech I despise.
14Counsel belongs to me,
along with sound judgment.
I am understanding.
Power belongs to me.
15Kings reign by me,
and rulers dispense justice through me.
16By me leaders rule, as do noble officials
and all who govern justly.
17I love those who love me,
and those who seek me will find me.
18Wealth and honor accompany me,
as do enduring wealth and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold,
better than even refined gold,
and my benefit surpasses the purest silver.
20I walk on the way of righteousness,
along paths that are just,
21I bequeath wealth to those who love me,
and I will fill their treasuries.h
22gThe Lord made me as he began his planning,
before his ancient activity commenced.
23From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning,
from before there was land.
24When there were no ocean depths,
I brought them to birth
at a time when there were no springs.
25Before the mountains were shaped,
before there were hills,
I was bringing them to birth.
26Even though he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the worldfs first grains of dust,
27when he crafted the heavens,
I was there\
when he marked out a circle on the face of the deep,
28when he made the clouds from above,
when the springs of the depths were established,
29when he set a boundary for the sea
so the waters would not exceed his limits,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30Then I was with him, his master craftsman\
I was his delight daily,
continuously rejoicing in his presence,
31rejoicing in his inhabitable world
and taking delight in mankind.h
32gSo listen to me, children!
Blessed are those who obey me.
33Listen to instruction and be wise.
Donft ignore it.
34Blessed is the person who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my doorways\
35because those who find me find life
and gain favor from the Lord.
36But whoever sins against me destroys himself;
everyone who hates me loves death.h
Chapter 9
1Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out her seven pillars.
2She has prepared her food,
she has spiced her wine,
and she also has set her dining table.
3She has sent out her young women,
while calling out from the heights of the city,
4gLet whoever is na?ve, turn in here.h
To anyone lacking sense, she says,
5gCome! Eat my food,
and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6Leave your na?ve ways, and live.
Walk in the path of understanding.h
7Whoever corrects a mocker invites only insult,
and whoever rebukes the wicked will himself become stained.
8Donft rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.
Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.
9Counsel a wise man,
and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man,
and he will add to his learning.
10The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins,
and knowing holiness demonstrates understanding.
11For because of me you will live a long life,
and years will be added to your life.
12If you are wise,
your wisdom will assist you.
If you mock,
you alone will be held responsible.
13The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and without knowledge.
14She sits at the entrance of her house,
on a seat high above the city.
15She calls out to those passing by on the road,
who are minding their own business,
16gWhoever is na?ve, turn in here!h
And to anyone lacking sense, she says,
17gStolen waters are sweet,
and food eaten in secret is delicious.h
18But he does not realize that the dead lurk there,
and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.
Chapter 10
1The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grieves his mother.
2Nothing good comes from ill-gotten wealth,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3The Lord wonft cause the righteous to hunger,
but he will reject what the wicked crave.
4Lazy hands bring poverty,
but hard-working hands lead to wealth.
5Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely,
but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
6Blessings come upon the head of the righteous,
but the words of the wicked conceal violence.
7The reputation of the righteous leads to blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise person accepts commands,
but the chattering fool will be brought down.
9Whoever walks in integrity lives prudently,
but whoever perverts his way of life will be exposed.
10Those who wink their eyes are trouble makers,
and the mocking fool will be brought down.
11What the righteous say is a flowing fountain,
but what the wicked say conceals violence.
12Hatred awakens contention,
but love covers all transgressions.
13Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning,
but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.
14Those who are wise store up knowledge,
but when the fool speaks, destruction is near.
15The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth,
but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.
16Honorable wages lead to life;
the salaries of the wicked, to retribution.
17Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life,
but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.
18Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19Transgression is at work where people talk too much,
but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent.
20What the righteous person says is like precious silver;
the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things.
21What the righteous person says nourishes many,
but fools die because they lack discerning hearts.
22The blessing of the Lord establishes wealth,
and difficulty does not accompany it.
23Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy,
so is wisdom to the discerning man.
24What the wicked fears will come about,
but the longing of the righteous will be granted.
25When the storm ends, the wicked vanish,
but the righteous person is forever firm.
26As vinegar is to the mouth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the lazy person to those who send him.
27Fearing the Lord prolongs life,
but the wicked will not live long.
28What the righteous hope for brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked dies.
29To the upright, the way of the Lord is a place of safety
but itfs a place of ruin to those who practice evil.
30The righteous will never be overthrown,
but the wicked will never inhabit the land.
31The words of the righteous overflow with wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32Righteous lips know what is prudent,
but the words of the wicked are perverse.
Chapter 11
1The Lord hates false scales,
but he delights in accurate weights.
2When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
but humility is present with wisdom.
3The integrity of the righteous guides them,
but the hypocrisy of the treacherous destroys them.
4Wealth wonft help in the time of judgment,
but righteousness will deliver from death.
5The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path,
but the wicked fall by their wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.
7When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes;
and what he expected from his scheming comes to nothing.
8The righteous person is delivered from trouble;
it comes upon the wicked instead.
9By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10The city rejoices when the righteous prosper,
and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.
11Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up,
but what the wicked say tears it down.
12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but the discerning man controls his comments.
13Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
but the trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14A nation falls through a lack of guidance,
but victory comes through the counsel of many.
15Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering,
but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.
16A gracious woman attains honor,
but ruthless men attain wealth.
17A gracious man benefits himself,
but the cruel person damages himself.
18Evil people earn deceptive wages,
but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.
19Genuine righteousness leads to life,
but whoever pursues evil will die.
20Devious minds are abhorrent to the Lord,
but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.
21Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished,
but the descendants of the righteous will go free.
22Like a gold ring in a pigfs snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.
24Those who give freely gain even more;
others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.
25A generous person will prosper,
and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
26People will curse whoever withholds grain,
but blessing will come to whoever is selling.
27The person seeking good will find favor,
but anyone who searches for evil\it will find him!
28The person who trusts in his wealth will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
29Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be a servant to the wise.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who wins people is wise.
31If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth,
how much more will the wicked and the sinner.
Chapter 12
1The person who loves correction loves knowledge,
but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.
2The good person will gain favor from the Lord,
but the man who plots evil will be condemned by him.
3A person doesnft gain security by wickedness,
but the righteous wonft be uprooted.
4A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but a wife who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.
5The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lead to bloodshed,
but the speech of the upright delivers them.
7After theyfre overthrown, the wicked wonft be found,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8A man is praised because of his wise words,
but the perverted mind will be despised.
9Itfs better to be unimportant, yet have a servant,
than to pretend to be important, but lack food.
10The righteous person looks out for the welfare of his livestock,
but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11Whoever tills his soil will have a lot to eat,
but anyone who pursues fantasies lacks sense.
12The wicked desires what evil people gain,
but the foundation of the righteous is productive.
13An evil manfs sinful speech ensnares him,
but the righteous person escapes from trouble.
14By his fruitful speech a man can remain satisfied,
and a manfs handiwork will reward him.
15The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion,
but wise is the man who listens to advice.
16The anger of a fool becomes readily apparent,
but the prudent person overlooks an insult.
17The truth teller speaks what is right,
but the false witness speaks what is deceitful.
18Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword,
but what the wise say promotes healing.
19A truthful saying is trusted forever,
but the liar only for a moment.
20Deceit is at home in the heart of those who plan evil,
but those who promote peace rejoice.
21No harm overwhelms the righteous,
but the wicked overflow with trouble.
22Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,
but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.
24The diligent will take control,
but the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25A personfs anxiety weighs down his heart,
but an appropriate word is encouraging.
26The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor,
but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.
27The lazy person does not roast what he has hunted,
but diligence is onefs most important possession.
28In the pathway to righteousness there is life,
and in that lifestyle there is no death.
Chapter 13
1A wise son heeds a fatherfs correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,
but the treacherous crave violence.
3Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
anyone who talks too much is ruined.
4The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.
5A righteous person hates deceit,
but the wicked person is shameful and disgraceful.
6Righteousness protects the blameless,
but wickedness brings down the sinner.
7One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.
8The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom,
but whoever is poor receives no threats.
9The light of the righteous shines,
but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10Arrogance only brings quarreling,
but those receiving advice are wise.
11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.
12Delayed hope makes the heart ill,
but fulfilled longing is a tree of life.
13Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.
14What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life
and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.
15Good understanding produces grace,
but the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.
16Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
but a fool demonstrates folly.
17An evil messenger stumbles into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.
19Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul,
but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.
20Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21Disaster pursues the sinful,
but good will reward the righteous.
22A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.
23The field of the poor may produce much food,
but it can be swept away through injustice.
24Whoever does not discipline his son hates him,
but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.
25A righteous person eats to his heartfs content,
but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.
Chapter 14
1Every wise woman builds up her household,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2Someone whose conduct is upright fears the Lord,
but whoever is devious in his ways despises him.
3What a fool says brings a rod to his back,
but the words of the wise protect them.
4Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean,
but profits come through the strength of the ox.
5A trustworthy witness does not deceive,
but a false witness spews lies.
6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but learning comes easily to someone who understands.
7Stay away from a foolish man,
for you will not find competent advice.
8The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
but a foolfs stupidity deceives him.
9Fools make fun of guilt,
but among the upright there are good intentions.
10The heart knows its own bitterness\
an outsider cannot share in its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a pathway that seems right to a man,
but in the end itfs a road to death.
13Even in laughter there may be heartache,
and at the end of joy there may be grief.
14The faithless one will pay for his behavior,
but a good man will be rewarded for his.
15An unthinking person believes everything,
but the prudent one thinks before acting.
16The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and overconfident.
17A quick tempered person does foolish things,
and a devious man is hated.
18The na?ve inherit folly,
but the careful are crowned with knowledge.
19Evil men will bow down in the presence of good men
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor person is shunned by his neighbor,
but many are the friends of the wealthy.
21Whoever despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.
22Wonft those who continually plot evil go astray?
But gracious love and truth are for those who plan what is good.
23In hard work there is always profit,
but too much chattering leads to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the stupidity of fools is just that\stupidity!
25A truthful witness saves lives,
but the person who lies is deceitful.
26Rock-solid security is found in the fear of the Lord,
and within it onefs children find refuge.
27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
enabling anyone to escape the snares of death.
28A large population is a kingfs glory,
but a shortage of people is a rulerfs ruin.
29Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding
as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity.
30A tranquil mind brings life to onefs body,
but jealousy causes onefs bones to rot.
31Whoever oppresses the poor defies their Creator,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors them.
32The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing,
but the righteous person has a place of safety in death.
33Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning\
even fools know this.
34Righteousness makes a nation great,
but sin diminishes any people.
35The king approves the wise servant,
but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.
Chapter 15
1A gentle response diverts anger,
but a harsh statement incites fury.
2The wise speak, presenting knowledge appropriately,
but fools spout foolishness.
3The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
observing both the evil and the good.
4A gentle statement is a tree of life,
but perverted speech shatters the spirit.
5A fool rejects his fatherfs instructions,
but anyone who respects reproof acts sensibly.
6The righteous house is itself a great treasure,
but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.
7What the wise have to say disseminates knowledge,
but itfs not in the heart of fools to do so.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9The lifestyle of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but he loves those who ardently pursue righteousness.
10Severe punishment awaits anyone who wanders off the path\
anyone who despises reproof will die.
11Since Sheol and Abaddon lie open in the Lordfs presence,
how much more the hearts of human beings!
12The arrogant mocker never loves the one who corrects him;
he will not inquire of the wise.
13A happy heart enlightens the face,
but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit.
14A discerning mind seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on stupidity.
15The entire life of the afflicted seems disastrous,
but a good heart feasts continually.
16Better is a little accompanied by fear of the Lord
than abundant wealth with turmoil.
17A vegetarian meal served with love is better
than a big, thick steak with a plateful of animosity.
18The quickly angered man stirs up contention,
but anyone who controls his temper calms a dispute.
19The lifestyle of the lazy is like a thorny hedge,
but the path taken by the upright is an open highway.
20A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Stupidity is the delight of the senseless,
but an understanding man walks uprightly.
22Plans fail without advice,
but with many counselors they are confirmed.
23An appropriate answer brings joy to a person,
and a well-timed word is a good thing.
24The way of life leads upward for the wise
so he may avoid Sheol below.
25The house of the proud the Lord will demolish,
but he will protect the widowfs boundary line.
26To the Lord evil plans are detestable,
but pleasant words are pure.
27Those who are greedy for unjust gain bring trouble into their homes,
but the person who hates bribes will live.
28The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,
but the wicked person spews out evil.
29The Lord is far away from the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
30Bright eyes encourage the heart;
good news nourishes the body.
31Whoever listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.
32Whoever ignores instruction hates himself,
but anyone who heeds reproof gains understanding.
33The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom,
and humility precedes honor.
Chapter 16
1People do the planning,
but the end result is from the Lord.
2Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion,
but the Lord weighs intentions.
3Entrust your work to the Lord,
and your planning will succeed.
4The Lord made everything answerable to him,
including the wicked at the time of trouble.
5The Lord detests those who are proud;
truly they will not go unpunished.
6Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth,
and through fear of the Lord people turn from evil.
7When a personfs ways please the Lord,
even his enemies will be at peace with him.
8A little gain with righteousness is better
than great income without justice.
9A person plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.
10When a king is ready to speak officially,
what he says should not err with respect to justice.
11Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;
he made all the weights in the bag.
12Kings detest wrong-doing,
for through righteousness the throne is established.
13Kings take pleasure in righteous speech;
they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.
14The kingfs wrath results in a death sentence,
but whoever is wise will appease him.
15When a king is pleased, there is life,
and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
16How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom,
the attainment of wisdom better than silver!
17The road of the upright circumvents evil,
and whoever watches how he lives preserves his life.
18Pride precedes destruction;
an arrogant spirit appears before a fall.
19Better to be humble among the poor,
than to share what is stolen with the proud.
20Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers,
and anyone who trusts in the Lord is blessed.
21The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning,
and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life,
but foolishness brings punishment to fools.
23A wise personfs thoughts control his words,
and his speech promotes instruction.
24Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb\
sweet to the soul and healing for the body.
25There is a road that seems right for a man to travel,
but in the end itfs the road to death.
26The appetite of the laborer motivates him;
indeed, his hunger drives him on.
27A worthless person concocts evil gossip\
his lips are like a burning fire.
28A deceitful man stirs dissension,
and anyone who gossips separates friends.
29A violent man entices his companion
and leads him on a path that is not good.
30Whoever winks knowingly is plotting deceit;
anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.
31Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is obtained by following a righteous path.
32Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior,
and anyone who has control of his spirit is better
than someone who captures a city.
33The dice is cast into someonefs lap,
but the outcome is from the Lord.
Chapter 17
1Dry crumbs in peace are better
than a full meal with strife.
2A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son
and will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3The crucible is for silver
and the furnace for gold\
but the Lord assays hearts.
4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,
and the liar listens to malicious talk.
5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,
and whoever is happy about disaster
will not go unpunished.
6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the pride of children is their parents.
7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;
how much more are deceitful statements with a prince!
8A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love,
but someone who gossips separates close friends.
10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
than a hundred lashes to a fool.
11A rebellious person seeks evil;
a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.
12Itfs better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs
than a fool in his stupidity.
13The person who repays good with evil
will never see evil leave his home.
14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water\
so drop the dispute before it escalates.
15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous
are both detestable to the Lord.
16What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom,
but is senseless?
17A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is there for times of trouble.
18A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan,
becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.
19The person who loves transgression loves strife;
the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.
20The person whose mind is perverse does not find good,
and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.
21The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow\
the father of a fool has no joy.
22A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit drains onefs strength.
23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret
in order to pervert the course of justice.
24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
but a fool looks only to earthly goals.
25A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to his mother.
26Furthermore, it isnft good to fine the righteous,
or to beat an official because of his uprightness.
27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable;
anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;
he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.
Chapter 18
1Whoever isolates himself pursues selfish ends;
he resists all sound advice.
2A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
for he would rather express his own opinion.
3When an evil person comes, contempt also comes,
along with dishonor and disgrace.
4The words a man says are as deep waters\
a fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.
5Itfs not good to be partial towards an evil person,
thereby depriving the righteous of justice.
6A foolfs words bring strife,
and his mouth invites fighting.
7A foolfs mouth is his unraveling,
and his lips entrap himself.
8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
as they descend to the innermost parts of the body.
9Whoever is lazy regarding his work
is also a brother to the master of destruction.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
a righteous person rushes to it and is lifted up above the danger.
11The wealth of a rich person is his fortified city;
in his own imagination, it is like a high wall.
12Before a manfs downfall, his mind is arrogant,
but humility precedes honor.
13Whoever answers before listening
is both foolish and shameful.
14A manfs spirit can sustain him during his illness,
but who can bear a crushed spirit?
15The mind of a discerning person gains knowledge,
while the ears of wise people seek out knowledge.
16A personfs gift opens doors for him,
bringing him access to important people.
17The first to put forth his case seems right,
until someone else steps forward and cross-examines him.
18Casting dice settles a dispute,
deciding between strong contenders.
19An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
and his disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20The positive words that a man speaks fill his stomach;
he will be satisfied with what his lips produce.
21The power of the tongue is life and death\
those who love to talk will eat what it produces.
22Whoever finds a wife finds what is good,
and receives favor from the Lord.
23The poor person pleads for mercy,
but the wealthy man responds harshly.
24A man with many friends can still be ruined,
but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
Chapter 19
1A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.
2Furthermore, it isnft good to be ignorant,
and whoever rushes into things misses the mark.
3A manfs foolishness ruins his life,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.
4Wealth brings many friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5A witness to lies will not go unpunished;
the teller of falsehoods will not escape.
6Many curry favor of an official;
everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
7All the relatives of a poor person shun him\
how much more do his friends avoid him!
Though he runs after them pleading,
they arenft around.
8Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself,
and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.
9A witness to lies will not go unpunished;
the teller of falsehoods will perish.
10Itfs not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;
neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.
11A personfs discretion makes him slow to anger,
and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.
12The kingfs anger is like the roaring of a lion,
but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.
13A fatherfs ruin is a foolish son,
and a wifefs quarreling is like dripping water that never stops.
14A house and self-sufficiency are a fatherfs inheritance,
but from the Lord comes an insightful wife.
15Laziness puts one to sleep,
and an idle person will go hungry.
16Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe,
but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die.
17Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord\
the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.
18Discipline your son while there is still hope\
but donft set your heart on his destruction.
19The person who has great anger must pay the consequences,
because if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
20Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and youfll be wise for the rest of your life.
21Many plans occupy the mind of a man,
but the Lordfs purposes will prevail.
22Human beings long for grace,
and itfs better to be poor than a man of deceit.
23The fear of the Lord leads to life;
whoever is satisfied with it will rest,
untouched by evil.
24The lazy person buries his hand in his dish
and doesnft bother to bring it back to his mouth.
25If you scourge a scoffer,
the simple person may learn to be discreet;
rebuke a discerning man
and he will gain understanding.
26Whoever mistreats his father
and alienates his mother
is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.
27My son, if you stop listening to instruction,
you will stray from the principles of knowledge.
28A corrupt witness mocks justice,
and the wicked person feeds on iniquity.
29Condemnation is appropriate for mockers,
just as beatings are for the backs of fools.
Chapter 20
1Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights;
everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.
2A kingfs anger is like a lionfs roar;
anyone who angers him forfeits his life.
3Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
but every fool is quarrelsome.
4A lazy person doesnft plow in the proper season;
he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.
5The intentions of a personfs heart are deep waters,
but a discerning person reveals them.
6Many claim gIfm a loyal person!h
but who can find someone who truly is?
7The righteous person lives a life of integrity;
happy are his children who follow him!
8A king sits on a throne of justice,
sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.
9Who can say, gMy intentions are pure;
I am clean from any sin?h
10False weights and measures\
the Lord surely detests both of them.
11Even a child is known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure and right.
12The ear that hears and the eye that sees\
the Lord surely made them both.
13Do not love sleep or youfll become poor,
keep your eyes open and youfll have plenty of food.
14gThis is bad, bad,h says whoever is buying\
but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.
15There is an abundance of gold and precious stones,
but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.
17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but later his mouth will be full of gravel.
18Make plans by seeking advice;
make war by obtaining guidance.
19Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;
so donft get involved with someone who talks too much.
20Whoever curses his father or mother,
his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.
21An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning
will not be blessed at the end.
22Donft say gIfll avenge that wrong!h
Wait on the Lord and he will deliver you.
23The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not good.
24A manfs steps are directed by the Lord;
how then can anyone understand his own way?
25It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, gThis is sacred,h
and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.
26A wise king sifts the wicked,
crushing them with the threshing wheel.
27A personfs spirit is the lamp of the Lord;
it searches throughout onefs innermost being.
28Gracious love and truth preserve a king;
through love his throne is made secure.
29The glory of young men is their strength;
and the splendor of elders is their gray hair.
30Blows that wound clean away evil;
such beatings cleanse the innermost being.
Chapter 21
1A kingfs heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.
2Every manfs lifestyle is proper in his own view,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4A proud attitude, accompanied by a haughty look, is sin; 
they reveal wicked people.
5Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity,
but all who are hasty will surely become poor.
6A fortune gained by deceit
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
7Devastation caused by the wicked will drag them away
because they refuse to do what is just.
8The conduct of a guilty man is perverse,
but the behavior of the pure is upright.
9Itfs better to live in a corner on the roof
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10The soul of the wicked craves evil;
he extends no mercy to his neighbor.
11When a mocker is punished, the fool gains wisdom;
but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12The righteous God considers the house of the wicked,
bringing the wicked to ruin.
13Whoever refuses to hear the cry of the poor
will also cry himself, but he wonft be answered.
14Privately given gifts pacify wrath,
and payments made secretly appease great anger.
15Administering justice brings joy to the righteous,
but terror to those who practice iniquity.
16Whoever wanders from the path of understanding
will end up where the dead are gathered.
17Pleasure lovers become poor;
loving wine and oil doesnft bring riches.
18The wicked are ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19Itfs better to live in the wilderness
than to live with a contentious and irritable woman.
20Precious treasures and oil are found where the wise live,
but a foolish man devours them.
21Whoever pursues righteousness and gracious love
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man attacks the city of the mighty,
bringing down the fortress in which they trust.
23Whoever watches his mouth and tongue
keeps himself from trouble.
24The names gProud,h gArrogant,h and gMockerh
fit whoever acts with presumptuous conceit.
25What the lazy person craves will kill him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26All day long he continues to crave,
while the righteous person gives without holding back.
27What the wicked person sacrifices is detestable\
how much more when he offers it with vile motives!
28A false witness will perish,
but whoever listens will testify successfully.
29The wicked man puts up a bold appearance,
but the upright thinks about what he is doing.
30No wisdom, insight, or counsel
can prevail against the Lord.
31The horse may be prepared for the day of battle,
but to the Lord goes the victory.
Chapter 22
1A good reputation is more desirable than great wealth,
and favorable acceptance more than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor have this in common\
the Lord created both of them.
3The prudent person sees trouble ahead and hides,
but the naive continue on and suffer the consequences.
4The reward of humility is the fear of the Lord,
along with wealth, honor, and life.
5Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse person,
but whoever is cautious stays far away from them.
6Train a child in the way appropriate for him,
and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.
7The wealthy rule over the poor,
and anyone who borrows is a slave to the lender.
8Whoever sows wickedness reaps trouble,
and the anger he uses for a weapon will be destroyed.
9Whoever is generous will be blessed,
for he shares his food with the poor.
10Throw out the mocker and strife departs, too;
furthermore, quarrels and discord will end.
11Whoever loves purity and gracious speech
will gain the king as his friend.
12The Lord watches over anyone with knowledge,
but he ruins the plans of the unfaithful.
13The lazy person says, gThere is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the street!h
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
a man experiencing the Lordfs wrath will fall into it.
15A childfs heart has a tendency to do wrong,
but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.
16Whoever oppresses the poor to enrich himself
and whoever gives gifts to the wealthy
will yield only loss.
17Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my teaching,
18for it is pleasant when you treasure them within you
and have them ready on your lips.
19As a result, your trust will be in the Lord,
thatfs why Ifm teaching you today, even you.
20Have I not written for you 30 sayings
containing counsel and knowledge,
21to teach you true and reliable advice,
so you can give truthful answers to those who sent you?
22Donft rob the poor person because he is poor,
and donft crush the helpless in court,
23for the Lord will plead their case
and ruin the lives of those who ruin them.
24Donft make friends with a hot-tempered man,
and do not associate with someone who is easily angered,
25or you may learn his ways
and find yourself caught in a trap.
26Donft be one of those who make promises
to guarantee loans for debts.
27If you donft have the ability to pay,
why should your very bed be taken from under you?
28Donft remove an ancient boundary stone
that was set up by your ancestors.
29Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will work for kings, not unimportant people.
Chapter 23
1Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully think about what is before you.
2Put a knife to your own throat,
if you have a big appetite.
3Donft crave his delicacies,
because the meal is deceptive.
4Donft exhaust yourself acquiring wealth;
be smart enough to stop.
5When you fix your gaze on it, itfs gone,
for it sprouts wings for itself
and flies to the sky like an eagle.
6Donft consume food provided by a miserly person,
and donft desire his delicacies,
7for as he thinks within himself, so he is.
 gEat and drink!h hefll say to you,
but his heart wonft be with you.
8Youfll vomit up what little youfve eaten,
and your compliments will have been wasted.
9Donft speak when a fool is listening,
because hefll despise your wise words.
10Donft move ancient boundaries
or invade fields belonging to orphans;
11for strong is their Redeemer
who will take up their case against you.
12Learn diligently,
and listen to words of knowledge.
13Donft withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with a rod,
he wonft die.
14Punish him with a rod,
and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.
15My son, if your heart is wise,
my own heart will greatly rejoice.
16My innermost being will be glad
when your lips speak what is right.
17Never let yourself envy sinners;
instead, remain in fear of the Lord every day,
18for there is surely a future life,
and what you hope for will not be cut off.
19Listen, my son, and be wise,
commit yourself to live Godfs way.
20Donft associate with heavy drinkers
or dine with gluttons,
21because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor,
and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22Listen to the one who fathered you,
and donft despise your mother in her old age.
23Purchase truth, but donft sell it;
store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice;
whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him.
25Let your father and mother rejoice;
make the one who gave birth to you happy.
26Give me your heart, my son,
and keep your eyes fixed on my ways,
27because a prostitute is a deep pit,
and the adulterous woman a narrow well.
28Surely she lies in wait like a bandit,
increasing those who are faithless among mankind.
29Who has woe? Who has grief?
Who has contention? Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who linger over their wine,
who consume mixed drinks.
31Donft stare into red wine,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
32Eventually it will bite like a snake
and sting like a serpent.
33Your eyes will see strange things,
and with slurred words youfll speak what you really believe.
34You will be like someone who lies down in the sea,
or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast.
35gThey struck me,h you will say,
gbut I never felt it.
They beat me,
but I never knew it
When will I wake up?
I want another drink.h
Chapter 24
1Donft be envious of wicked men
or wish you were with them,
2because they plan violence,
and they are always talking about trouble.
3By wisdom a house is built;
it is made secure through understanding.
4By knowledge its rooms are furnished
with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods.
5A wise man is strong,
and a knowledgeable man grows in strength.
6For through wise counsel you will wage your war,
and victory lies in an abundance of advisors.
7Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool;
he has nothing to say in court.
8The person who plans on doing evil
will be called a schemer.
9To devise folly is sin,
and people detest a scoffer.
10If you grow weary when times are troubled,
your strength is limited.
11Rescue those who are being led away to death,
and save those who stumble toward slaughter.
12If you say, gLook here, we didnft know about this,h
doesnft God, who examines motives, discern it?
Doesnft the one who guards your soul
know about it?
Wonft he repay each person
according to what he has done?
13My son, eat honey, because itfs good for you;
indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are sweet to your taste;
14Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future for you,
and what you hope for wonft be cut short.
15Donft lie in wait like an outlaw
to attack where the righteous live;
16for though a righteous man falls seven times,
he will rise again,
but the wicked stumble into calamity.
17Donft rejoice when your enemy falls;
donft let yourself be glad when he stumbles.
18Otherwise the Lord will observe and disapprove,
and he will turn his anger away from him.
19Donft be anxious about those who practice evil,
and donft be envious of the wicked.
20For the wicked man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21My son, fear both the Lord and the king,
and donft keep company with rebels.
22They will be destroyed suddenly,
and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?
23Here are some more proverbs from wise people:
It isnft good to show partiality in judgment.
24Whoever says to the wicked, gYoufre in the right,h
will be cursed by people and hated by nations.
25But as for people who rebuke the wicked;
a good blessing will fall upon them.
26A kiss on the lips\
thatfs what someone who gives an honest answer deserves.
27First do your outside work,
preparing your land for yourself.
After that, build your house.
28Donft testify against your neighbor without a cause,
and donft lie when you speak.
29Donft say, gIfll do to him like he did to me,
Ifll be sure to pay him back for what he did.h
30I went by the field belonging to a lazy man,
by a vineyard belonging to a senseless person.
31There it was, overgrown with thistles,
the ground covered with thorns,
its stone wall collapsed.
32As I observed, I thought about it;
I watched, and learned a lesson:
33gA little sleep! A little slumber!
A little folding of my hands to rest!h
34Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber,
your need like an armed bandit.
Chapter 25
1Here are some more proverbs by Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
3Just as the heavens are high
and earth is deep,
so the heart of a king is unfathomable.
4Purge the dross from the silver,
and material for a vessel comes forth for the silversmith.
5Purge the wicked from the kingfs presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6Donft magnify yourself in the presence of a king,
and donft pretend to be in the company of famous men,
7for it is better that it be told you, gCome up here,h
than for you to be placed lower
in the presence of an official.
What youfve seen with your own eyes,
8donft be in a hurry to argue in court.
Otherwise, what will you do later on
when your neighbor humiliates you?
9Instead, take up the matter with your neighbor,
and donft betray another personfs confidence.
10Otherwise, anyone who hears will make you ashamed,
and your bad reputation will never leave you.
11Like golden apples set in silver
is a word spoken at the right time.
12Like a gold earring and a necklace of pure gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
13Like cold snow during harvest time
is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes his masters.
14Like clouds and winds without rain
is the man who brags
about gifts he never gave.
15Through patience a ruler may be persuaded;
a gentle word can break a bone.
16If you find some honey,
eat only what you need.
Take too much,
and youfll vomit.
17Seldom set foot in your neighborfs home;
otherwise, hefll grow weary and hate you.
18A club, a sword, and a sharp arrow\
thatfs what a man is who lies about his neighbor.
19A bad tooth and an unsteady foot\
thatfs what confidence in an unreliable man is like
in a time of trouble.
20Taking your coat off when itfs cold
or pouring vinegar on soda\
thatfs what singing songs does to a heavy heart.
21If your enemy hungers, give him food to eat;
and if he thirsts, give him water to drink.
22For youfll be piling burning coals of shame on his head
and the Lord will reward you.
23The north wind brings rain,
and a backbiting tongue an angry look.
24Itfs better to live in a corner on the roof
than in a house with a contentious woman.
25Cold water to someone who is thirsty\
thatfs what good news from a distant land is.
26A muddied spring or a polluted well\
thatfs what a righteous person is
who compromises with the wicked.
27To eat too much honey isnft good;
and neither is it honorable to seek onefs own glory.
28Like a city with breached walls
is a man without self-control.
Chapter 26
1Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time,
so honor is inappropriate for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow
or a swallow in flight,
a curse without cause will not alight.
3A whip is for the horses,
a bridle is for the donkey,
a rod is for the back of fools.
4Donft answer a fool according to his foolishness,
or you will be just like him.
5Answer a fool according to his foolishness,
or he will think himself to be wise.
6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7Useless legs to the lame\
thatfs what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
8Tying a stone to a sling\
thatfs what giving honor to a fool is.
9A thorn in the hand of a drunkard\
thatfs what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
10An archer who shoots at anyone\
is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.
11A dog that returns to its vomit
is like a fool who reverts to his folly.
12Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?
Therefs more hope for a fool than for him.
13The lazy person claims, gThere is a lion in the road!
Therefs a lion in the streets!h
14The door turns on its hinges\
as does the lazy person on his bed.
15The lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
but hefs too tired to bring it to his mouth again.
16The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion
than seven men who can give an appropriate response.
17Picking up a dog by the ears\
thatfs what someone is like who meddles in anotherfs fight.
18Like the maniac who shoots
fiery darts and deadly arrows\
19thatfs what someone is like who lies to his neighbor
and then says, gI was joking, wasnft I?h
20Without wood, the fire goes out.
Without a gossip, contention stops.
21Charcoal is to hot coals
as wood is to fire;
so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.
22The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels;
they sink down deep within.
23A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver\
thatfs what smooth lips with a wicked heart are.
24Someone who hates hides behind his words,
harboring deceit within himself.
25Though he speaks graciously, donft believe him,
for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
26Though malice disguises itself with deception,
its evil will be exposed publicly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and the stone will come back
on whoever starts it rolling.
28A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Chapter 27
1Never brag about the day to come,
because you donft know what it might bring.
2Let someone else praise you,
not your own mouth;
a stranger, and never your own lips.
3Rocks are heavy,
and sand is weighty,
but a foolfs provocation outweighs them both.
4Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms
but who can stand up to jealousy?
5An open rebuke is better
than unspoken love.
6Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy,
but kisses from an enemy speak volumes.
7The person who is full spurns honey,
but to a hungry person even the bitter seems sweet.
8Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who wanders away from his home.
9Ointments and perfume encourage the heart;
in a similar way, a friendfs advice is sweet to the soul.
10Never abandon your friend nor your fatherfs friend,
and donft go to your brotherfs house in times of trouble.
A neighbor who is near is better
than a brother who lives far away.
11Be wise, my son, and make me happy,
so I can reply to anyone who insults me.
12Those who are prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the na?ve continue on and suffer the consequences.
13Take the coat of anyone who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if he cosigns for an immoral woman.
14A friendfs loud blessing early in the morning
will be thought of as a curse.
15A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike.
16Trying to keep her in check is like stopping a wind storm
or grabbing oil with your right hand.
17Iron sharpens iron;
so a man sharpens a friendfs character.
18Whoever nurtures the fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever obeys his master will be honored.
19Just as water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.
20Sheol and Abaddon are never satiated,
and neither are human eyes.
21As the crucible tests silver,
and the furnace assays gold;
so praise received tests a man.
22Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle
as someone might crush grain,
his stupidity still wonft leave him.
23Keep well informed of the condition of your flocks
and pay attention to your herds,
24because riches donft endure forever,
and crowns donft last from one generation to the next.
25When the grass disappears,
and new growth appears,
the mountain spices will be harvested,
26the lambs will supply your clothing,
and your goats the price of a field.
27You will have enough goatfs milk to drink
and to supply your household needs,
as well as sustenance for your servant girls.
Chapter 28
1The wicked flee, though no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold like a lion.
2When a land transgresses,
it gains a succession of leaders,
but with an understanding and knowledgeable man,
its stability endures.
3A poor man who oppresses the weak
is like a rainstorm that destroys all the crops.
4Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked,
but whoever keeps it fights them.
5Evil men donft understand justice,
but whoever seeks the Lord understands it all.
6Itfs better to be poor and live a blameless life
than to be rich but crooked in onefs lifestyle.
7Whoever keeps the Law is a discerning son,
but whoever keeps company with gluttons
brings shame to his father.
8Whoever gains wealth by charging exorbitant interest
collects it for someone who is kind to the poor.
9If someone quits listening to the Law
even his prayer is detestable.
10Whoever misleads the upright along an evil way
will himself fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit what is good.
11The rich man may be wise in his own opinion;
but a discerning, poor man sees through him.
12When the righteous are victorious, there is great glory,
but when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.
13Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed,
but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.
14Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
15A roaring lion and a charging bear\
thatfs what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
16A Commander-in-Chief who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding,
but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.
17A guilty man tormented by bloodshed
will be a lifelong fugitive;
let no one support him.
18Whoever lives blamelessly will be delivered,
but whoever is perverted will fall without warning.
19Whoever works his farmland will have abundant food,
but whoever chases fantasies will become very poor.
20The faithful man will prosper with blessings,
but whoever is in a hurry to get rich
will not escape punishment.
21To show partiality isnft good,
yet for a piece of bread the valiant will transgress.
22The miser is in a hurry to get wealthy,
but he isnft aware that poverty will catch up with him.
23Whoever rebukes a man will later on find more favor
than someone who flatters with his words.
24Whoever steals from his father or mother
but claims, gItfs no sin,h
is a companion to someone who demolishes.
25An arrogant man stirs up dissension,
but anyone who trusts in the Lord prospers.
26Whoever trusts in himself is foolish,
but whoever lives wisely will be kept safe.
27Whoever gives to the poor will never lack,
but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty will be cursed.
28When the wicked rise to power, people hide themselves,
but when the wicked perish, the righteous increase.
Chapter 29
1After many rebukes, the stiff-necked man
will be broken incurably, without any warning.
2As the righteous grow powerful, people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, people groan.
3The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.
4A king brings stability to a land through justice,
but a man who takes bribes brings it to ruin.
5A strong man who flatters his neighbor
is setting a trap where he walks.
6An evil man is trapped by transgression,
but the righteous person sings and rejoices.
7The righteous person is concerned about the poor;
but the wicked donft understand what they need to know.
8Scornful men enflame a city,
but the wise defuse anger.
9When a wise man has a dispute with a fool,
the fool either rages or laughs without relief.
10Bloodthirsty men hate the innocent person,
but the upright show concern for his life.
11The fool vents all his feelings,
but the wise person keeps them to himself.
12When a ruler is listening to lies,
all of his officials tend to become wicked.
13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
the Lord gave them both eyes with which to see.
14When a king faithfully administers justice to the poor,
his throne will be established forever.
15The rod and rebuke bestow wisdom,
but an undisciplined child brings shame to his mother.
16As the wicked grow powerful, transgression increases,
but the righteous will observe their downfall.
17Correct your son and he will comfort you;
he will also delight your soul.
18Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint,
but those who obey the Law are happy.
19By mere words a servant will not be corrected;
even though he understands,
there will be no response.
20Do you see a man who speaks hastily?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21If you pamper a servant from his childhood,
later on hefll become ungrateful.
22An angry man stirs up arguments,
and a hot-tempered man causes many transgressions.
23A personfs pride will bring about his downfall,
but the humble in spirit will gain honor.
24A thieffs accomplice hates himself;
though testifying under oath, he reveals nothing.
25Fearing any human being is a trap,
but confiding in the Lord keeps anyone safe.
26Many seek a rulerfs favor,
but justice for a man comes from the Lord.
27The unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and whoever lives blamelessly is detestable to the wicked.
Chapter 30
1A discourse by the faithful collector.
This is what this valiant man declared to the God with me,
to the God with me, who then prevailed:
2Surely I am beyond the senselessness of any man;
I do not perceive things the way human beings do.
3I never acquired wisdom,
but I know what the Holy One knows.
4Who has ascended to heaven,
and then descended?
Who has collected the wind in his hands?
Who has wrapped up waters in a garment?
Who has established all the farthest points of the earth?
What is his name,
and what is his sonfs name?
Surely you know!
5Everything God says is pure;
he is a shield for those who take refuge in him.
6Donft add to his words,
or he will rebuke you,
and you will be shown to be a liar.
7God, I have asked you for two things\
donft refuse me before I die\
8Keep deception and lies far away from me,
and give me neither poverty nor wealth.
Feed me with food that I need for today,
9so that I donft become overfed and deny you by saying,
gWho is the Lord?h
or so that I donft become poor and steal,
and then misuse the name of my God.
10Donft lie about a servant to his master,
or that servant will curse you and you will pay for it.
11Some people curse their fathers
and wonft bless their mothers.
12Some people view themselves as pure,
but havenft been cleansed from their own filth.
13Some people\what an arrogant look they have!\
raise their eyebrows haughtily.
14Some people have swords for teeth
and knives for fangs
to devour the afflicted from the earth
and the needy from among mankind.
15The leech has two daughters:
gGiveh and gGiveh.
Three things will never be satisfied;
four will never say gEnoughh\
16The afterlife, the barren womb,
earth that still demands water,
and fire\they never say, gEnoughh.
17The eye that mocks a father
and looks with a disobedient attitude at a mother\
the valley ravens will pluck it out;
and vultures will eat it.
18Three things cause wonder for me;
four are beyond my understanding:
19The way an eagle flies in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
20This is what an immoral woman is like:
she eats, wipes her mouth, then says
gIfve done nothing wrong.h
21Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot remain steady:
22Under a slave when he becomes a king,
a fool when he is overfed,
23an unloved woman when she finds a husband,
and a servant girl who inherits from her mistress.
24Four things on earth are small,
but they are very, very wise:
25Ants arenft a strong species,
yet they prepare their food in the summer.
26The rock badgers arenft a strong species either,
yet they build their dens in the rocks.
27Locusts have no king,
but they all swarm in ranks.
28Spiders can be caught by the hand,
yet theyfre found in kingsf palaces.
29Three things are stately in procession,
four which are stately in their gait:
30The lion, mighty among the beasts,
retreats before nothing.
31The strutting rooster, as well as the goat,
and a king with his army.
32If youfve foolishly exalted yourself
or if youfve plotted evil,
put your hand over your mouth.
33Just as whipping milk produces butter,
and twisting the nose causes bleeding,
so also stirring up anger produces contention.
Chapter 31
1The words of King Lemuel\
a pronouncement with which his mother encouraged him.
2No, my son!
No, my son whom I conceived!
No, my son to whom I gave birth!
3Never devote all your energy to sex,
or dedicate your life to destroying kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel\
Not for kings to drink wine
or for rulers to desire liquor.
5Otherwise, they may drink and forget what has been ordained,
perverting justice for all the oppressed.
6Give liquor to someone who is perishing,
and wine to someone who is deeply depressed.
7Let him drink, forget his poverty,
and remember his troubles no more.
8Speak for those who cannot speak;
seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction.
9Speak up, judge righteously,
and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
10Who can find a capable wife?
Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.
11Her husband has full confidence in her;
as a result, he lacks nothing of value.
12She will bring good to him\never evil\
every day of her life.
13She seeks out wool and flax,
working with eager hands.
14She is like a seagoing ship
that brings her food from far away.
15She rises while it is still night,
preparing meals for her family
and providing for her women servants.
16She evaluates a field and purchases it;
from the proceeds she plants a vineyard.
17She clothes herself with fortitude,
and fortifies her arms with strength.
18She is confident that her profits are sufficient.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She works with her own hands on her clothes\
her hands work the sewing spindle.
20She reaches out to the poor,
opening her hands to those in need.
21She is unafraid of winterfs effect on her household,
because all of them are warmly clothed.
22She creates her own bedding,
using fine linen and violet cloth.
23Her husband is well known;
he sits among the leaders of the land.
24She designs and sells linen garments,
supplying accessories to clothiers.
25Strength and dignity are her garments;
she smiles about the future.
26She speaks wisely,
teaching with gracious love.
27She looks discretely to the affairs of her household,
and she is never lazy.
28Her children stand up and encourage her,
as does her husband, who praises her:
29gMany women have done wonderful things,h he says,
gbut you surpass all of them!h
30Charm is deceitful and beauty fades;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31Reward her for her work\
let her actions result in public praise.
Ecclesiastes
Chapter 1
1The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2gUtterly pointless,h
says the Teacher.
gAbsolutely pointless;
everything is pointless.h
3What does a man gain
from all of the work that he undertakes on earth?
4A generation goes,
a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5The sun rises,
the sun sets,
then rushes back to where it arose.
6The wind blows continually\ southward,
then northward, constantly circulating\
and the wind comes back again in its courses.
7All the rivers flow toward the sea,
but the sea is never full;
then rivers return to the headwaters where they began.
8Everything is wearisome,
more than man is able to express.
The eye is never satisfied by seeing,
nor the ear by hearing.
9Whatever has happened, will happen again;
whatever has been done, will be done again.
There is nothing new on earth.
10Does anything exist about which someone might say,
gLook at this! Is this new?h
It happened ages ago;
it existed before we did.
11No one remembers those in the past,
nor will they be remembered
by those who come after them.
12I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life. 14I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless\like chasing after the wind.
15What is crooked cannot be made straight;
what is not there cannot be counted.
16I told myself, gI have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem\yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.h 17So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.
18For with much wisdom there is much sorrow;
the more someone adds to knowledge,
the more someone adds to grief.
Chapter 2
1I told myself, gI will test you with pleasure, so enjoy yourself.h But this was pointless. 2gSenseless,h said I concerning laughter and pleasure, gHow practical is this?h 3I decided to indulge in wine, while still remaining committed to wisdom. I also tried to indulge in foolishness, just enough to determine whether it was good for human beings under heaven given the short time of their lives.
4With respect to my extravagant works, I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5I constructed gardens and orchards for myself, and within them I planted all kinds of fruit trees. 6I built for myself water reservoirs to irrigate forests that produce trees.
7I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks\more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. 8I also accumulated silver, gold, and the wealth of kings and their kingdoms. I gathered around me both male and female singers, along with what delights a man\all sorts of mistresses.
9So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise. 10Whenever I wanted something I had seen, I never refused that desire. Instead, I enjoyed everything I did, and this became the reward in what I had undertaken. 11Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete\and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.
12Next I turned to examine wisdom, insanity, and foolishness, because what can a person do who succeeds the king except what has already been accomplished? 13I concluded that wisdom is more useful than foolishness, just as light is more useful than darkness. 14The wise use their eyes, but the fool walks in darkness. I also perceived that the same outcome affects them all.
15Then I told myself, gWhatever happens to the fool will happen also to me. Therefore whatfs the point in being so wise?h And I told myself that this also is pointless. 16For neither the wise nor the fool will be long remembered, since in days to come everything will be forgotten. The wise man dies the same way as the fool, does he not? 17So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble\itfs all pointless, like chasing after the wind.
18Then I despised everything I had worked for on earth, that is, the things that I will leave to the person who will succeed me. 19And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless. 20So I came to be in despair about everything I had accomplished on earth. 21For sometimes people who strive to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and equity leave everything as an inheritance to a person who never worked for it. This, too, is pointless and greatly troublesome.
22For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth? 23Indeed, all of his days are filled with sorrow, and his struggles bring grief. In fact, his mind remains restless throughout the night. This is pointless, too!
24The only worthwhile thing for a human being is to eat, drink, and enjoy lifefs goodness that he finds in what he accomplishes. This, I observed, is also from the hand of God himself, 25for who can eat or enjoy life apart from him? 26After all, to the person who is good in Godfs sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.
Chapter 3
1There is a season for everything,
and a time for every event under heaven:
2a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;
3a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build up;
4a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6a time to search, and a time to give up searching;
a time to keep, and a time to discard;
7a time to tear, and a time to mend;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak;
8a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
9What benefit does the worker gain from what he undertakes? 10I have observed the burdens placed by God on human beings in order to perfect them. 11He made everything appropriate in its time. He also placed eternity within them\yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end.
12I have concluded that the only worthwhile thing for them is to take pleasure in doing good in life; 13moreover, every person should eat, drink, and enjoy the benefits of everything that he undertakes, since it is a gift from God.
14I have concluded that everything that God undertakes will last for eternity\nothing can be added to it nor taken away from it\and that God acts this way so that people will fear him. 15That which was, now is; and that which will be, already is; and God examines what has already taken place.
16I also examined on earth:
where the halls of justice were supposed to be,
there was lawlessness;
and where the righteous were supposed to be,
there was lawlessness.
17I told myself, gGod will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is a time set to judge every event and every work.h
18gAs for human beings,h I told myself, gGod puts them to the test, that they might see themselves as mere animals.h 19For what happens to people also happens to animals\a single event happens to them: just as someone dies, so does the other. In fact, they all breathe the same way, so that a human being has no superiority over an animal. All of this is pointless. 20All of them go to one place: all of them originate from dust, and all of them return to dust.
21Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends to the earth? 22I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?
Chapter 4
1Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth.
Look at the tears of the oppressed\
there is no one to comfort them.
Power is on the side of their oppressors;
so they have no comforters.
2So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive. 3Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasnft experienced evil on earth. 4Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind. 5The fool crosses his arms and starves himself. 6Itfs better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.
7Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth: 8Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. gSo for whom do I work,h he asks, gand deprive myself of pleasure?h This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. 10If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend\but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up. 11Again, if two lie close together, they will keep warm, but how can only one stay warm? 12If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.
13A poor but wise youth is better
than an old but foolish king
who will no longer accept correction.
14The former can come out of prison to reign,
while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.
15I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the kingfs place. 16There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.
Chapter 5
1Watch your step whenever you visit Godfs house, and come more ready to listen than to offer a foolfs sacrifice, since fools never think theyfre doing evil.
2Donft be impulsive with your mouth
nor be in a hurry to talk in Godfs presence.
Since God is in heaven
and youfre on earth,
keep your speech short.
3Too many worries lead to nightmares,
and a fool is known from talking too much.
4When you make a promise to God, donft fail to keep it, since he isnft pleased with fools. Keep what you promise\ 5itfs better that you donft promise than that you do promise and not follow through. 6Never let your mouth cause you to sin and donft proclaim in the presence of the angel, gMy promise was a mistake,h for why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy what youfve undertaken? 7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God.
8Donft be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them. 9Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field.
10Whoever loves money will never have enough money.
Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance.
This also is pointless.
11When possessions increase,
so does the number of consumers;
therefore what good are they to their owners,
except to look at them?
12Sweet is the sleep of a working man,
whether he eats a little or a lot,
but the excess wealth of the rich
will not allow him to rest.
13I have observed a painful tragedy on earth:
Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him,
14and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances.
Then a son is born,
but there is nothing left for him.
15Just as he came naked from his motherfs womb,
he will leave as naked as he came;
he will receive no profit from his efforts\
he cannot carry away even a handful.
16This is also a painful tragedy:
However a person comes, he also departs;
so what does he gain as he labors after the wind?
17Furthermore, all his days he lives in darkness
with great sorrow, anger, and affliction.
18Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a personfs work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment. 19Furthermore, for every person to whom God has given wealth, riches, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept this allotment, and to rejoice in his work\this is a gift from God. 20For he will not brood much over the days of his life, since God will keep him occupied with the joys of his heart.
Chapter 6
1There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings: 2a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heartfs desires\but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.
3A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long\but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesnft receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is, 4because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness. 5Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other. 6Even if he lives a thousand years twice over without experiencing the best\arenft all of them going to the same place?
7Every person works for his own self-interests,
but his desires remain unsatisfied.
8For what advantage has the wise person over the fool?
What advantage does the poor man have
in knowing how to face life?
9It is better to focus on what you can see
than to meander after your self-interest;
this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.
10Whatever exists has been named already;
people know what it means to be human\
and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.
11Because many words lead to pointlessness,
how do people benefit from this?
12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?
Chapter 7
1A good name exceeds the value of fine perfume,
and the day of someonefs death exceeds the value of the day of his birth.
2Itfs better to attend a funeral
than to attend a banquet,
for everyone dies eventually,
and the living will take this to heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter,
because the heart is made better through trouble.
4For the wise person thinks carefully when in mourning,
but fools focus their thoughts on pleasure.
5It is better to listen to a wise personfs rebuke
than to listen to the praise of fools.
6For as thorns burn to heat a pot,
so also is the laughter of the fool\
even this is pointless.
7Unjust gain makes the wise foolish,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8The conclusion of something is better than its beginning,
and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one.
9Never be in a hurry to become internally angry,
since anger settles down in the lap of fools.
10Never ask gWhy does the past seem so much better than now?h
because this question does not come from wisdom.
11Wise use of possessions is good;
it brings benefit to the living.
12Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does,
but itfs better to know that wisdom gives life,
to those who have mastered it.
13Consider the work of God:
Who is able to straighten
what he has bent?
14When times are good, be joyful;
when times are bad, consider this:
God made the one as well as the other,
so people wonft seek anything outside of his best.
15I have seen it all during my pointless life:
both a righteous person who dies
while he is righteous,
and a wicked person who lives to an old age,
while remaining wicked.
16Do not be overly righteous,
nor be overly wise.
Why be self-destructive?
17Do not excel at wickedness,
nor be a fool.
Why die before your time?
18It is good for you to grab hold of this and not let go,
because whoever fears God will escape
all of these extremes.
19Wisdom given as strength to a wise person
is better than having ten powerful men in the city.
20For there is not a single righteous man on earth
who practices good and does not sin.
21Donft listen to everything that is spoken\
you may hear your servant cursing you,
22since you also know how often
you have cursed others.
23I used my wisdom to test all of this.
I said, gI want to be wise,h
but it was beyond me.
24Whatever it is,
itfs far off and most profound.
Who can attain it?
25I committed myself to understand,
to learn, to search for wisdom and explanations,
and to understand both the evil that is foolishness
and the stupidity that is delusion.
26I discovered for myself a bitterness
that surpasses that of death:
the woman whose heart is full of snares and nets,
whose hands are chains of bondage.
Whoever pleases God will escape from her,
but the transgressor will be trapped by her.
27gLook at this,h says the Teacher. gLinking one thing to another, I reached this conclusion:
28Among the things I seek but have not found:
one man among a thousand I did find,
but I have not found one woman to be wise among all these.
29I have discovered only this:
God made human beings for righteousness,
but they seek many alternatives.h
Chapter 8
1Who is really wise?
Who knows how to interpret this saying:
gA personfs wisdom improves his appearance,
softening a harsh countenance.h
2I advise doing what the king says, especially regarding an oath to God. 3Donft be in a hurry to leave him, and donft persist in evil, for he does whatever he pleases. 4Since a kingfs command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, gWhat are you doing?h
5Whoever obeys his commands will not experience harm, and the wise in heart will discern both the appropriate time and response. 6Indeed, there is an appropriate time and a response for every circumstance, since human misery weighs heavily upon him. 7For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about? 8Just as no human being has control over the wind to restrain it, so also no human being has control over the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged during war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment. 10So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place, but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless.
11Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind becomes determined to commit evil. 12Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence. 13But things will not go well for the wicked person: he will not lengthen his life like a shadow, since he has no fear before God.
14Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless. 15So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth.
16When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth\even going without sleep day and night\ 17I saw all of it as the activity of God. Frankly, a human being cannot understand what happens on earth, because however hard a man works to discover it, he will not find out. Despite what he thinks he knows, he will not be able to figure it out.
Chapter 9
1In light of all of this, I committed myself to explain it this way: the righteous and the wise, along with everything they do, are in the hands of God. Furthermore, as to love and hate, no human being knows everything concerning them. 2Everyone shares the same experience: a single event affects the righteous, the wicked, the good, the clean, the unclean, whoever sacrifices, and whoever does not sacrifice.
As it is with the good person,
so also it is with the sinner;
as it is with someone who takes an oath,
so also it is with someone who fears taking an oath.
3There is a tragedy that infects everything that happens on earth: a common event happens to everyone. In fact, the hearts of human beings are full of evil. Madness remains in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead. 4gWhile someone is among the living, hope remains,h because git is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion.h
5At least the living know they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they no longer have a reward,
since memory about them has been forgotten.
6Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy
have been long lost.
Never again will they have a part
in what happens on earth.
7Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions. 8Always keep your garments white, and donft fail to anoint your head. 9Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth. 10Whatever the activity in which you engage, do it with all your ability, because there is no work, no planning, no learning, and no wisdom in the next world where youfre going.
11I considered and observed on earth the following:
The race doesnft go to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
nor food to the wise,
nor wealth to the smart,
nor recognition to the skilled.
Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.
12In addition, no human being knows his time:
Like fish captured in a cruel net,
or as birds caught in a snare,
so also are human beings caught by bad timing
that surprises them.
13I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me: 14There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it. 15Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.
16So I concluded, gWisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected\his words are never heard.h
17The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard
rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good.
Chapter 10
1As dead flies cause the perfumerfs ointment to stink,
so also does a little foolishness to onefs reputation of wisdom and honor.
2A wise manfs heart tends toward his right,
but a foolfs heart tends toward his left.
3Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense;
he proclaims to everyone that hefs a fool.
4If your overseer gets angry at you, donft resign,
because calmness pacifies great offenses.
5Herefs another tragedy that Ifve observed on earth,
a kind of error that comes from an overseer:
6Foolishness is given great honor,
while the prosperous sit in lowly places.
7And I have observed servants riding on horses,
while princes walk on the ground like servants.
8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall
may suffer a snake bite.
9Someone who quarries stone might be injured;
someone splitting logs can fall into danger.
10If someonefs ax is blunt\the edge isnft sharpened\
then more strength will be needed.
Putting wisdom to work will bring success.
11If a serpent strikes despite being charmed,
therefs no point in being a snake charmer.
12The words spoken by the wise are gracious,
but the lips of a fool will devour him.
13He begins his speech with foolishness,
and concludes it with evil madness.
14The fool overflows with words,
and no one can predict what will happen.
As to what will happen after him,
who can explain it?
15The work of a fool so wears him out
that he canft even find his way to town.
16Woe to the land whose king is a youth
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth,
whose princes feast at the right time,
for strength, and not to become drunk.
18Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates,
and a house leaks because of idleness.
19Festivals are for laughter,
wine makes life pleasant,
and money speaks to everything.
20Do not curse the king,
even in your thoughts.
Do not curse the rich,
even in your bedroom.
For a bird will fly by and tell what you say,
or something with wings may talk about it.
Chapter 11
1Spread your bread on the water\
after a while you will find it.
2Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts,
because you donft know what disaster might befall the land.
3If the clouds are full of rain,
they will pour out on the earth;
if a tree falls toward the south or the north,
wherever it falls, there it will lay.
4Whoever keeps staring at the wind wonft sow;
whoever daydreams wonft reap.
5Just as you do not understand the way of the spirit
in the womb of a pregnant mother,
so also you do not know
what God is doing in everything he makes.
6Sow your seed in the morning,
and donft stop working until evening,
since you donft know which of your endeavors will do well,
whether this one or that,
or even if both will do equally well.
7How sweet is the daylight, and how pleasant it is for someonefs eyes to behold the sunshine! 8Even if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come\all of which are pointless. 9So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything. 10Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life are pointless.
Chapter 12
1So remember your Creator during your youth!
Otherwise, troublesome days will come
and years will creep up on you when youfll say,
gI find no pleasure in them,h
2Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark,
or when clouds fail to return after the rain\
3when that day comes, the palace guards will tremble,
strong men will stoop down,
women grinders will cease because they are few,
and the sight of those who peer through the lattice will grow dim.
4The doors to the street will be shut
when the sound of grinding decreases,
when one wakes up at the song of a bird,
and all of the singing women are silenced.
5At that time they will fear climbing heights
and dangers along the road
while the almond tree will blossom,
and the grasshopper is weighed down.
Desire will cease,
because the person goes to his eternal home,
and mourners will gather in the marketplace.
6When the silver cord is severed,
the golden vessel is broken,
the pitcher is shattered at the fountain,
and the wheel is broken at the cistern,
7then manfs dust will go back to the earth,
returning to what it was,
and the spirit will return to the God who gave it.
8gUtterly pointless,h says the Teacher.
gEverything is pointless.h
9Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.
11Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd. 12So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body.
13Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard:
Fear God and obey his commandments,
for this is what it means to be human.
14For God will judge every deed,
along with every secret,
whether good or evil.
Song of Songs
Chapter 1
1The Most Beautiful Song by Solomon.
2Let him kiss me over and over again!
Your love is better than wine.
3The fragrance of your perfumed oil is wonderful.
Your name is perfume poured out.
Therefore the young women love you.
4Take me with you! Letfs run away!
Let the king bring me into his private chambers.
The daughters of Jerusalem will rejoice and be happy for you.
We will value your love more than wine.
They love you appropriately.
5The daughters of Jerusalem, Ifm dark and lovely
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
6Donft stare at me because Ifm dark;
the sun has tanned me.
My motherfs sons were angry with me.
They made me the caretaker of the vineyards,
but I didnft take care of my own vineyard.
	7Tell me, you whom I love,
where do you graze your flock?
Where do you make your flock lie down at noon?
Why should I be considered a veiled woman
beside the flocks of your companions?
8If you donft know, most beautiful of women,
go out after the flock and graze your young goats beside the shepherdfs tents.
9My darling, I compare you to a mare
among Pharaohfs chariots.
10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
your neck with strings of jewels.
11We will make ornaments of gold for you,
accented with silver.
12While the king was sitting at his table,
my perfume sent forth its fragrance.
13My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh
that lies between my breasts all night.
14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15Look at you! You are beautiful, my darling.
Look at you! You are so beautiful.
Your eyes are doves.
16Look at you! You are handsome, my beloved, truly lovely.
How lush is our couch.
17The beams of our house are cedar,
our rafters are pine.
Chapter 2
1Ifm a flower from Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.
2Like a lily among thorns,
so is my darling among the young women.
3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
so is my beloved among the young men.
In his shade I take delight and sit down,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4He has brought me to the banquet hall,
and his banner over me is love.
5Sustain me with raisin cakes,
refresh me with apples,
for Ifm weak with love.
6I wish that his left hand were under my head,
and that his right hand were embracing me!
7Swear to me, young women of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles or by the does of the field,
that you wonft awaken or arouse love
before its proper time!
	8The voice of my beloved!
Look! Hefs coming,
leaping over the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look, there he stands behind our wall,
looking through the windows,
gazing through the lattice.
10My beloved spoke to me:
gGet up, my darling, my beautiful one, and come on.
11Look! Winter is past.
The rain is over and gone.
12Blossoms have appeared in the land.
The season of songbirds has arrived,
and cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.
13The fig tree has produced its fruit,
the grapevines have blossomed and exude their fragrance.
gGet up, my darling, my beautiful one, and come on.
14My dove, in the hidden places of the rocks,
in the secret places of the cliffs,
show me your form, and let me hear your voice.
For your voice is pleasant,
and your shape is lovely.
15Catch the foxes for us,
the little foxes that destroy the vineyards,
our vineyards that are in bloom.h
16My beloved belongs to me and I belong to him.
He is the one who shepherds his flock among the lilies.
17Until the day breaks and the shadows flee,
turn around, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle or a young stag
on the rugged mountains.
Chapter 3
1Night after night on my bed,
I sought the one I love;
I sought him, but didnft find him.
2Ifll get up and go all around the city,
throughout the streets, and in the squares.
Ifll seek the one I love.
I sought him, but didnft find him.
3The watchmen who go all around the city found me.
I asked, gHave you seen the one I love?h
4I had just passed them
when I found the one I love.
I held him and wouldnft let him go
until I brought him to my motherfs house,
to the room of the one who conceived me.
5Swear to me, young women of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles or by the does of the field,
that you wonft awaken or arouse love
before its proper time!
6What is this coming up from the desert
like columns of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
from all the fragrant powders of the merchant?
7Look! Itfs Solomonfs sedan chair,
with 60 of the best soldiers in Israel surrounding it.
8All of them are wearing swords and are
experienced in battle.
Each has his sword on his thigh,
ready for the terror of the night.
9King Solomon made the sedan chair for himself
from the trees of Lebanon.
10He made its posts of silver,
its back of gold.
Its seat was purple,
and its interior was lovingly inlaid
by the young women of Jerusalem.
11Come out, young women of Zion,
and see King Solomon with the crown
with which his mother crowned him
on his wedding day\
his day of great delight.
Chapter 4
1Look at you! You are beautiful, my darling.
Look at you! You are so beautiful.
Your eyes behind your veil are doves,
your hair is like a flock of goats
coming down from Mt. Gilead.
2Your teeth are like a flock of sheep about to be sheared,
who are coming up from being washed.
All of them are twins,
not one has lost her young.
3Your lips are like a scarlet thread,
and your mouth is lovely.
Behind your veil,
your temple is like a slice of pomegranate.
4Your neck is like the tower of David,
built with rows of stones.
A thousand shields are hung upon it,
all the shields of the warriors.
5Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.
6Until the day breaks and the shadows flee,
Ifll go to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of frankincense.
7My darling, you are altogether beautiful
and there is no blemish in you.
	8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
come with me from Lebanon.
May you journey from the top of Amana,
from the tops of Senir and Hermon,
from the dens of lions,
from the mountain lairs of leopards.
9You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride.
You have made my heart beat faster
with one glance of your eyes,
with one strand of your necklace.
10How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride.
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume
than all kinds of spices.
11Your lips drip honey, my bride;
milk and honey are under your tongue.
The scent of your garments
is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12My sister, my bride, is a locked garden
a locked rock garden, a sealed up spring.
13Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates,
with choice fruit, henna with nard,
14nard and saffron,
calamus and cinnamon,
with all the trees of frankincense,
along with myrrh and aloes, and all the finest spices.
15You are a garden spring,
a well of fresh water,
streams flowing from Lebanon.
16Awake, north wind, and come, south wind.
Make my garden breathe out,
let its fragrance flow.
Let my beloved come into his garden,
and let him eat its choicest fruits.
Chapter 5
1Ifve come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
Ifve gathered my myrrh with my spices.
Ifve eaten my honeycomb with my honey.
Ifve drunk my wine with my milk.
	Eat, friends!
Drink and become drunk with love.
2I was asleep, but my heart was awake.
Therefs a sound! My beloved is knocking.
gOpen up for me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my perfect one.
For my head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.h
3gIfve taken off my clothes\
am I supposed to put them on again?
Ifve washed my feet\
am I supposed to get them dirty again?h
4My beloved reached out his hand for the latch.
My feelings for him were aroused.
5I got up to open the door,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with liquid myrrh,
on the handle of the lock.
6I opened the door for my beloved,
but my beloved had turned away; he was gone!
My very life went out when he departed.
I searched for him,
but couldnft find him.
I called out to him,
but he didnft answer.
7The watchmen making their rounds
through the city found me.
They beat me, they bruised me.
 Those guarding the walls took my cloak from me.
	8I charge you, young women of Jerusalem,
gIf you find my beloved, what are you to tell him?
Tell him that Ifm weak with love.h
9What is so special about your beloved,
most beautiful of women?
What is so special about your beloved,
that you charge us like this?
10My beloved is dazzling,
with a dark and healthy complexion,
outstanding among ten thousand.
11His head is pure gold,
his hair is wavy, black like a raven.
12His eyes are like doves
by streams of water,
bathed in milk,
mounted like jewels.
13His cheeks are like beds of spices,
like towers of perfume.
His lips are lilies,
dripping with liquid myrrh.
14His hands are rods of gold,
set with beryl.
His stomach is carved ivory,
inlaid with sapphires.
15His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
choice like its cedars.
16His mouth is sweetness,
and all of him is desirable.
This is my beloved, this is my friend,
young women of Jerusalem!
Chapter 6
1Where did your beloved go,
most beautiful of women?
Where did your beloved turn,
so we may look for him with you?
2My beloved has gone down to his garden,
to the beds of spices,
to graze his flock in the gardens
and gather lilies.
3I belong to my beloved, and my beloved belongs to me.
He is the one who grazes his flock among the lilies.
4You are beautiful, my darling, like Tirzah,
lovely like Jerusalem,
as awesome as an army with banners.
5Turn your eyes from me,
for they excite me.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
coming down from Mt. Gilead.
6Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
coming up from being washed.
All of them are twins,
not one has lost her young.
7Your temple behind your veil
is like a slice of pomegranate.
8There are sixty queens and eighty mistresses,
and too many young women to count,
9but my dove, my perfect one, is unique.
Shefs unique to her mother,
shefs pure to the one who gave birth to her.
Young women see her and call her blessed,
queens and mistresses praise her.
10Who is this who appears like the dawn,
beautiful as the moon,
bright as the sun,
awesome as an army with banners?
11I went down to the walnut orchard,
to look at the green sprouts in the valley,
to see whether the vine had budded,
whether the pomegranates had blossomed.
12Before I knew it, I imagined myself
among the chariots of my noble people.
13Return, return, Shulammite,
return, return, so we may look at you!
Why should you look at the Shulammite,
like you watch the dance of the two camps?
Chapter 7
1How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
noble lady.
The curves of your thighs are like ornaments,
the work of a skilled artistfs hands.
2Your navel is a rounded goblet
that never lacks mixed wine.
Your abdomen is a bundle of wheat,
enclosed by lilies.
3Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.
4Your neck is like a tower of ivory.
Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon,
beside the gate of Beth-rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
which faces Damascus.
5Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.
Your flowing locks are like purple,
and a king could be captured in the dangling tresses.
6How beautiful and lovely you are,
you are love with its exquisite delights.
7Your stature is like a palm tree,
and your breasts are like clusters of fruit.
8I told myself, gIfll go up the palm tree,
and take hold of its fruit.
May your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
and the smell of your breath like apples.
9May your mouth be like good wine.
May it go down smoothly to my beloved,
gliding gently over the lips of the sleeping ones.
10I belong to my beloved,
and his desire is for me.
	11Come, my beloved.
Let us go out to the country,
let us spend the night in the villages.
12Let us go early to the vineyards,
let us see whether the vine has budded,
whether the blossom has opened,
whether the pomegranates have bloomed.
There Ifll give you my love.
13The mandrakes give off their fragrance,
and over our doors are all the choice fruits,
both old and new,
that Ifve stored up for you, my beloved.
Chapter 8
1If only you were like a brother to me,
like one who nursed at my motherfs breasts.
If I found you outside I would kiss you,
and no one would view me with contempt.
2I would lead you,
I would bring you
to the house of my mother
who used to teach me.
I would give you some spiced wine to drink,
from the juice of my pomegranates.
3Let his left hand be under my head,
and let his right hand embrace me.
	4Swear to me, young women of Jerusalem,
that you wonft awaken or arouse love
before its proper time!
5Who is this coming up from the desert,
leaning on her beloved?
Under the apple tree I awakened you.
There your mother had gone into labor with you;
there she went into labor and gave birth to you.
6Set me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
passion as intense as Sheol.
The flames of love are flames of fire,
a blaze that comes from the Lord.
7Mighty bodies of water cannot extinguish love,
rivers cannot put it out.
If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love,
he would surely be viewed with contempt.
8We have a little sister,
and she has not yet reached maturity.
What will we do for our sister
to prepare her for her engagement?
9If shefs a wall,
on her we will build a battlement of silver.
If shefs a door,
we will enclose her with planks of cedar.
10I was a wall and my breasts were like towers.
Then I became like one who finds peace in his eyes.
11Solomon has a vineyard in Baal-hamon.
He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers\
each one is to bring 1,000 pieces of silver
in exchange for its fruit.
12My vineyard belongs to me and is at my disposal.
The 1,000 are for you, Solomon,
and 200 are for those who take care of its fruit.
13You who sit in the gardens,
companions are listening for your voice,
but let me hear it.
14Come quickly, my beloved, and be like a gazelle
or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Isaiah
Chapter 1
1This is the vision that Amozfs son Isaiah had about Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2Listen, you heavens,
and let the earth pay attention,
because the Lord has spoken:
gI reared children
and brought them to adulthood,
but then they rebelled against me.
3The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its masterfs feeding trough,
but Israel doesnft know,
and my people donft understand.
4gOh, you sinful nation!
You people burdened down by iniquity!
You offspring of those who keep practicing what is evil!
You corrupt children!
gTheyfve abandoned the Lord;
theyfve despised the Holy One of Israel;
in their estrangement, theyfve walked away from me.
5gWhy will you still be struck down?
Why will you continue to rebel?
Your whole head is sick,
and your whole heart is faint.
6From the sole of your foot to the top of your head,
therefs no soundness evident\
only bruises, sores,
and festering wounds
that havenft been cleaned out,
bandaged, or treated with oil.h
7gYour country lies desolate;
your cities have been incinerated.
Before your very eyes,
foreigners are devouring your land\
theyfve brought devastation on it,
while the land is overthrown by foreigners.
8gThe daughter of Zion is left abandoned,
like a booth in a vineyard,
like a hut in a cucumber field,
or like a city under siege.
9If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
hadnft left us a few survivors,
we would be like Sodom;
we would be like Gomorrah.
10gListen to what the Lord says,
you rulers of Sodom,
and pay attention to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11gHow do your voluminous sacrifices benefit me?h
the Lord is asking.
gIfve had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts.
I donft enjoy the blood of bulls,
lambs, or goats.
12gWhen you come to present yourselves in my presence,
who has required you
to trample on my courts?
13Stop bringing useless offerings!
Incense is detestable to me,
as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations.
I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly.
14As for your New Moons and your appointed festivals,
I abhor them.
Theyfve become a burden to me;
Ifve grown weary of carrying that burden.
15When you spread out your hands in prayer,
Ifll hide my eyes from you.
Even though you pray repeatedly,
I wonft listen.
Your hands are full of blood,
your fingers drenched with iniquity.h
16gWash yourselves,
and make yourselves clean;
remove your evil behavior
from my presence;
stop practicing what is evil.
17Learn to practice what is good;
seek justice,
alleviate oppression,
defend orphans in court,
and plead the widowfs case.
18gPlease come,
and letfs reason together,h implores the Lord.
gEven though your sins are like scarlet,
theyfll be white like snow.
Though theyfre like crimson,
theyfll become like wool.
19If youfre willing and obedient,
youfll eat the best that the land produces;
20but if you refuse and rebel,
youfll be devoured by the sword,
because the Lord has spoken.h
21gHow the faithful city
has become a whore,
she who used to be filled with justice!
Righteousness used to reside within her,
but now only murderers live there.
22Your silver has become dross,
your best wine is diluted with water.
23Your princes are rebels
and companions of thieves.
All of them are lovers of bribes
and are runners after gifts.
They donft bring justice to orphans,
and the widowfs case never comes up for review in their court.h
24Therefore this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,
the one who is Israelfs Mighty One, declares:
gNow Ifll get relief from his enemies
and avenge myself on his foes.
25When I turn my attention to you,
Ifll refine your dross as in a furnace.
Ifll remove all your alloy.
26Let me restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward youfll be called eThe Righteous Cityf
and eThe Faithful City of Zionf.
27gZion will be redeemed by justice,
and her repentant ones by righteousness.
28Rebels and sinners will be broken together,
and those who forsake the Lord will be consumed.
29Theyfll be ashamed of the oak trees
that you desired;
and youfll blush because of the gardens
that you have chosen.
30Youfll be like an oak
whose leaf is withering,
like an unwatered garden.
31Your strong one will be like tinder,
and your work a spark;
both of them will burn together,
with no one to quench the flames that burn them.h
Chapter 2
1The message that Amozfs son Isaiah received concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2gIt will come about in the last days
that the mountain that is the Lordfs Temple will be established
as the highest of mountains,
and will be raised above the hills;
all the nations will stream to it.
3Many groups of people will come, commenting,
gCome! Letfs go up to the Temple of the God of Jacob,
that they may teach us his ways.
Then letfs walk in his paths.h
gInstruction will proceed from Zion,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4He will judge between the nations,
and will render verdicts for the benefit of many.
gThey will beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nations will not raise swords against nations,
and they will not learn warfare anymore.
5gYou house of Jacob!
Come! Letfs live in the Lordfs light.
6For you have rejected your people,
the house of Jacob,
because they are filled with practices learned from the East
and they are fortune-tellers like the Philistines.
They cut deals with foreigners.
7Their land is filled with silver and gold,
and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is filled with horses,
and there is no end to their chariots.
8Their land is filled with idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their own fingers have made.
9gSo mankind is humbled,
each human being is brought low,
and you wonft forgive.h
10 gGo into the rocks!
Hide in the dust
to escape the terror of the Lord
and to escape the glory of his majesty!
11The haughty looks of mankind will be brought low,
the lofty pride of human beings will be humbled,
and the Lord alone will be exalted at that time.
12gFor the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has reserved a time
to oppose all who are proud and haughty,
and the self-exalting\
they will be humbled.
13He will take his stand against all the cedars of Lebanon,
against the proud and self-exalting;
and against all the oaks of Bashan;
14against all the high mountains,
and against all the lofty hills;
15against every high tower,
and against every fortified wall;
16against all the ships from Tarshish,
and against all their impressive watercraft.
17gHumanityfs haughtiness will be humbled,
male arrogance will be brought low,
and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
18Their idols will utterly vanish.
19gThey will enter caverns in the rocks
and holes in the ground
to escape the presence of the terror of the Lord,
to escape the splendor of his majesty
when he arises to terrify the earth.
20At that time, mankind will throw
their silver and gold idols
that their fingers have made as objects of worship
to the moles and to the bats.
21They will enter caverns in the rocks
and clefts in the cliffs,
to escape the terror of the Lord
and to escape the splendor of his majesty,
when he arises to terrorize the earth.
22gStop trusting in human beings,
whose life breath is in their nostrils,
for what are they really worth?h
Chapter 3
1gNote this! The Lord God of the Heavenly Armies
is taking away from Jerusalem and Judah
everything that your society needs\
all food supplies
and all water supplies,
2the mighty man
and the warrior,
the judge
and the prophet,
the fortune-teller
and the elder,
3the commander of fifty
and the man of rank,
and the counselor, the expert magician,
and the medium.
4gI will make youths their princes,
and infants will rule over them.
5People will oppress one another\
It will be man against man
and neighbor against neighbor.
The young will be disrespectful to the old,
and the worthless to the honorable.
6gFor a man will grab his brother
in his own fatherfs house,
and say, eYou have a cloak,
so you be our leader,
and this heap of ruins
will be under your rule!f
7gBut at that time, hefll protest!
Hefll say, eI wonft be your healer.
I have neither food nor clothing in my house!
Youfre not going to make me a leader of the people!f
8gFor Jerusalem has stumbled,
and Judah has fallen,
because what they say and do opposes the Lord;
they keep defying him.
9 gThe expressions on their faces give them away.
They parade their sin around like Sodom;
they donft even try to hide it.
How horrible it will be for them,
because they have brought disaster on themselves!h
10gTell the righteous that things will go well,
because they will enjoy the fruit of their actions.h
11gHow terrible it will be for the wicked!
Disaster is headed their way,
because what they did with their hand will be repaid to them.
12gAs for my people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders are misleading you\
theyfre giving you confusing directions.h
13The Lord is taking his place to argue his case;
hefs standing up to judge the people.
14The Lord will go to court
to oppose the elders and princes of his people:
gYoufre the ones who have been devouring the vineyard,
the plunder of the poor is in your own houses!
15How dare you crush my people
as you grind down the face of the poor?h
declares the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
16The Lord also says:
gBecause Zionfs women are so haughty,
and walk with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
prancing along as they walk,
and making tinkling noises with their ankle bracelets,
17therefore the Lord will afflict sores
on the heads of Zionfs women,
and the Lord will expose their private parts.
18gAt that time, the Lord will take away the finery of the ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents, 19pendants, bracelets, veils, 20headdresses, armlets, sashes, perfume boxes, charms, 21signet rings, nose rings, 22fine robes, capes, purses, 23mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and veils.
24gAnd it will come about that instead of fragrance
there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of well-set hair, baldness;
instead of a fine robe, sackcloth;
and instead of beauty, shame.
25Your men will die violently,
while your forces fall in battle
26and her gates lament and mourn.
Ravaged, she will sit on the ground.h
Chapter 4
1gAt that time, seven women will cling tightly to one man and will make him this offer: eWefll provide our own bread. Wefll provide our own clothes. Just let us marry you so we wonft be stigmatized anymore.fh
2gAt that time, the Lordfs branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel and Judah. 3Whoever survives in Zion and whoever remains in Jerusalem will be called holy\everyone who has been appointed to survive in Jerusalem\ 4when the Lord will have washed away the filth of the women of Zion, cleaning up Jerusalemfs guilt by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of tempest. 5Then the Lord will create over the entire site of Mount Zion\including over those who assemble there\a cloud by day 6and also to serve as a refuge and shelter from storms and rain.h
Chapter 5
1I will sing for my beloved
my love-song concerning his vineyard:
gThe one I love had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
2He plowed its land and cleared it of stones.
Then he planted it with the choicest vines,
built a watchtower in the middle of it,
and dug a wine vat in it;
He expected it to produce good grapes,
but it produced only wild ones.h
3gSo now, you inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
judge, wonft you please,
between me and my vineyard.
4What more could I do in my vineyard,
that I havenft already done?
When I expected it to produce good grapes,
why did it yield wild ones?
5gNow, let me tell you, wonft you please,
what Ifm going to do to my vineyard.
gIfm going to take away its protective hedge,
and it will be devoured;
Ifll break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
6Ifll make it a wasteland,
and it wonft be pruned or cultivated.
Instead, briers and thorns will grow up.
Ifll also issue commands to the clouds,
that they drop no rain upon it.h
7For the vineyard of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are the garden in which he delights.
He looked for justice,
but saw only bloodshed;
he searched for righteousness,
but heard only an outcry!
8gHow terrible it will be for you who join house to house,
who add field to field,
until there is no more room,
and you have settled yourselves alone
in the middle of the land!h
9The Lord of the Heavenly Armies has declared this so I could hear it:
gSurely many houses will become desolate,
great and beautiful houses,
without occupants.
10For ten acres of vineyard will produce only six gallons,
and ten bushels of seed will produce only one bushel.h
11gHow terrible it will be for those who rise at dawn
in order to grab a stiff drink,
for those who stay up late at night
as wine inflames them!
12They have the lyre and harp,
the tambourine and flute,
as well as wine at their festivals,
but they donft respect what the Lord is doing,
nor do they consider his actions.
13Therefore my people go into exile
because they lack understanding;
my honored men go hungry,
and the crowd is parched with thirst.
14Therefore Sheolfs appetite has grown;
it has opened its mouth beyond limit.
Jerusalemfs nobility and her multitudes will go there,
along with her brawlers and whoever is reveling within her.
15Humanity is brought low,
and each one is humbled,
while the eyes of the self-exalting are brought low.
16But the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is exalted in justice,
and the Holy God proves himself to be righteously holy.
17Then the lambs will graze in their pasture;
fatlings and foreigners will eat
among the waste places of the rich.h
18gHow terrible it will be for those who parade iniquity with cords of falsehood,
who draw sin along as with a cart rope;
19who say: eLet God be quick,
let him speed up his work
so we may see it!
Let it happen!
let the plan of the Holy One of Israel draw near,
so we may recognize it!fh
20gHow terrible it will be for those who call evil good
and good evil,
who substitute darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who substitute what is bitter for what is sweet
and what is sweet for what is bitter!h
21gHow terrible it will be for those who are wise in their own opinion,
and clever in their own reckoning!
22gHow terrible it will be for those who are heroes at drinking wine,
and champions in mixing strong drink,
23who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
and deprive the innocent of justice!h
24Therefore, as flames of fire devour straw,
as dry grass collapses in flames,
so their root will be rotten,
and their blossom will blow away like dust,
because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25Therefore the anger of the Lord burned against his people,
so he stretched out his hands against them
and afflicted them.
The mountains quaked,
and their corpses were like refuse
in the middle of the streets.
Throughout all of this, his anger has not turned away,
and his hands are still stretched out to attack.
26The Lord will signal for nations far away,
whistling for them to come
from the ends of the earth.
Look how quickly
and how swiftly they come!
27No one is weary, no one stumbles,
and no one slumbers or sleeps.
No belt around their waists will come undone,
nor will their sandal straps be broken.
28Their arrows are sharp,
all their bows ready for action.
Their horsesf hooves seem like flint,
and their chariot wheels spin like a whirlwind.
29With a roar like a lion, they snarl,
and like young lions, they growl;
they seize their prey
and then carry it off,
with no one to rescue.
30They will roar over it at that time,
like the sea waves roar.
If one surveys the land, watch out!
Therefs darkness and distress;
even the daylight is darkened by its clouds.
Chapter 6
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, high and exalted. The train of his robe filled the Temple. 2The seraphim stood above him. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he was flying. 3They kept on calling to each other:
gHoly, holy, holy is the Lord of the Heavenly Armies!
The whole earth is full of his glory!h
4The foundations of the thresholds quaked at the sound of those who kept calling out, and the Temple was filled with smoke.
5gHow terrible it will be for me!h I cried, gbecause I am ruined! Ifm a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips! And my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies!h
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, carrying a burning coal in his hand that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7He touched my mouth and said, gLook! Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away, and your sins atoned for.h
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord as he was asking, gWhom will I send? Who will go for us?h
gHere I am!h I replied. gSend me.h
9gGo!h he responded. gTell this people:
geKeep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.f
10Dull the mind of this people,
deafen their ears,
and blind their eyes.
By doing so, they wonft see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their minds,
turn back,
and be healed.h
11Then I asked, gFor how long, Lord?h
He replied:
gUntil cities lie waste,
without inhabitants,
and houses without people;
and the land becomes utterly desolate.
12Until the Lord removes people far away,
and there are many empty places
in the middle of the land.
13Even though a tenth of its people remain in it,
it will once again be burned,
like a terebinth or an oak tree,
the stump of which, though the tree has been felled,
still contains holy seed.h
Chapter 7
1During the reign of Jothamfs son Ahaz, Uzziahfs grandson, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Remaliahfs son Pekah, king of Israel, approached Jerusalem and waged war against it, but they could not mount an attack against it. 2When it was reported to the house of David, gAram has joined forces with Ephraim!h the heart of the people of Ahaz trembled like forest trees in a windstorm.
3So the Lord told Isaiah, gGo out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool that proceeds along the highway to Laundererfs Field. 4Tell him, eBe careful, be calm, donft be afraid, and donft lose heart because of these two smoldering stumps of torches, that is, because of the fierce anger of Rezin, from Aram, and Remaliahfs son. 5Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliahfs son have plotted this evil against you: 6gLetfs go attack Judah, letfs terrorize it, and letfs conquer it for ourselves. Then wefll install Tabeelfs son as king!hf
7eBut this is what the Lord God has to say:
geIt wonft take place.
It wonft ever happen.
8Because Aramfs head is Damascus,
and Rezin is its king,
within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be shattered as a people.
9Furthermore, Ephraimfs head is Samaria,
and Remaliahfs son is its king.
If all of you donft keep on believing,
youfll never remain loyal.fh
10Later on, the Lord spoke to Ahaz again: 11gAsk a sign from the Lord your God. Make it as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven above.h
12But Ahaz replied, gI wonft ask! I wonft put the Lord to the test.h
13In reply, the Lord announced, gPlease listen, you household of David. Is it such a minor thing for you to try the patience of men? Must you also try the patience of my God?
14gTherefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Watch! The virgin is conceiving a child, and will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel. 15Hefll eat cheese and honey, when he knows enough to reject whatfs wrong and choose whatfs right. 16However, before the youth knows enough to reject whatfs wrong and choose whatfs right, the land whose two kings you dread will be devastated.h
17gThe Lord will bring to you, to your people, and to your ancestorfs house such a time as has never been since Ephraim broke away from Judah\the king of Assyria will come.
18gAt that time, the Lord will call for flies that will come from far away\from the headwaters of Egyptfs rivers\and for bees that are in the land of Assyria. 19They will all come and settle in the steep ravines, in the rocky crevices, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the pastures. 20At that time, the Lord will hire a barber to come from beyond the Euphrates River\that is, the king of Assyria\and he will shave your heads, your leg hair, and your beards, too.
21gAt that time, a man will keep alive a heifer and two sheep, 22and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will have cheese to eat, since whoever remains in the land will be eating cheese and honey.
23gAt that time, every place where once there were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briars and thorns will grow.
24gPeople will come there armed with bows and arrows, because the entire land will be nothing but briers and thorns. 25As for all the hills that used to be cultivated with a hoe, you wonft go there, because youfll fear iron briars and thorns. Nevertheless, those hills will be reserved as a pasture where cattle will feed and where sheep will graze.h
Chapter 8
1The Lord also told me, gTake a large tablet and write on it with a stylus pen, eFor Maher-shalal-hash-bazf. 2Then I will call Uriah the priest and Jeberechiahfs son Zechariah as reliable witnesses to testify on my behalf.h
3After this, I was intimate with the prophetess and she conceived. Later, she bore a son, and then the Lord told me, gCall him eMaher-shalal-hash-baz,f 4for before the young lad knows how to call out to his father or mother, the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.h
5The Lord spoke to me again: 6gBecause this people have rejected the gently-flowing waters of Shiloah, and because they keep rejoicing in Rezin and Remaliahfs son, 7watch out! The Lord God is about to bring the flood waters of the Euphrates River against them, mighty and strong.
gItfs the king of Assyria and all of his arrogance! He will rise over all of the riverfs channels and run over all of its banks. 8He will sweep on into Judah, overflowing as he passes through, like flood waters reaching up to a personfs neck. His outstretched wings will flow as wide as your land, O Immanuel!h
9gBand together, you peoples,
but be shattered!
Listen, all you distant countries!
Strap on your armor,
but be shattered.
10Take counsel together,
but it will all be for nothing;
go ahead and talk,
but it will all be for nothing,
for God is with us.h
11For this is what the Lord spoke to me, as his forceful hand was resting on me, and as he was warning me not to live the way this people were living:
12gDonft call conspiracy everything
that this people calls conspiracy,
and donft fear what they fear,
or live in terror.
13The Lord of the Heavenly Armies\
hefs the one you are to regard as holy.
Let him be the one whom you fear,
and let him be the one before whom you stand in terror!
14Then he will be a sanctuary,
but for both houses of Israel
hefll also be a stone with which someone strikes himself,
a rock one stumbles over,
a trap and a snare to those who live in Jerusalem.
15Many will stumble on them;
Theyfll fall and be broken;
Theyfll be snared and captured.
16gBind up the testimony,
and seal up the teaching among my disciples.
17Ifll wait for the Lord,
who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob,
and Ifll put my trust in him.
18Watch out! I and the children
whom the Lord has given me
are a sign and a wonder in Israel
from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
who resides on Mount Zion.h
19gSo when they advise you,
eAsk the mediums your questions,
and quiz the spiritists who chirp and mutter,f
shouldnft a people instead be consulting their God\
and not the dead\
on behalf of those who are living
20for instruction and for testimony?
Surely they are speaking like this
because the truth hasnft dawned on them.
21gTheyfll pass through the land,
while greatly distressed and hungry.
When they are hungry,
theyfll become enraged,
and theyfll curse their king and their god.
Theyfll turn their faces upwards,
22or theyfll look toward the earth,
but theyfll see only distress and darkness,
the gloom that comes from anguish,
and then theyfll be thrown into total darkness.h
Chapter 9
1But there will be no gloom for her who was in distress. Formerly, he brought contempt to the region of Zebulun and the region of Naphtali, but in the future he will have made glorious the way of the sea, the territory beyond the Jordan\Galilee of the nations.
2The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
for those living in a land of deep darkness,
a light has shined upon them.
3You have increased the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice in your presence
as they rejoice at the harvest,
as they are glad
when theyfre dividing the spoils of war.
4Now as to the yoke that has been his burden,
and the bar laid on his shoulder\
the rod of his oppressor\
you have broken it as on the day of Midiam.
5For every boot of the tramping soldier in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be used for burning as fuel for a fire.
6For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name is called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the growth of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will rule over his kingdom,
sitting on the throne of David,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will accomplish this.
8gThe Lord has sent a plague against Jacob,
and it will fall on Israel;
9and all of the people were evil\
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria\
saying proudly with arrogant hearts:
10eThe bricks have fallen,
but we will build with dressed stones;
the sycamore trees have been cut down,
but we will replace them with cedars.f
11But the Lord has raised adversaries from Rezin against him,
and he stirs up his enemies\
12Arameans from the east
and Philistines from the west\
and they devour Israel with open mouths!
gYet for all this, his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike.h
13gBut the people have not returned to rely on him who struck them,
nor have they sought the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
14So the Lord has cut off from Israel head and tail,
palm branch and reed
in a single day\
15the elder and the dignitary is the head,
and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
16For those who guide this people have been leading them astray,
and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
17Therefore the Lord does not have pity on their young men,
and has no compassion on their orphans and widows,
because each of them was godless and an evildoer,
and every mouth spoke folly.
gYet for all this, his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike.
18gFor wickedness has burned like a blaze
that consumes briers and thorns;
it sets thickets of the forest on fire,
and skyward they swirl
in a column of smoke.
19From the wrath of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
the land has been scorched,
and the people have become like fuel for the fire;
no one will spare his neighbor.
20They cut meat on the right,
but theyfre still hungry,
and they devour also on the left,
but theyfre not satisfied;
each devours the flesh of his own children.
21Manasseh devours Ephraim,
and Ephraim devours Manasseh;
together they are against Judah.
gYet for all this, his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike.h
Chapter 10
1gHow terrible it will be for the one who enacts unjust decrees,
for those who write oppressive laws
that they have prescribed
2to deprive the needy of justice
and to rob the poor of my people of their rights,
so that widows may become their spoil
and so that they may plunder orphans!
3What will you do on the day of Judgment,
in the calamity that will come from far away?
To whom will you run for help,
and where will you leave your wealth,
4so you wonft have to crouch among those in chains
or fall among the slain?
gYet for all this, his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike.h
5gHow terrible it will be
for Assyria, the rod of my anger!
The club is in their hands!
6Ifm sending my fury against a godless nation,
and Ifll command him against the people with whom Ifm angry
to seize loot and snatch plunder,
and to trample them down
like mud in the streets.
7But this is not what he intends,
and this is not what he thinks in his mind;
but it is in his mind to destroy,
and to cut down many nations.
8gBecause this is what he is saying:
eMy commanders are all kings, are they not?
9Isnft Calno like Carchemish?
Isnft Hamath like Arpad?
Isnft Samaria like Damascus?
10As my hand has reached to the idolatrous kingdoms
whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
11will I not deal with Jerusalem and her idols
as I have dealt with Samaria and her images?fh
12gFor the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and against Jerusalem; he will punish the speech that comes from that willful heart of Assyriafs king and the haughty look in his eyes. 13He keeps bragging:
eIfve done it by the strength of my hand,
and by my wisdom,
because Ifm so clever.
I removed the boundaries of peoples,
and plundered their treasures;
like a bull I brought down
those who sat on thrones.
14My hand has found, as if in a nest,
the wealth of the people;
and as one gathers eggs that have been abandoned,
so I have gathered all the inhabitants of the earth.
Nothing moved a wing,
opened its mouth,
or chirped.f
15gDoes the ax exalt itself
over the one who swings it?
Or does the saw magnify itself
in opposition to the one who wields it?
As if a rod were to wield those who lift it,
or as if a club were to brandish the one who is not wood!
16Therefore, the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies will send a wasting disease
among Assyriafs sturdy warriors,
and under its glory a conflagration will be kindled,
like a blazing bonfire.
17gThe light of Israel will become a fire,
and its Holy One a flame,
and it will burn
and consume Assyriafs thorns and briers
in a single day.
18The splendor of its forest and its fruitful land
the Lord will destroy\
both soul and body\
and Assyria will be
as when a dying man wastes away.
19What survives of the trees in his forest will be so few
that a child can count them.h
20At that time, the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer rely on the one who struck them down, but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 21A remnant will return\a remnant of Jacob\to the Mighty God. 22For even if your people of Israel number as many as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Overwhelming, righteous destruction is decreed, 23because the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies will bring about destruction, as has been decreed, throughout the entire region.
24Therefore this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies says: gMy people, you who live in Zion, donft be afraid of the Assyrians, of the rod that beats you, who lift up their club against you as the Egyptians did. 25In just a little while, my fury will come to an end, and my anger then will be directed to their destruction. 26The Lord of the Heavenly Armies will brandish a whip against them, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; and as his staff was stretched out over the sea, so he will lift it up as he did in Egypt. 27At that time, his burden will depart from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck. Indeed, the yoke will be broken, because youfve become obese.h
28gThe Assyrian commander has come upon Aiath
and has passed through Migron;
he stores his supplies at Michmash.
29He has crossed over by the pass;
his overnight lodging is at Geba.
Ramah trembles;
Gibeah of Saul has fled.
30Cry aloud, you daughter of Gallim!
Pay attention, Laish!
Poor Anathoth!
31Marmenah is in flight;
the inhabitants of Gebim take cover.
32This very day he will halt at Nob;
he will shake his fists
at the mountain that is the Daughter of Zion,
at Jerusalemfs hill.
33Behold, the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies
will lop off its boughs with terrifying power;
 the tallest in height will be cut down,
and the lofty will be brought low.
34He will cut down the thickets of the forest
with an ax,
and Lebanon will fall
by the Majestic One.h
Chapter 11
1gA shoot will come out
from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch will bear fruit
from his roots.
2The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and power,
the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
3His delight will be in the fear of the Lord.
He wonft judge by what his eyes see,
nor decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
and decide with equity for earthfs poor.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and the wicked will be killed with the breath of his lips.
5Righteousness will be the sash around his loins,
and faithfulness the belt around his waist.h
6gThe wolf will live with the lamb;
the leopard will lie down with the young goat.
The calf and the lion will graze together,
and a little child will lead them.
7The cow and the bear will graze,
and their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8The nursing child will play
over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child will put his hand on vipersf dens.
9They will neither harm nor destroy
on my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full
of the knowledge of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.h
10At that time, as to the root of Jesse, who will be standing as a banner for the peoples, the nations will rally to him, and his resting place is glorious.
11At that time, the Lord will reach out his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12He will raise a banner for the nations
and will assemble the dispersed of Israel;
he will gather the scattered people of Judah
from the corners of the earth.
13Ephraimfs jealousy will vanish,
and those who are hostile to Judah will be eliminated;
Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah,
and Judah will not be hostile to Ephraim.
14But they will swoop down
on the slopes of the Philistines to the west,
and they will plunder the people to the east.
Theyfll lay their hands on Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites will be subject to them.
15The Lord will totally destroy
the gulf of the Sea of Egypt.
He will sweep his hand
over the Euphrates River
with a violent wind,
breaking it up into seven streams,
and making a way for people to cross on foot.
16And there will be a highway
for the remnant that is left of his people out of Assyria,
as there was for Israel
when they came up
from the land of Egypt.
Chapter 12
1At that time, you will say:
gI will praise you, Lord,
for although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away,
and you have comforted me.
2gLook! God\yes God\is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.h
3You will draw water joyfully from the wells of salvation. And you will say at that time:
4gGive thanks to the Lord;
call on his name.
Make known his actions
among the nations.
Proclaim that his name is exalted.
5gSing praises to the Lord,
because he has acted gloriously,
being made known in all the world.
6Shout aloud, and sing for joy,
you who live in Zion,
because great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel.h
Chapter 13
1A message that Amozfs son Isaiah received about Babylon:
2gRaise a banner on a bare hilltop!
Cry out loud to them!
Give a wave of the hand,
signaling for them to enter
the gates of the nobles.
3I myself have commanded my consecrated ones;
I have also summoned my warriors,
those who rejoice in my triumph,
to carry out my angry judgments.
4gListen! Therefs a noise on the mountains
like that of a great multitude!
Listen! Therefs an uproar among the kingdoms,
like that of nations massing together!
The Lord of the Heavenly Armies is mustering
an army for battle.
5Theyfre coming from a faraway land,
from the distant horizon\
the Lord and the weapons of his anger\
to destroy the entire land.h
6Wail out loud, because the Day of the Lord is near.
It will come like destruction from the Almighty!
7Because of this, every hand will go limp,
and every manfs courage will melt.
8They will be terrified;
pain and anguish will seize them;
theyfll writhe like a woman in labor.
Theyfll look aghast at one another;
and their faces will be ablaze with fear.
9Watch out! The Day of the Lord is coming\
cruel, with wrath and fierce anger\
to turn the entire inhabited earth into a desolation
and to annihilate sinners from it.
10For the stars of the heavens and their constellations
wonft shine their light;
the sun will be dark when it rises,
and the moon wonft shine its light.
11Ifll punish the world for its evil,
and the wicked for their iniquity;
Ifll put an end to the pomposity of the arrogant,
and overthrow the insolence of tyrants.
12Ifll make people scarcer than pure gold,
and mankind rarer than gold from Ophir.
13Therefore Ifll make the heavens tremble.
The earth will shake from its place
at the wrath of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
at the time of his burning anger.
14They will be like a hunted gazelle,
or like sheep with no one to gather them,
each will turn to his own people,
and each will flee to his own land.
15Whoever is captured will be thrust through,
and whoever is caught will fall dead, killed by the sword.
16Their infants will be dashed to pieces
before their eyes,
and their houses will be looted,
and their wives slept with.
17Watch out! Ifm stirring up the Medes against them,
who care nothing for silver
and take no delight in gold.
18Their bows will dash the young men to pieces;
theyfll show no pity on those not yet born,
and their eyes will not spare children.
19Babylon, that jewel of kingdoms,
the splendor and pride of the Chaldeans,
will be like Sodom and Gomorrah,
when God overthrew them\
20It will never be inhabited
or lived in through all generations;
no Bedouin will pitch his tent there;
no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21But desert beasts will lie down there,
and their houses will be full of howling creatures;
there owls will dwell,
and goat-demons will dance there.
22Hyenas will howl in its strongholds,
and jackals will make their dens in its citadels.
Its time is close at hand,
and its days will not be extended any further.
Chapter 14
1However, the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will once again choose Israel. He will settle them in their own land, and foreigners will join them, affiliating themselves with the house of Jacob. 2Many nations will take them and bring them to their land and their own place. The house of Israel will put those nations to conscripted labor in the Lordfs land. They will take captive those who were their captors, and will rule continually over those who oppressed them.
3At the time, when the Lord gives you rest from your suffering, turmoil, and the cruel bondage which they forced you to serve, 4you will lift up this song of mockery against the king of Babylon:
gHow the oppressor has come to an end!
How the attacker has ceased!
5The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,
the scepter of rulers,
6that struck down peoples in anger
with unceasing blows,
that oppressed nations in fury
with relentless persecution.
7The entire earth is at rest and peace;
its inhabitants break into song.
8Even the cypresses rejoice over you,
as do the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
eNow that youfve been laid low,
no woodcutter comes up against us.f
9gThe afterlife below is all astir
to meet you when you arrive;
it rouses up the spirits of the dead to greet you\
everyone who used to be world leaders.
It has raised up from their thrones
all who used to be kings of the nations.
10In answer, all of them will tell you,
eYoufve also become as weak as we are!
You have become just like us!f
11Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol,
along with the noise of your harps.
Maggots are spread out beneath you,
and worms are your covering.h
12gHow you have fallen from heaven,
Day Star, son of the Dawn!
How you have been thrown down to earth,
you who laid low the nation!
13You said in your heart,
eIfll ascend to heaven,
above the stars of God.
Ifll erect my throne;
Ifll sit on the Mount of Assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
14Ifll ascend above the tops of the clouds;
Ifll make myself like the Most High.f
15But you are brought down to join the dead,
to the far reaches of the Pit.
16gThose who see you will stare at you.
They will wonder about you:
eIs this the man who made the earth tremble,
who made kingdoms quake,
17who made the world like a desert,
who destroyed its cities,
who would not open the jails for his prisoners?f
18All the kings of the nations lie in state,
each in his own tomb.
19But you are cast away from your grave,
like a repulsive branch,
your clothing is the slain,
those pierced by the sword;
those who go down to the Pit.
Like a dead body trampled underfoot,
20you will not be united with them in burial,
for you have destroyed your land,
you have slain your people.
People will never mention
the descendants of those who practice evil again!
21Prepare a massacre for his sons
because of the guilt of their forefathers!
They are not to rise and inherit the earth,
and cover the surface of the world with cities.h
22gI will rise up against them,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gand I will eliminate from Babylon her name and survivors, her offspring and descendants,h declares the Lord. 23gAnd Ifm going to make it a possession of the hedgehog\pools of water\and Ifll sweep with the broom of destruction,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
24The Lord of the Heavenly Armies has sworn:
gSurely as I have planned,
thatfs what she will become;
and just as I have determined,
so will it remain\
25to crush the Assyrian in my land,
and on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke will turn away from you,
and his burden from your shoulders.h
26gThis is what Ifve planned
for the whole earth,
and this is the hand that is stretched out
over all the nations.
27For the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has planned,
and who can thwart him?
His hand is stretched out,
and who can turn it back?h
28In the year that King Ahaz died this message came:
29gDonft rejoice, all of you Philistines,
that the rod that struck you is broken,
because from the snakefs root a viper will spring up,
and its offspring will be a darting, poisonous serpent.
30The firstborn of the poor will find pasture,
and the needy will lie down in safety;
but Ifll kill your root by famine,
and Ifll execute your survivors.
31Wail, you gate!
Cry out, you city!
Melt away, all you Philistines!
For smoke comes from the north,
and therefs no one to take measure in its festivals.
32How will they answer the messengers of the nation?
gThe Lord has founded Zion,
and in it the afflicted among his people will find refuge.h
Chapter 15
1A message concerning Moab:
gFor Ir in Moab is destroyed in a night,
and Moab is ruined!
 Because Ir in Moab is destroyed in a single night,
Moab is ruined!
2He has gone up to the temple, and to Dibon,
to the high places to weep;
over Nebo and over Medeba
Moab wails.
His head is completely bald,
and every beard is shaved off.
3In its streets they wear sackcloth;
on its rooftops and in its squares
everyone wails and falls down weeping.
4Heshbon and Elealeh cry out,
their voices are heard as far as Jahaz;
therefore the loins of Moab cry aloud;
its heart quakes for itself.
5My heart cries out over Moab;
her fugitives flee as far as Zoar,
as far as Eglath-shelishiyah.
For at the ascent to Luhith
they go up weeping;
on the road to Horonaim
they raise a cry of destruction.
6The Nimrim waters are desolate;
the grass is withered,
its vegetation gone;
there is no foliage left.
7Therefore the wealth they have acquired
and what they have stored up\
they carry them away
over the Arab Wadi.
8For the cry has gone out
along the border of Moab;
her wailing reaches as far as Eglaim,
her wailing reaches as far as Beer-elim.
9The Dibon streams are full of blood;
but I will bring upon Dibon even more\
a lion will pounce upon those of Moab who escape,
upon those who remain in the land.h
Chapter 16
1gSend a lamb to the ruler of the land,
from Selah, by way of the desert,
to the mountain of the Daughter of Zion.
2Like fluttering birds,
like an abandoned nest,
so are the daughters of Moab
at the fords of the Arnon River.
3gGive us advice;
reach a decision!
Cast your shadow as if night had come
at high noon.
Shelter the fugitives,
And donft betray a single refugee.
4Let the fugitives from Moab
settle among you;
be a shelter to them
from the destroyer.
When the oppressor comes to an end,
and destruction has ceased,
and the marauder has vanished from the land,
5then a throne will be established in gracious love,
and there will sit in faithfulness\
in the Tent of David\
one who judges, seeks justice,
and is swift to do what is right.h
6gWefve heard about Moabfs pride\
so very proud he became!\
his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence;
therefore he is alone.
7Therefore, let Moab not wail,
let everyone wail for Moab.
 Lament and grieve deeply
for the ruined remains of Kir-hareseth.
8For the fields of Heshbon wither,
as well as the vines of Sibmah.
The rulers of the nations
have struck down its choicest vines,
which once reached Jazer
and pushed to the desert.
Its shoots spread out
and passed over the sea.h
9gTherefore I weep with the tears of Jazer
for the vines of Sibmah.
I drench you with my tears,
O Heshbon and Elealeh\
for the shouts of joy over your summer fruit
and your grain harvest have ended.
10Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards,
in the vineyards people will sing no songs,
and no cheers are raised.
No vintner treads out wine in the presses,
because Ifve put an end to the shouting.
11Therefore my insides moan like a lyre for Moab,
and my innermost being for Kir-hareseth.
12When Moab appears,
when he arrives upon the high place
and comes to his sanctuary to pray,
he will not prevail.h
13This was the message that the Lord spoke concerning Moab in the past. 14But now the Lord has spoken again: gWithin three years, like the years of a contract worker, Moabfs glory will be brought into contempt, in spite of all its great multitude, and its survivors will be very few and of no importance.h
Chapter 17
1A message about Damascus:
gLook! Damascus will cease to be a city.
Instead, it will become a pile of ruins.
2The cities of Oraru will be deserted\
they will be devoted to herds that will lay at rest,
and terrorism will be no more.
3The fortress will disappear from Ephraim,
and royal authority from Damascus;
the survivors from Aram will be like the glory of the Israelis,h
declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
4gAt that time, Jacobfs glory will have become weakened,
and his strong flesh will turn gaunt;
5it will be as if harvesters gather standing grain,
reaping the ears by hand,
or it will be as if grain is harvested
in the valley of Rephaim.
6Nevertheless, gleanings will remain in Israel,
as when an olive tree is beaten\
two or three ripe olives left in the topmost branches,
four or five left among the branches of a fruit-filled tree,h
declares the Lord God of Israel.
7At that time, men will look upon their Maker, and their eyes will honor the Holy One of Israel. 8They will not look upon the altars, the products that their own fingers have made, and they will have no regard for Asherah poles or incense altars.
9gAt that time, their fortified cities
that they abandoned because of the Israelis
will be like desolate places of the forests and hilltops\
there will be desolation.
10For you have forgotten the God of your salvation
and have not remembered the Rock
that is your strength.
Therefore even though you plant delightful plants,
sowing them with imported vine-seedlings,
11at the time that you plant them,
carefully making them grow,
the very morning you make your seed to sprout,
your harvest will be ruined
in a time of grief and unbearable pain.h
12gHow terrible it will be for many peoples,
who rage like the roaring sea!
Oh, how the uproar of nations
is like the sound of rushing, mighty water\
How they roar!
13The nations roar like the rushing of many waters,
but the Lord will rebuke them,
and they will run far away,
chased like chaff blown down from the mountains
or like thick dust that rolls along,
blown along by a wind storm.
14When the evening arrives, watch out\sudden terror!
By morning they will be there no longer!
So it will be for those who plunder us
and what will happen to those who rob us.h
Chapter 18
1Woe to the land of whirring wings
that is beyond the rivers of Cush,
2which sends envoys by the sea,
in papyrus boats over the water!
Go, swift messengers,
to a tall, smooth-skinned nation,
to a people feared far and wide,
a nation that metes out punishment and oppresses,
whose land the rivers divide.
3All you inhabitants of the world,
you who live on the earth,
when a banner is raised on the mountains,
youfll see it.
When a trumpet sounds,
youfll hear it!
4For this is what the Lord told me:
gI will remain quiet and watch in my dwelling place
like dazzling heat in sunshine,
like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.h
5For before the harvest, when the season of budding is over,
and sour grapes ripen into mature grapes,
he cuts off the shoots with pruning knives,
clearing away the spreading branches
as he lops them off.
6And they will all be left
for birds of prey that live on the mountains
and for wild animals.
Birds of prey will pass the summer feeding on them,
and all the wild animals will pass the winter feeding on them.
7At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
from a tall and smooth-skinned people,
from a people feared far and wide,
a nation that metes out punishment and oppresses,
whose land the rivers divide,
to Mount Zion,
the place that bears the name of the Lord.
Chapter 19
1A message about Egypt:
gWatch out! The Lord rides on a swift cloud,
and is coming to Egypt.
The idols of Egypt tremble before him,
and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.
2I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians,
and everyone will fight against his brother,
everyone against his neighbor,
city against city,
kingdom against kingdom.
3The spirits of the Egyptians within them will be drained of courage,
and I will bring their plans to nothing.
They will consult idols and spirits of the dead,
and mediums and spiritists.
4I will hand the Egyptians over
to the power of a cruel master,
and a fierce king will rule over them,h
declares the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
5gThe water sources of the Nile will be dried up,
and the river will become dry and parched.
6The canals will stink,
and the tributaries of Egypt will dwindle and dry up.
Reeds and rushes will wither away.
7And the bulrushes along the Nile,
along the mouth of the Nile, will wither away.
All the sown fields of the Nile will become parched,
and they will be blown away;
there will be nothing left.
8The fishermen will groan,
and all who cast hooks into the Nile will lament;
those who spread nets upon the water
will become weaker and weaker.
9The workers in combed flax
and the weavers of white linen
will be in despair.
10Egyptfs workers in cloth will be crushed,
and all who work for wages will be sick at heart.h
11Zoanfs princes are nothing but fools;
the wisest advisors of Pharaoh give stupid advice.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
gIfm a descendant of wise men,
a descendant of ancient kingsh?
12Where are your wise men now?
Let them tell you,
let them make known
what the Lord has planned against Egypt.
13The princes of Zoan have become fools,
and the princes of Memphis deluded;
the leaders of its tribes
have led Egypt astray.
14The Lord has mixed within them a spirit of confusion;
so they make Egypt stagger in all that it does,
like a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.
15As a result, there will be nothing for Egypt
that head or tail, palm branch or reed, can do.
16At that time, the Egyptians will be like women\they will shudder and be afraid before the uplifted hand of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, when he brandishes his hand against her. 17And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will be afraid, because of the uplifted hand of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies that is turning in their direction.
18At that time, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.
19At that time, there will be an altar to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies in the heart of the land of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border. 20It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies in the land of Egypt; when they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior, and he will come down and rescue them. 21So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will acknowledge the Lord.
At that time, they will worship with sacrifices and offerings, and they will make vows to the Lord and carry them out. 22The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague, striking but then healing. Then they will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
23At that time, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will come into Egypt, and the Egyptians into Assyria, and they will worship with the Assyrians.
24At that time, Israel will be in a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria; they will be a blessing in the midst of the earth. 25The Lord of the Heavenly Armies has blessed them, saying, gBlessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.h
Chapter 20
1In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod, attacked it, and captured it\ 2at that time the Lord spoke through Amozfs son Isaiah: gGo loosen the sackcloth thatfs around your waist, and take your sandals off your feet.h So thatfs what he did: he went around naked and barefoot.
3Then the Lord said, gJust as my servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a warning for Egypt and Ethiopia, 4so the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptian captives and exiles from Cush, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot\with even their buttocks uncovered\to the shame of Egypt. 5Then they will be dismayed and put to shame because of Cush, their hope, and Egypt, their jewel. 6At that time, the inhabitants of this coastland will say, eSee, this is what has happened to those on whom we counted and relied for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How, then, can we escape?fh
Chapter 21
1A message concerning the pasture by the Sea.
gLike whirlwinds in the Negev sweep on,
it comes from the desert,
from a distant land.
2A dire vision has been announced to me:
the traitor betrays,
and the plunderer takes loot.
Get up, Elam!
Attack, Media!
I am putting a stop
to all the groaning she has caused.
3Therefore my body is racked with pain;
pangs have seized me,
like the pangs of a woman in labor;
I am so upset that I cannot hear;
I am so frightened that I cannot see
while Ifm reeling around.
4And as for my heart, horror has terrified me;
the twilight I longed for
has started to make me tremble.
5They set the tables;
they spread the carpets;
they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers!
Oil the shields!h
6For this is what the Lord told me:
gGo post a lookout.
Have him report what he sees.
7When he sees chariots, each man with a pair of horses,
riders on donkeys or riders on camels,
let him pay attention,
full attention.h
8Then the lookout shouted:
gUpon a watchtower I stand, O Lord,
continually by day,
and I am stationed at my post
throughout the night.
9Look! Here come riders,
each man with a pair of horses!h
Theyfre shouting out the answer:
gBabylon has fallen, has fallen,
and they have shattered
all the images of her gods on the ground!
10O my downtrodden people, my wall!
Ifll tell you what I have heard
from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel.h
11A message concerning Dumah.
gSomeone is calling to me from Seir:
eWatchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night?f
12The watchman replies:
eMorning is coming, but also the night.
If you want to ask, then ask;
come back again.fh
13A message concerning Arabia.
gYou will camp in the thickets in Arabia,
you caravans of the Dedanites.
14Bring water for the thirsty,
you who live in the land of Tema.
Meet the fugitive with bread,
15For he has fled from swords,
from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow,
and from the heat of battle.h
16For this is what the Lord is saying to me: gWithin three years, according to the years of a contract worker, the pomp of Kedar will come to an end. 17And there will be few archers, those who are descendants of Kedar, who survive, because the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.h
Chapter 22
1A message concerning the Valley of Vision.
gWhat troubles you,
now that youfve all gone up
to the rooftops,
2you who are full of commotion,
you passionate city,
you rollicking town?
Your slain werenft killed by the sword,
nor are they dead in battle.
3All your leaders have fled together;
she is captured without using bows.
All of you who were caught were captured together,
although they had fled
while the enemy was still far away.
4Therefore I said:
gLook away from me;
and let me weep bitter tears;
donft try to console me
over the destruction of the daughter of my people.h
5For to the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies
belongs the day of tumult, trampling, and confusion
in the Valley of Vision,
and the pulling down of his Temple on its mountain.
6Elam takes up the quiver
with chariots and cavalry,
while Kir unsheathes the shield.
7And it will come about
that your choicest valleys will be filled with chariots,
and horsemen will take their positions at the gates.
8He has uncovered the defenses of Judah.h
At that time, you looked at the arsenal of the Palace of the Forest, 9and saw that there were many breaches in the City of David. So you stored up water from the Lower Pool, 10counted the houses of Jerusalem, tore down certain houses to strengthen the wall, 11and built a reservoir between the walls to store water from the Old Pool. But you did not look at the One who did it, nor did you see the One who planned it long ago.
12On that day the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies
called for weeping and mourning,
for shaving heads and wearing sackcloth.
13But look!
There is joy and festivity,
slaughtering of cattle
and killing of sheep,
eating meat
and drinking wine.
gLet us eat and drink, you say,
because we die tomorrow.h
14gNevertheless, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has revealed himself to my hearing:
egSurely because of you
this iniquity will not be forgiven
you until you die,f
says the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.h
15This is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies says:
gCome, go to this steward, to Shebna who is in charge of the household, and ask him: 16eWhat are you doing here, and who are your relatives here that you could carve out a grave for yourself here\cutting out a tomb at the choicest location, chiseling out a resting place for yourself out of solid rock? 17Look Out! The Lord is about to hurl you away violently, my strong fellow! He will fold you up completely, 18rolling you up tightly like a ball and throwing you into a large country. There you will die, and there your splendid chariots will lie. Youfre a disgrace to your masterfs house! 19I will depose you from your office, ousting you from your position.
20gAt that time, Ifll call for my servant, Hilkiahfs son Eliakim, 21and Ifll clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him. Ifll transfer your authority to him, and hefll be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22gIfll place on his shoulder the key to the house of David\what he opens, no one will shut, and what he shuts, no one will open. 23Ifll set him like a peg into a secure place; he will become a throne of honor to his fatherfs house. 24The entire reputation of his fatherfs house will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots\all its smaller vessels, from the cups to all the jars. 25At that time,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gthe peg that was driven into a secure place will give way; it will be sheared and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down.h
The Lord has spoken.
Chapter 23
1A message concerning Tyre.
gWail, you ships of Tarshish,
for Tyre is destroyed
and is without house or harbor!
 From the land of Cyprus
it was revealed to them.
2gBe silent, you inhabitants of the coast,
you merchants of Sidon,
whose messengers crossed over the sea,
3and were on mighty waters.
Her revenue was the grain of Shihor,
the harvest of the Nile;
and she became the marketplace of nations.
4Be ashamed, Sidon, because the sea has spoken,
the fortress of the sea:
I have neither been in labor nor given birth,
I have neither reared young men
nor brought up young women.h
5When the news reaches Egypt,
they will be in anguish
at the report about Tyre.
6gYou who are crossing over to Tarshish\
Wail, you inhabitants of the coast!
7Is this your exciting city,
that was founded long ago,
whose feet carried her
to settle in far-off lands?
8Who has planned this
against Tyre,
that bestower of crowns,
whose merchants were princes,
whose traders were the most renowned on earth?
9The Lord of the Heavenly Armies has planned it\
to neutralize all the hubris of grandeur,
to discredit all the renowned men of earth.
10gCultivate your land like the Nile,
you daughter of Tarshish;
for there is no longer a harbor.
11He has stretched out his hand over the sea;
he has made kingdoms tremble.
The Lord has issued orders concerning Canaan
to destroy its strongholds.
12And he said:
eYou will revel no longer,
you virgin daughter of Sidon,
now crushed.
Get up, cross over to Cyprus\
but even there you will find no rest.fh
13gLook at the land of the Chaldeans!
This is a people that no longer exist;
Assyria destined her for desert creatures.
They raised up her siege towers,
they stripped her fortresses bare
and turned her into a ruin.
14Wail, you ships of Tarshish,
because your stronghold is destroyed!h
15It will happen at that time that Tyre will be forgotten for 70 years, the span of a kingfs life. Then, at the end of those 70 years, it will turn out for Tyre as in the prostitutefs song:
16gTake a harp;
walk around the city,
you forgotten whore!
Make sweet melody;
sing many songs,
and perhaps youfll be remembered.h
17At the end of 70 years, the Lord will deal with Tyre, at which time shefll return to her courtesanfs trade, and prostitute herself with the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth. 18Nevertheless, her profits and her earnings will be dedicated to the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded\but her profits will go to those who live in the Lordfs presence, for abundant food and choice clothing.
Chapter 24
1gWatch out! The Lord is about to depopulate the land
and devastate it;
he will turn it upside down
and scatter its inhabitants.
2It will be the same for the lay people as for priests,
the same for servants as for their masters,
for female servants as for their mistresses,
for buyers as for sellers,
for lenders as for borrowers,
and for creditors as for debtors.
3The earth will be utterly depopulated
and completely laid waste \
for the Lord has spoken this message.
4gThe earth dries up and withers;
the world languishes and fades away;
heaven fades away,
along with the earth.
5The earth lies defiled
beneath its inhabitants;
because they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
and broken the everlasting covenant.
6Therefore the curse keeps on consuming,
and its inhabitants are declared guilty.
Furthermore, the inhabitants of earth are ablaze,
and few people are left.
7The new wine evaporates;
the vine and the oil dry up;
all the merrymakers groan.
8gThe celebrations of the tambourine have ended,
the noise of the jubilant has stopped,
and the mirth that the harp produces has ended.
9No longer do they drink wine
accompanied by singing;
even beer tastes bitter to those who drink it.
10The chaotic city lies broken down;
every house is closed up
so that no one can enter them.
11There is an outcry in the streets over wine;
all cheer turns to gloom;
the fun times of the earth are banished.
12Desolation remains in the city
whose gates lie battered into ruins.
13So it will be on the earth
and among the nations\
as when an olive tree is beaten,
or as gleanings when the grape harvest has ended.h
14gThey raise their voices;
they shout for joy;
from the west they shout aloud
over the Lordfs majesty.
15Therefore, you in the east,
give glory to the Lord!
You in the coastlands of the sea,
give glory to the name of the Lord God of Israel!
16From the ends of the earth
we hear songs of praise:
eGlory to the Righteous One!f
gBut I say, eI am pining away,
Ifm pining away.
How terrible things are for me!
For treacherous people betray\
treacherous people are betraying with treachery!fh
17gTerror and pit and snare are coming in your direction,
you inhabitants of the earth!
18Whoever flees at the sound of terror
will fall into a pit,
and whoever climbs out of the pit
will be caught in a snare.
For the windows of judgment from above are opened,
and the foundations of the earth are shaken.
19The earth is utterly shattered,
the earth is split apart,
the earth is violently shaken.
20The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard;
it sways like a hut;
its transgression lies so heavy upon it,
that it falls, never to rise again.
21gAnd it will come about at that time,
the Lord will punish
the armies of the exalted ones in the heavens,
and the rulers of the earth on earth.
22They will be herded together
into the Pit;
they will be shut up in prison,
and after many days they will be punished.
23Then the moon will be embarrassed
and the sun ashamed,
for the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem;
and in the presence of its elders
there will be glory.h
Chapter 25
1Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for you have done marvelous things,
plans made long ago in faithfulness and truth.
2For you have made the city a heap of rubble,
the fortified city into a ruin;
the foreignersf citadel is no longer a city\
it will never be rebuilt!
3Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will revere you.
4For you have been a stronghold for the poor,
a stronghold for the needy in distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat\
for the blistering attack from the ruthless
is like a rainstorm beating against a wall,
5and the noise of foreigners is like the heat of the desert.
Just as you subdue heat by the shade of clouds,
so the victory songs of violent men will be stilled.
6gOn this mountain, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will prepare for all peoples
a banquet of rich food,
a banquet of well-aged wines\
rich food full of marrow,
and refined wines of the finest vintage
7And on this mountain, he will swallow up
the burial shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations\
8he has swallowed up death forever!
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and he will take away the disgrace of his people
from the entire earth.h
for the Lord has spoken.
9gAnd you will say at that time,
eLook! Itfs the Lord! This is our God!
We waited for him,
and he saved us.
This is the Lord!
We waited for him,
so let us rejoice,
and we will be glad that he has saved us.h
10For the Lordfs power will rest on this mountain,
but the Moabites will be trodden down beneath him,
just as straw is trodden down
in the slime of a manure pit.
11They will spread out their hands in the thick of it,
just as swimmers spread out their hands to swim,
but the Lord will bring down their pride,
together with the cleverness of their hands.
12He brings down the high fortifications of your walls
and lays them low;
he will raze them to the ground,
right down to the dust.
Chapter 26
1At that time, people will sing this song in the land of Judah:
gWe have a strong city;
God crafts victory,
its walls and ramparts.
2Open your gates,
so the righteous nation that safeguards its faith may enter.
3You will keep perfectly peaceful
the one whose mind remains focused on you,
because he remains in you.
4gTrust in the Lord forever,
for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.
5For he has made drunk
the inhabitants of the height,
the lofty city.
He lays it low to the ground
casting it down to the dust,
6by the feet of the oppressed who trample it,
by the footsteps of the needy.
7gThe path of the righteous is level;
O Upright One,
you make safe the way of justice.
8Yes, Lord, in the path of your judgments we wait;
your name and your Law are the soulfs desire.
9My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me searches for you.
For when your judgments come upon the earth,
the worldfs inhabitants learn righteousness.
10If favor is shown to the wicked,
they donft learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they act perversely
and do not perceive the majesty of the Lord.
11gLord, your hand is lifted up,
but they do not see it.
And let them see your zeal for your people
and be put to shame\
yes, let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them!
12Lord, you will decide peace for us,
for you have indeed accomplished
all our achievements for us.
13O Lord our God,
other lords besides you have ruled over us,
but through you alone
we acknowledge your name.
14The dead wonft live,
and the departed spirits wonft rise\
to that end, you punished and destroyed them,
then locked away all memory of them.
15gBut you have enlarged the nation, Lord;
you have enlarged the nation.
You have gained honor;
you have extended all the borders of the land.
16Lord, they came to you in distress;
they poured out their secret prayer
when your chastenings were afflicting them.
17Just as a pregnant woman writhes
and cries out during her labor
when she is about to give birth,
so were we because of you, Lord.
18We were pregnant, writhing in pain,
but we gave birth only to wind.
We have not won your victory on earth,
nor have the inhabitants of the world been born.h
19gBut your dead will live; their bodies will rise.
Those who live in the dust will wake up and shout for joy!
For your dew is like the dew of dawn,
and the earth will give birth to the dead.
20Come, my people, enter your rooms
and shut your doors behind you.
Hide yourselves for a little while
until the fury has passed by.
21For see, the Lord is coming from his place
to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins;
the earth will reveal the blood that has been shed on it,
and will no longer conceal its slain.h
Chapter 27
1At that time, with his fierce, mighty, and powerful sword, the Lord will punish the gliding serpent Leviathan\the coiling serpent Leviathan\and he will kill the dragon thatfs in the sea.
2At that time,
gA fermenting vineyard\
sing about it!
3I, the Lord, watch over it
And I water it continually.
I guard it night and day
so no one can harm it.
4I am not angry.
If only the vineyard could give me briers and thorns to battle,
I would march against it,
and I would burn it all up.
5Or else let it lay claim to my protection;
let it make peace with me,
yes, let it make peace with me.h
6In times to come, Jacob will take root,
and Israel will blossom, sprout shoots,
and fill the whole world with fruit.
7Has the Lord struck them down,
just as he struck down those who struck them?
Or have they been killed,
just as their killers were killed?
8Measure by measure,
in their exile you contended with them;
with his fierce blast he removed them,
as on a day when the east wind blows.
9By this, then, Jacobfs guilt will be atoned for,
and this will be the full harvest
that comes from the removal of his sin:
when he makes all the altar stones
like pulverized chalkstones,
no Asherah poles or incense altars will be left standing.
10For the fortified city stands desolate,
a settlement abandoned and forsaken like the desert;
calves graze there,
and there they lie down
and strip bare its branches.
11When its branches are dry,
they are broken off,
and women come and kindle fires with them,
since this is a people who show no consideration.
That is why the One who made them shows them no compassion;
the One who created them shows them no mercy.
12At that time, the Lord will winnow grain from the Euphrates River channel to the Wadi of Egypt, and you will be gathered in one by one, O people of Israel. 13Furthermore, at that time, a great trumpet will be sounded, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and those who had been expelled to the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on his holy mountain at Jerusalem.
Chapter 28
1How terrible it will be for that arrogant garland\
the drunks of Ephraim!
How terrible it will be for that fading flower of his glorious beauty,
which sits on the heads of people bloated with food,
of people overcome with wine!
2Look! The Lord has one who is mighty and strong,
like a hailstorm and destructive tempest,
like a storm of mighty, overflowing water\
and he will give rest to the land.
3With hands and feet, that proud garland\
those drunks of Ephraim\will be trampled.
4And that fading flower, his glorious beauty,
which sits on the heads of people bloated with food,
will be like an early fig before summer\
whenever someone sees it, he swallows it
as soon as itfs in his hand.
5At that time, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will become a glorious crown,
a beautiful diadem for the remnant of his people,
6and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment,
a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7These people also stagger from wine
and reel from strong drink.
Priests and prophets stagger from strong drink;
theyfre drunk from wine;
they reel from strong drink,
waver when seeing visions,
and stumble when rendering decisions.
8For all the tables are covered in vomit and filth,
with no clean space left.
9To whom will he teach knowledge,
and to whom will he explain the message?
To children just weaned from milk?
To those just taken from the breast?
10For it is: gDo this and do that,
do this and do that,
Line upon line, line upon line,
a little here, a little there.h
11Very well, then, through the mouths of foreigners
and foreign languages
 the Lord will speak to this people
12to whom he said,
gThis is the resting place,
so give rest to the wearyhf
and,
gThis is the place of reposeh\
but they would not listen.
13So, then, the message from the Lord to them will become:
gDo this and do that,
do this and do that,
line upon line,
line upon line,
a little here,
a little there,h
so that they will go,
but fall backward,
and be injured, snared, and captured.
14gTherefore hear the message from the Lord, you scoffers
who rule this people that are in Jerusalem.
15Because you said:
eWe have entered into a covenant with death,
and we have an agreement with Sheol,
so when the overwhelming scourge makes its choice,
it cannot reach us,
since we have made lies our refuge
and have concealed ourselves inside falsehoodf
16therefore this is what the Lord God says:
gLook! I am laying a foundation stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation:
Whoever believes firmly will not act hastily.
17And I will make justice the measuring line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge of lies,
and floods will overflow your hiding place.
18gThen your covenant with death will be annulled,
and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
when the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be trampled by it.
19As often as it sweeps through,
it will carry you away,
for it will sweep by morning after morning in the day;
but understanding this message will bring sheer terror at night,
20because the bed is too short to stretch out on,
and its blankets too narrow to wrap around oneself!
21For the Lord will stand upon Mount Perazim,
he will rouse himself in the Valley of Gibeon;
to carry out his work\
his strange deed,
and to perform his task\
his alien task!
22But as for you, donft start mocking,
or your chains will become tighter;
for I have heard from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies about destruction,
and it is decreed against the whole land.
23gPay attention!
Listen to what I have to say;
Pay attention,
and hear my speech.
24Does he who plows for sowing plow all the time?
Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing his field?
25When he has leveled its surface,
he scatters caraway and sows cumin, doesnft he?
He plants wheat in rows,
barley in its designated place,
and feed for livestock around its borders, doesnft he?
26His God instructs him regarding the correct way,
directing him how to plant.
27For caraway is not threshed with a sharp sledge,
nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin.
Instead, caraway is winnowed with a stick,
and cumin with a rod.
28It must be ground;
one cannot keep threshing it forever.
Even if he drives his cart and horses over it,
he cannot crush it.
29This insight also comes from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
who is distinguished in practical advice
and magnificent in sound wisdom.h
Chapter 29
1gHow terrible it will be for you, Aruel, Aruel,
the city where David encamped!
Year after year,
let your festivals run their cycle.
2Then Ifll besiege Aruel,
and there will be sorrow and mourning;
she will become to me like an altar fireplace.
3Then Ifll encamp against you like David,
and Ifll lay siege to you with towers,
raise siege works against you,
4and you will be brought down.
You will speak from the ground,
and your speech will mumble from the dust.
Your voice will come ghostlike from the ground,
and your speech will whisper from the dust.
5gBut the hordes of your enemies
will become like fine dust,
and the hordes of tyrants like flying chaff.
Then suddenly, in an instant,
6you will be visited by the Lord of the Heavenly Armies\
with thunder, an earthquake, and great noise,
with a windstorm, a tempest,
and flames from a devouring fire.
7Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Aruel,
all that attack her and her fortification and besiege her,
will become like a dream, with its visions in the night\
8as when a hungry man dreams\
he eats, but wakes up still hungry;
or when a thirsty man dreams\
he drinks, but wakes up faint,
with his thirst unquenched.
So will it be with the hordes of all the nations
that fight against Mount Zion.
9gAct stupid!
Be astonished!
Act blind,
and be blind!
Be drunk, but not from wine;
stagger around, but not from strong drink.
10For the Lord has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep\
he has closed your eyes, you prophets,
he has covered your heads, you seers!h
11gAnd this entire vision has become for you like the words of a sealed book. When people give it to someone who can read, and say, eRead this, please,f he answers, eI cannot, because it is sealed.f 12Or when they give the book to someone who cannot read, and say, eRead this, please,f he answers, eI donft know how to read.fh
13Then the Lord said:
gBecause these people draw near with their mouths
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me,
worship of me has become
merely like rules taught by human beings.
14Therefore, watch out!
gAs for me, I will once again
do amazing things with this people,
wonder upon wonder.
The wisdom of their wise men will perish,
and the insights of their discerning men will stay hidden.h
15gHow terrible it will be for you who go to great depths
to hide your plans from the Lord,
you whose deeds have been done in the dark,
and who say, eWho can see us?
Who has recognized us?f
16He has turned the tables on you\
as if the potter were thought to be like heat.
Can what is made say of the one who made it,
eHe did not make me?f
Or can what is formed say of the ones who formed it,
eHe has no skill?f
17gIn a very little while,
will not Lebanon be turned into a garden of fruit,
and the garden of fruit seem like a forest?
18On that day the deaf will hear
the words of a scroll,
and out of gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind will see.
19The humble will again experience joy in the Lord,
and the poorest people will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20For the ruthless will vanish,
and mockers will disappear,
and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down\
21those who make a person appear to be the offender in a lawsuit,
who set a trap for someone
who is making his defense in court,
and push aside the innocent
with specious arguments.
22gTherefore, this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says concerning the house of Jacob:
eNo longer will Jacob be ashamed;
no longer will his face grow pale.
23For when he sees in his midst his children,
the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24Moreover, those who go astray in spirit will gain understanding,
and those who complain will accept instruction.fh
Chapter 30
1gOh, you stubborn children,h declares the Lord,
gwho carry out plans\
but they are not mine,
and who make alliances\
but not by my Spirit,
piling sin upon sin.
2They set out to go down to Egypt,
without asking my advice;
taking refuge in Pharaohfs protection,
and seeking shelter in Egyptfs shadow.
3But Pharaohfs protection will become your shame,
and sheltering in Egyptfs shadow your longing.
4And it will turn out that his officials are at Zoan,
and his envoys will reach Hanes.
5There is only loathsome destruction
through a people that cannot benefit them,
who bring neither help nor profit,
but only shame and disgrace.h
6An oracle about the animals of the Negev:
gThrough a land of trouble, dryness, and distress,
of lionesses and roaring lions,
where there is no water,
a land of vipers and darting snakes,
he carries their riches on donkeysf backs,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a nation that cannot benefit them,
7to Egypt, which gives help that is worthless and useless.
Therefore I call her,
eRahab, who just sits still.fh
8gGo now, and write it down on a tablet in their presence,
inscribing it in a book,
so that for times to come
it may be an everlasting witness.
9For they are a rebellious people,
deceitful children,
children unwilling to hear
the Lordfs instruction.
10They say to the seers,
eDonft see visions,f
and to the prophets,
eDonft give us visions of what is right!
Instead, tell us welcome things, prophesy illusions,
11get out of the way,
turn aside from the path,
and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel.h
12Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says:
gBecause you reject this message,
and put your trust in oppression and enjoy it,
and since you rely on it,
13therefore, for you this sin will become
like a breach in a high wall that is about to collapse,
bulging out,
and whose crash comes suddenly\in an instant.
14Its breaking will be like when pottersf vessels are broken,
shattered so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not even a broken sliver will be found
for taking fire from a hearth
or scooping water out of a cistern.h
15For this is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says:
gIn repentance and rest you will be saved;
in staying calm and trusting will be your strength.
But you refused.
16Instead, you said,
eNo! Wefll escape on horses!f
Therefore, youfll flee away.
And you said,
eWefll ride off on swift steeds!f
Therefore your pursuers will be swift.
17A thousand will flee at the threat of one;
and run away, pursued by five,
until you are left
like a flagpole on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.h
18gNevertheless, the Lord will wait
so he can be gracious to you;
and thus he will rise up to show you mercy.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
How blessed are all those who wait for him.h
19Indeed, you people who live in Zion and in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious the Lord will be to you at the sound of your cry! As soon as he hears it, he will answer you. 20And although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers wonft hide themselves anymore, but your own eyes will see your teachers. 21And whether you turn to the right or turn to the left, your ears will hear a message behind you: gThis is the way, walk in it.h 22Then you will defile your carved idols that are overlaid with silver and your images plated with gold. Youfll throw them away like disgusting objects and say to them, gAway with you!h
23He will also provide rain for your seed that you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the ground will be rich and abundant. At that time, your cattle will graze in broad meadows, 24and oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder that workers will winnow with shovels and forks. 25And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks and canals running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
26Moreover, the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the sunfs light will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.
27See, the name of the Lord comes from far away,
burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke;
his lips are full of fury,
and his tongue is like a devouring fire.
28His breath is like an overflowing torrent,
and it rises right up to the neck,
to shake the nations in the sieve of destruction,
and to place in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray.
29You will have songs as on nights when people celebrate a holy festival, and gladness of heart, as when they set out with flutes to go to the Lordfs mountain, to the Rock of Israel.
30And the Lord will make heard\yes, he will make heard\his majestic voice, and make his arm seen descending in raging anger and in a flame of consuming fire, with a cloudburst, thunderstorm and hailstones. 31Indeed, the Assyrians will be shattered at the Lordfs voice, when he strikes them with his scepter. 32And every stroke of his punishing rod that the Lord brings down on them will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, as he fights against her in battle with a brandished arm.
33For the Fire Pit has long been prepared; truly it is for the king; it will indeed be made ready. And its pyre will be deep and wide, with abundant fire and wood. Like a stream of burning sulfur, the breath of the Lord will set it ablaze.
Chapter 31
1gHow terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the chariot,
because there are so many,
and in charioteers,
because they are so strong\
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel
or seek the Lord!
2Yet he is also wise and can bring disaster;
he does not take back his words,
but will rise up against the house of those who practice evil
and against anyone who assists people who work iniquity.
3The Egyptians are men, not God,
and their horses are physical, not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,
anyone who assists will stumble,
and the one who is helped will fall;
and they will all perish together.h
4For this is what the Lord told me:
gJust as a lion or a young lion growls over his objects of prey,\
even when a whole band of shepherds is called out against it,
it is not alarmed at their shouting
or disturbed by their clamor\
so the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will come down
to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill.
5Like birds hovering overhead,
so the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will protect Jerusalem;
he will shield and deliver it;
and he will pass over and bring it to safety.
6Turn back to him, yes to him whom your people have so greatly betrayed, you people of Israel. 7For at that time, everyone will throw away their idols of silver and their idols of gold that your hands have sinfully made for yourselves.
8gThen Assyria will fall by a sword
that is not from human beings only\
a sword not wielded by mortal beings will devour them.
They will flee from the sword,
and their young men will be put to forced labor.
9Their stronghold will vanish by reason of terror,
and their commanders will be filled with alarm
because of the battle standard,h
declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion
and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Chapter 32
1gLook, a king will reign in righteousness,
and rulers will rule with justice.
2Each one will be like a shelter from the wind
and a hiding place from storms,
like streams of water in the desert,
in the shadow of a great rock in an exhausted land.
3Then the eyes of those who can see wonft turn away,
and the ears of those who can hear will listen.
4The hearts of reckless people will understand sound judgment,
and the tongues of those who stammer will be ready to speak clearly.
5People will no longer call a fool noble,
nor will a bad person be declared honorable.
6For fools utter contempt,
and their minds plot wrong things:
practicing ungodliness,
spreading lies about the Lord,
leaving the pangs of hungry people unsatisfied,
and depriving thirsty people of drink.
7Furthermore, the crimes of bad people are evil;
and they devise wicked schemes,
destroying the poor with lying words,
even when needy people plead a just cause.
8But those who are decent plan noble things,
and by noble deeds they stand.h
9gAs for you ladies of leisure\
Get up and listen to my voice!
You daughters who feel so complacent\
hear what I have to say!
10In little more than a year,
you complacent women will shudder;
for the grape harvest will fail,
and the fruit harvest will not come.
11So tremble, you ladies of leisure!
Shudder, you daughters who feel so complacent!
Strip down and make yourselves naked down to the waist!
Then wrap yourself in sackcloth and beat your breasts.
12For people will be beating their breasts
in mourning over the pleasant fields,
over the fruitful vines,
13and over the land of my people
overgrown with thorns and briers\
yes, over all the houses of merriment
and over this city of revelry.
14gFor the palace will be abandoned,
the noisy city deserted;
the citadel and watchtower
will become barren wastes forever,
the delight of wild donkeys,
and a pasture for flocks,
15until the Spirit from on high is poured upon us,
and the desert becomes a fertile field,
and the fertile field seems like a forest.h
16gThen justice will live in the wilderness,
and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field.
17The effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
18My people will live in peaceful dwellings,
in secure homes and in undisturbed resting places.
19But it will hail when the forest comes down,
and the wood will be leveled completely.
20How happy you will be, sowing your seed beside every stream,
and letting your cattle and donkeys range freely!h
Chapter 33
1gHow terrible it will be for you, destroyer,
you who have not been destroyed yourself!
And how terrible it will be for you, traitor,
one whom people have not betrayed!
When you have sunk so low in destroying others,
you will be destroyed;
and when you have finished betraying,
they will betray you.h
2gLord, be gracious to us; we long for you;
and be our strength every morning,
our salvation in times of trouble.
3At the thunder of your voice, the peoples flee;
at your silence, the nations scatter.
4Your plunder is gathered as when grasshoppers gather;
just like locusts pounce, people have pounced on it.
5gThe Lord is exalted, for he lives on high;
he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6He will be a sure foundation for your times,
abundance and salvation, wisdom and knowledge \
the fear of the Lord is Zionfs treasure.h
7gListen! Their brave men cry out in the streets;
the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
8The highways are deserted;
travelers have quit the road.
The enemy has broken treaties;
he despises their witnesses,
and respects no one.
9The land mourns and wastes away;
Lebanon feels ashamed and withers.
Sharon is like a desert;
Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.h
10gNow Ifll rise up,h the Lord has said,
gnow Ifll exalt myself;
now Ifll be lifted up.
11You conceive dried grass, you give birth to stubble;
your breath is a fire that will consume you.
12And the peoples will be burned as if to ashes;
like cut thorn bushes, they will be set ablaze.
13gThose who are far away have heard what Ifve done;
and those that are near have acknowledged my power.
14The sinners in Zion are terrified;
trembling grips the godless:
gWho among us can live with the consuming fire?
Who among us can live with everlasting flames?h
15The one who walks righteously and has spoken sincere words,
who rejects gain from extortion
and waves his hand,
rejecting bribes,
who blocks his ears from hearing plots of murder
and shuts his eyes against seeing evil\
16this is the one who will live on the heights;
his refuge will be a mountain fortress.
His food will be supplied,
and his water will be guaranteed.
17gYour eyes will see the king in his elegance,
and will view a land that stretches afar.
18Your mind will ponder at that time of terror:
eWhere is the kingfs accountant?
Where is the one who weighed the revenue?
Where is the officer who supervises the towers?f
19No longer will you see those arrogant people,
those people with their obscure speech you cannot comprehend,
stammering in a language you cannot understand.
20gLook at Zion, city of our festivals!
Your eyes will see Jerusalem,
an undisturbed abode, an immovable tent;
its stakes will never be pulled up,
nor will any of its ropes be broken.
21But there the Lord in majesty will be for us
our source of broad rivers and streams,
where no galley with oars can go,
where no stately ship can sail.
22For the Lord is our judge,
and the Lord is our lawgiver;
and the Lord is our king,
and it is he who will save us.
23gYour rigging hangs loose;
it cannot reliably hold the mast in its place,
and the sail cannot spread out.
Then an abundance of spoils will be divided \
even the lame will carry off plunder.
24And no one living there will say, eI am ill.f
The people living there will have their sins forgiven.h
Chapter 34
1gCome near, you nations, to listen,
and pay attention, you peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;
the world, and all that comes out of it.
2For the Lord is angry against all the nations,
and furious against all their armies.
He has doomed them to destruction,
and given them up to be slaughtered.
3Their slain will be thrown out;
and as for their dead bodies\
their stench will ascend;
the mountains will be soaked with their blood.
4The valleys will be split,
all the stars in the heavens will fall down,
and the skies will be rolled up like a scroll.
All their starry host will fade away
like leaves withering on a vine,
or fruit withering on a fig tree.
5For my sword will be seen in the heavens.
Look! It descends in judgment on Edom,
on the people I have doomed to destruction.
6The Lord has a sword bathed in blood;
itfs covered with fat,
with the blood of lambs and goats,
and with fat from the kidneys of rams.h
gFor the Lord holds a sacrifice in Bozrah,
and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
7Wild oxen will fall together with them\
young steers and mighty bulls.
Their land will be drenched with blood,
and their soil will be swollen with fat.
8For the Lord has a day of vengeance,
a year of recompense for Zionfs cause.
9Edomfs streams will be turned into burning sulfur,
and its dust into sulfur;
its land will become pitch.
10It will burn night and day,
and will never be extinguished.
Its smoke will rise from generation to generation,
and it will lie desolate forever and ever.
And no one will pass through it.
11gBut hawks and hedgehogs will possess it;
owls and ravens will nest in it.
God will stretch out over it a measuring line, and chaos,
and plumb lines of emptiness, and its nobles.
12They will name it gNo Kingdom There,h
and all its princes will come to nothing.
13Thorns will grow over its palaces,
nettles and brambles its fortresses.
It will become a haunt for jackals,
a home for ostriches.
14And desert creatures will meet with hyenas,
and goat-demons will call out to each other.
There also Liliths will settle,
and find for themselves a resting place.
15Owls will nest there, lay eggs,
hatch them, and care for their young
under the shadow of their wings;
yes indeed, vultures will gather there,
each one with its mate.h
16gStudy and read from the book of the Lord:
And not one will be missing,
each will not long for its mate.
For it is the mouth of the Lord that has issued the order,
and it is his Spirit that has gathered them.
17It is he who has allotted their portions,
and his hand has divided it for them with a measuring line forever.
They will possess it forever;
from generation to generation they will live in it.h
Chapter 35
1gThe desert and the dry land will rejoice;
the desert will celebrate and blossom. Like crocuses,
2it will burst into bloom,
and rejoice with gladness and shouts of joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3Strengthen the feeble hands,
and support the stumbling knees.
4Say to those with anxious hearts,
eBe strong, do not be afraid!
Here is your God\
he will bring vengeance,
he will bring divine retribution,
and he will save you.f
5gThen the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unblocked;
6then the lame will leap like deer,
and the tongues of speechless people will sing for joy.
Yes, waters will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will run through the desert;
7the burning sands will become a pool,
and the thirsty ground fountains of water.
In the haunts of jackals there will be
a verdant resting place with reeds and rushes.h
8gA highway will be there\yes, there\
and people will call it eThe Holy Wayf.
As for unclean people,
they will not journey on it,
but it will be for whomever is traveling on that Way\
not even fools will get lost.
9No lions will be there\
no\ nor will any ferocious beasts get up on it,
and they will not be found there.
gBut the redeemed will walk there,
10and the Lordfs ransomed ones will return
and enter Zion with singing.
Everlasting joy will rest upon their heads,
gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and mourning will flee away.h
Chapter 36
1In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 2Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander, along with a very large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. When the field commander stopped at the aqueduct at the Upper Pool on the road to Laundrymanfs Field, 3Hilkiahfs son Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the secretary, and Asaphfs son Joah, the recorder, went out to him.
4The field commander told them:
gTell Hezekiah, king of Judah, eThis is what the mighty king, the king of Assyria, has to say: What is this gguaranteeh that makes you yourself rely on it? 5Do you really think that guarantees alone can withstand strategy and military strength? On whom are you now depending, that youfre rebelling against me? 6Take note: youfre relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the palm of anyone who leans on it. This is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is like to everybody who depends on him!
7But if you all say to me, gWe are depending on the Lord our Godh\isnft he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, while he kept on telling Judah and Jerusalem, eYou are to worship in front of this altar in Jerusalemf? 8Come now, all of you, make a bet with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you can furnish riders for them! 9How, then, can you repulse even one officer from the least of my masterfs officials, when you are depending for yourselves on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 10One other thing: have I really marched against this country to destroy it apart from the Lordfs direction? The Lord himself ordered me, eMarch against this country to destroy it.fh
11Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah replied to him, gPlease speak with your servants\with us\in Aramaic, since we understand it. Donft speak to us in Hebrew where the people sitting on the wall can hear.h
12But the field commander asked, gWas it only to all of you and to your master that my master sent me to speak these things? Wasnft it also to the men sitting on the wall\who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?h
13Then the commander stood up and shouted out loud in Hebrew:
gHear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14This is what the king of Assyria says: eDonft let Hezekiah deceive you\for he cannot save you! 15Donft let Hezekiah persuade you to rely on the Lord when he says, gThe Lord will really deliver us!h and gThis city will never be handed over to the king of Assyria!h 16Donft listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: eMake your peace with me and come out to me. Then everyone will eat from his own vine and from his own fig tree, and everyone will drink water from his own cistern, 17until I come and take you away to a land like your own land\to a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.f 18Be careful not to let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, gThe Lord will save us.h Has any god of any nation ever delivered his country from the king of Assyria? 19Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they saved Samaria from me? 20Who among all the gods of these countries has delivered their land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from me?fh
21But the people remained silent and didnft respond to him with so much as a single word, because the king had commanded, gDonft answer him.h
22Then Hilkiahfs son Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the secretary, and Asaphfs son Joah, the recorder, approached Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and let him know what the field commander had said.
Chapter 37
1As soon as Hezekiah the king heard this, he tore his clothes, dressed himself in sackcloth, and went into the Lordfs Temple. 2Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all wearing sackcloth, to Amozfs son, the prophet Isaiah. 3gHere is what Hezekiah says,h they told him. gThis day is a day of trouble, rebuke, and disgrace, as when children come to the point of birth and there is no energy to deliver them. 4Perhaps the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, sent to mock the living God, and perhaps he will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard. So lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives in this city.h 5Thatfs why King Hezekiahfs officials came to Isaiah.
6gHere is what to tell your master,h Isaiah told them. gThis is what the Lord says: eDonft be afraid of the words youfve heard\those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have insulted me. 7Watch this! Ifm going to place an attitude within him, so that when he hears a certain report, hefll return to his own country. Then Ifll have him cut down by the sword in his own land.h
8So the field commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, since he had heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. 9Now King Sennacherib had received this report concerning King Tirhakah of Cush: gHe has marched out to fight against you.h
When he heard it, he returned and sent messengers to Hezekiah: 10gSay this to Hezekiah king of Judah: eDonft let your God on whom you depend deceive you when he says, gJerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.h 11Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all countries, dooming them to destruction. So do you think you will be saved? 12Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my ancestors save them\the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden, who were in Tel-assar? 13Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, or of Hena, or of Ivvah, or of Samaria?fh
14Hezekiah received the letters from the messengers, and read them. Then he went up to the Lordfs Temple and spread the letters in front of the Lord. 15Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:
16gO Lord of the Heavenly Armies, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you alone are the God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. 17Extend your ear, Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, Lord, and look! Listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God. 18It is true, Lord, that Assyrian kings have devastated all these countries, 19and have thrown their gods into the fire\but they are not gods, but rather the products of human hands, mere wood and stone. So the Assyrians destroyed them. 20So now, Lord our God, save us from his oppressive hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.h
21Then Amozfs son Isaiah sent this message to Hezekiah: gThis is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, to whom you prayed concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 22This is the message that the Lord has spoken in opposition to him:
geThe Virgin Daughter of Zion
despises and mocks you;
the Daughter of Jerusalem\
she tosses her head behind you as you flee.
23Whom have you insulted and reviled?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
24By your messengers you have insulted the Lord,
and you have said,
gWith my many chariots
I have climbed the heights of mountains,
the utmost heights of Lebanon.
I cut down its tallest cedars,
the choicest of its pines;
I reached its remotest heights,
the most verdant of its forests.
25I myself dug wells
and drank foreign waters;
with the soles of my feet
I dried up all the streams of Egypt.h
26geDidnft you hear
how in the distant past I decided to do it,
how I planned from days of old?
Now Ifve made it happen\
that fortified cities become devastated, besieged heaps.
27Their inhabitants are devoid of power,
and are terrified and put to shame.
Theyfve become like plants in the field,
like green shoots,
like grass on rooftops,
scorched by the east wind.
28geI know when you rise up
and when you sit down,
your comings and goings\
and how youfve become enraged at me.
29Your insolence has reached my ears,
so Ifll put my hook in your nose
and my bit in your mouth,
and Ifll make you turn back on the road
by which you came.
30gAnd this will be your sign, Hezekiah: Eat this year what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31Then the ones belonging to the house of Judah who have escaped will gather, and those who are found will take root downward and bear fruit upward. 32For a remnant will come out of Zion, and a band of survivors from Jerusalem. The zeal of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will accomplish this.
33gTherefore this what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: eHe wonft enter this city, build up a siege ramp against it, shoot an arrow here, or threaten it with a shield. 34By the same way that he came, he will return; he wonft enter this city,f declares the Lord, 35ebecause I will defend this city and deliver it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David!fh
36After this, the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When Hezekiahfs army awakened in the morning\there were all the dead bodies!
37King Sennacherib broke camp, retreated, returned home to Nineveh, and remained there. 38Later, while he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with swords and escaped to the land of Ararat. Then Sennacheribfs son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.
Chapter 38
1During that time, Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Then Amozfs son Isaiah the prophet came to him and told him, gThis is what the Lord says: ePut your house in order, because you are going to die. You wonft recover.fh
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. 3gPlease, Lord,h he said, gRemember how I have walked before you faithfully and with a true heart, and I have done what pleases you.h And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4Then this message from the Lord came to Isaiah: 5gGo tell Hezekiah, eThis is what the Lord God of your ancestor David has to say: gIfve heard your prayer and Ifve seen your tears; so I will add fifteen years to your life. 6Ifll save you and this city from the king of Assyria, and Ifll defend this city, for my own sake and for my servant Davidfs sake. 7This is the Lordfs sign to you that the Lord will carry out this thing he has promised: 8Watch! I will make the shadow on the steps of the upper dial of Ahaz that marks the sun go ten steps backwards.hfh
Then the sunlight turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had gone down.
9?A composition by King Hezekiah of Judah, following his illness and recovery:
10I said, gMust I leave in the prime of my life?
Must I be consigned to the control of Sheol?
Bitter are my years!h
11I said, gI wonft see the Lord in the land of the living;
and Ifll no longer observe human beings
among the denizens of the grave.
12My house has been plucked up and vanishes from me
like a shepherdfs tent;
like a weaver, Ifve taken account of my life,
and he cuts me off from the loom\
day and night you make an end of me.
13Ifve been swept bare until morning;
just like a lion, he breaks all my bones\
day and night you make an end of me.
14Like a swallow or a crane I chirp,
I moan like a dove.
My eyes look weakly upward.
O Lord, I am oppressed, so stand up for me!
15What can I say, so I tell myself,
since he has done this to me?
I will walk slowly all my years
because of my soulfs anguish.
16gMy Lord is against them, yet they live,
and among all of them who live is his spirit.
Now you have restored me to health,
so let me live!
17Yes, it was for my own good
that I suffered extreme anguish.
But in love you have held back my life
from the Pit in which it has been confined;
you have tossed all my sins
behind your back.
18For Sheol cannot thank you,
death cannot sing your praise;
and those who go down to the Pit cannot hope
for your faithfulness.
19The living\yes the living\they thank you,
just as I am doing today;
fathers will tell their children
about your faithfulness.
20The Lord will save me,
and we will play my music on strings
all the days of our lives
in the Lordfs Temple.
21Now Isaiah had said, gLet them prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.h
22Hezekiah also had asked, gWhat will be the sign for me to go up to the Lordfs Temple?h
Chapter 39
1At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, when he heard he had been sick and had survived. 2Hezekiah was delighted with them, and showed them everything in his treasure-houses\the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oils, his entire armory, and everything found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked him, gWhat did these men have to say? And from where did they come to you?h
Hezekiah replied, gFrom a distant land\they came to me from Babylon.h
4gWhat did they see in your palace?h he asked.
gThey saw everything in my palace,h Hezekiah replied. gThere is nothing in my treasuries that I did not show them.h
5Then Isaiah told Hezekiah, gListen to this message from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies: 6eThe days are surely coming when everything in your palace and all that your ancestors have stored up to this day will be carried off to Babylon. They will come in, and nothing will be left,f says the Lord. 7eThen some of your own sons, who will come from your loins, whom you will father, will be taken away to become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.fh
8gThe message from the Lord that you have spoken is good,h Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, since he was thinking, gcat least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.h
Chapter 40
1gComfort! Yes, comfort my people,h
says your God.
2gSpeak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her heavy service has been completed,
that her penalty has been paid,
that she has received from the Lordfs hand
double for all her sins.h
3A voice cries out:
eIn the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
and in the desert a straight highway for our God.f
4Every valley will be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill will be lowered;
the rough ground will become level,
and the mountain ridges made a plain.
5Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all humanity will see it at once;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.h
6A voice says, gCry out!h
So I asked, gWhat am I to cry out?h
gAll humanity is grass,
and all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field.
7Grass withers and flowers fade away
when the Lordfs breath blows on them;
surely the people are like grass.
8Grass withers and flowers fade away,
when the Lordfs breath blows on them,
but the word of our God will stand forever. g
9gClimb up a high mountain,
you messenger of good news to Zion!
Lift up your voice with strength,
you messenger to Jerusalem!
Lift it up!
Donft be afraid!
Say to the towns of Judah,
eHere is your God!f
10Look! The Lord God comes with strength,
and his arm rules for him.
Look! His reward is with him,
and his payment accompanies him.
11Like a shepherd, he tends his flock.
He gathers the lambs in his arms,
carries them close to his heart,
and gently leads the mother sheep.h
12gWho has measured the waters of the sea
in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens
by the width of his hand?
Who has enclosed the dust of the earth
in a measuring bowl,
or weighed the mountains
in scales
and the hills in a balance?
13Who has fathomed the Spirit of the Lord,
or as his counselor has taught him?
14With whom did he consult
to enlighten and instruct him on the path of justice?
Or who taught him knowledge
and showed him the way of wisdom?
15gLook! The nations are like a drop in a bucket,
and are reckoned as dust on the scales.
Look! He even lifts up the islands like powder!
16Lebanon would not provide enough fuel,
nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.
17All the nations are as nothing before him\
they are reckoned by him as nothing and chaos.
18gTo whom, then, will you compare me, the One who is God?
Or to what image will you liken me?
19To an idol? A craftsman makes the image,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and casts silver chains.
20To the impoverished person?
He prepares an offering\
wood that wonft rot\
Or to the one who chooses a skilled craftsman
and seeks to erect an idol that wonft topple?h
21gYou know, donft you?
You have heard, havenft you?
Hasnft it been told you from the beginning?
Havenft you understood from the foundations of the earth?
22Hefs the one who sits above the disk of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.
Hefs the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to live in,
23who brings princes to nothing,
and makes void the rulers of the earth.
24No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner have their stems taken root in the earth,
than he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest sweeps them away like stubble.
25gTo whom, then, will you compare me,
and to whom should I be equal?h
asks the Holy One.
26gLift your eyes up to heaven and see
who created all these\
the one who leads out their vast array of stars by number,
calling them all by name\
because of his great might
and his powerful strength\
and not one is missing.h
27gJacob, why do you say\
and Israel, why do you complain\
eMy predicament is hidden from the Lord,
and my cause is ignored by my God.f?
28Donft you know?
Havenft you heard?
The Lord is the eternal God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not grow tired or weary;
and his understanding cannot be fathomed.
29Hefs the one who gives might to the faint,
renewing strength for the powerless.
30Even boys grow tired and weary,
and young men collapse and fall,
31but those who keep waiting for the Lord will renew their strength.
Then theyfll soar on wings like eagles;
theyfll run and not grow weary;
theyfll walk and not grow tired.h
Chapter 41
1gBe silent before me, you coastlands,
and let the people renew their strength!
Let them come forward,
then let them speak together\
letfs draw near for a ruling.
2Who has aroused victory from the east,
and has summoned it to his service,
and has handed over nations to him?
Who brings down kings,
and turns them into dust with his sword,
into windblown stubble with his bow?
3And who pursues them
and moves on unscathed
by a path that his feet donft know?
4Who has performed and carried this out,
calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord\the first
and will be with the last
\I am the One!h
5gThe coastlands have looked and are afraid;
the ends of the earth have drawn near together
and come forward.
6Each helps his neighbor,
saying to each other, eBe strong!f
7The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,
and the hammersmith encourages the one who strikes the anvil.
He says about the welding, eItfs good!f
and he reinforces it with nails so that it wonft topple.h
8gBut as for you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom Ifve chosen,
the offspring of my friend Abraham\
9you whom I encouraged from the ends of the earth
and called from its farthest corners,
and told you, eYoufre my servant,
Ifve chosen you
and havenft cast you aside.f
10Donft be afraid,
because Ifm with you;
donft be anxious,
because I am your God.
I keep on strengthening you;
Ifm truly helping you.
Ifm surely upholding you
with my victorious right hand.h
11gLook! All who are enraged at you
will be put to shame and disgraced;
those who contend with you
will all die.
12Those who quarrel with you
will be as nothing;
those who fight you
like nothing at all!h
13gFor I am the Lord your God,
who takes hold of your right hand,
who says to you, eDonft be afraid.
Ifll help you.
14Donft be afraid, you little worm Jacob,
and you insects of Israel!
I myself will help you,f declares the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.h
15gSee, Ifm making you into
a new, sharp, and multi-tooth threshing sledge.
Youfll thresh and crush the mountains,
and make the hills like chaff.
16Youfll winnow them, and the wind will lift them up,
and a tempest will blow them away.
Then youfll rejoice in the Lord,
and youfll make your boast in the Holy One of Israel.h
17gAs for the poor, the needy, those seeking water\
when there is none
and their tongues are parched from thirst\
I, the Lord, will answer them.
I, the God of Israel, wonft abandon them.
18Ifll open up rivers on the barren heights,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
Ifll turn the desert into a pool of water,
and the parched land into springs of water.
19Ifll put cedar trees in the wilderness,
along with acacia, myrtle, and olive trees.
Ifll plant cypresses in the desert\
box trees, and pine trees together\
20all so that people may see and recognize,
perceive, consider, and comprehend at the same time,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
and that the Holy One of Israel has created it.h
21gPut forward your case!h says the Lord.
gSubmit your arguments!h says Jacobfs King.
22Let them approach and ask us,
eWhat will happen?
As to the former things, what were they?
Tell us, so that we may consider them and know.
Or the latter things or the things to come\
let us hear.
23Tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods!
Yes, do something good or something bad,
so we may hear and gaze at it together.fh
24gLook! You and your work are less than nothing;
whoever finds you pleasing is disgusting.h
25gYou are stirring up one from the north,
and they are coming from the rising of the sun;
and he will be called by his name.
Rulers will arrive like mud;
just like a potter, he will trample the clay.
26Who told of this from the beginning,
so we could know,
or beforehand, so we could ask,
eIs it right?f
Indeed, no one told of this,
no one made an announcement,
and no one heard your words:
27First, to Zion: gThere is slumber.h
And to Jerusalem: gIfll send a messenger with good news.h
28But when I look, there is no one\
among them therefs no one to give counsel,
no one to give an answer when I ask them.
29See, none of them exist, and their deeds are nothing.
Their metal images are only wind and confusion.fh
Chapter 42
1gHere is my servant, whom I support,
my chosen one, in whom I delight.
Ifve placed my Spirit upon him;
and hefll deliver his justice throughout the world.
2He wonft shout,
or raise his voice,
or make it heard in the street.
3A crushed reed he will not break,
and a fading candle he wonft snuff out.
Hefll bring forth justice for the truth.
4And he wonft grow faint or be crushed
until he establishes justice on the mainland,
and the coastlands take ownership of his Law.h
5This is what God says\
the God who created the heavens
and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and its produce,
who gives breath to the people on it
and life to those who walk in it:
6 gIfve called you in righteousness.
Ifll take hold of your hand.
Ifll preserve you and appoint you
as a covenant to the people,
as a light for the nations,
7to open blind eyes
and to bring out those who are bound from their cells,
and those sitting in darkness from prison.
8I, the Lord, am the one,
and I wonft give my name and glory to another,
nor my praise to idols.
9See, the former things have taken place,
and Ifm announcing the new things\
before they spring into being
Ifm telling you about them.h
10Sing to the Lord a new song,
and his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who sail down the sea and by everything in it,
you coastlands and their inhabitants.
11Let the desert cry out,
its towns and the villages where Kedar lives;
and let those who live in Sela sing for joy.
Let them shout aloud from the mountaintops.
12Let them give glory to the Lord,
and declare his praise in the islands.
13The Lord marches out like a warrior;
he stirs up his rage like a man of war;
he makes his anger heard;
he shouts aloud;
he declares his mastery over his enemies:
14gI have certainly stayed silent for a long time;
Ifve kept still and held myself back.
Now, like a woman giving birth, Ifll cry out.
All of a sudden Ifll gasp and pant.
15Ifll devastate the mountains and hills,
and dry up all their vegetation;
Ifll turn rivers into islands,
and dry up the ponds.
16Ifll help the blind walk,
even on a road they do not know;
Ifll guide them
in directions they do not know.
Ifll turn the dark places into light in front of them,
and the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I wonft abandon them.
17Those who trust in carved idols
will turn back and be completely disappointed,
along with those who say to metal images,
eYou are our gods.fh
18gListen, you deaf people,
and look up, you blind people, so you may see!
19Who is blind except my servant,
or deaf like my messenger I am sending?
Who is blind like the one committed to me,
or blind like the Lordfs servant?
20Youfve seen many things, but you pay no attention.
His ears are open, but he doesnft listen.
21The Lord was pleased, for the sake of his vindication,
that he should magnify his Law and make it glorious.
22But this is a people who have been robbed and plundered,
all of them trapped in pits
or hidden away in prisons.
They have become prey, with no one to rescue them;
they have been made loot, with no one to say, eSend them back!f
23gWho among you will listen,
and pay attention,
and listen for the time to come?h
24gWho handed Jacob over to looters,
and Israel to robbers?
Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned?
After all, they werenft willing to walk in his ways,
and they wouldnft obey his instruction,
25so he drenched him with the heat that is his anger,
the violence of war.
It enveloped him in flames,
but still he had no insight.
It burned him up,
but he didnft take it to heart.h
Chapter 43
1But now this is what the Lord says,
the one who created you, Jacob,
the one who formed you, Israel:
gDo not be afraid, because Ifve redeemed you.
Ifve called you by name;
you are mine.
2When you pass through the waters, Ifll be with you;
and through the rivers, they wonft sweep over you.
when you walk through fire you wonft be scorched,
and the flame wonft set you ablaze.
3gI am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Redeemer.
And Ifve given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and the people of Seba in exchange for you.
4Since youfre precious in my sight
and honored,
and because I love you,
Ifm giving up people in your place,
and nations in exchange for your life.h
5gDonft be afraid, for I am with you;
Ifll bring your children from the east,
and gather you from the west.
6Ifll say to the north,
eGive them upf!
and to the south,
eDonft keep them back!f
Bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the ends of the earth\
7everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.
8gBring out the people who are blind, yet still have eyes,
who are deaf, yet still have ears!
9Let all the nations be gathered together,
and let the peoples be assembled.
gWho is there among them who can declare this,
or announce the former things?
Let them produce their witnesses to prove them right,
and let them proclaim so people will say, eItfs true.f
10gYou are my witnesses,h declares the Lord,
gand my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and trust me
and understand that I am the One.
Before me no God was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
11I, yes I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12Ifve revealed and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no foreign god among you \
and you are my witnesses,h declares the Lord.
13gI am God; also from ancient days I am the one.
And there is no one who can deliver out of my hand;
when I act, who can reverse it?h
14This is what the Lord says,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
gFor your sake I will send to Babylon,
and bring them all down as fugitives.
Now as for the Babylonians,
their ringing cry will become lamentation.
15I am the Lord, your Holy One,
Creator of Israel, and your King.h
16This is what the Lord says \
who makes a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17who brings out chariots and horsemen,
and armies and warriors at the same time.
They lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a candle:
18gDonft remember the former things;
donft dwell on things past.
19Watch! Ifm about to carry out something new!
And now itfs springing up\
donft you recognize it?
Ifm making a way in the wilderness
and paths in the desert.
20Wild animals, jackals, and owls will honor me
because I provide water in the desert
and streams in the wilderness
to give drink to my people, my chosen ones,
21the people whom I formed for myself
and so that they may speak my praise.h
22 gAnd yet you didnft call upon me, Jacob;
indeed, you are tired of me, Israel!
23You havenft brought me your sheep for a burnt-offering,
nor have you honored me with your sacrifices,
nor have you made meal offerings for me\
yet I have not tired you about incense!
24You havenft bought me sweet cane with money,
nor have you satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
You have only burdened me with your sins
and made me tired with your iniquities.
25gI, I am the one
who blots out your transgression for my own sake,
and Ifll remember your sins no more.
26Recount the brief!
Letfs argue the matter together;
Present your case,
so that you may be proved right.
27Your first ancestor sinned,
and your mediators rebelled against me.
28So Ifll disgrace the leaders of the Temple,
and Ifll consign Jacob to total destruction
and Israel to contempt.
Chapter 44
1gBut now listen, Jacob my servant
and Israel whom I have chosen:
2This what the Lord says, the one who made you,
formed you from the womb,
and who will help you:
gDonft be afraid, Jacob my servant,
and Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3For Ifll pour water upon thirsty ground
and streams on parched land.
So will I pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
and my blessing upon your descendants.
4Theyfll spring up as among the green grass,
like willows by flowing streams.
5One will say, eI belong to the Lord,f
and another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will have written on his hand, ethe Lordfs,f
and will adopt the name of Israel.h
6This is what the Lord says, the King of Israel
and its Redeemer\
the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name\
gI am the first and I am the last,
and apart from me there is no God.
7Who is like me? Let him proclaim
and declare it, and lay it out for himself\
since he made an ancient people.
And let him speak future events;
let them tell him what will happen.
8Donft tremble, and donft be afraid.
Didnft I tell you and announce it long ago?
You are my witnesses.
Is there any God besides me?
There is no other Rock\
I donft know of any.h
9Now, all the forming of images means nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their own witnesses cannot see, and they know nothing. So they will be put to shame.
10Who would shape a god or cast an image that profits nothing? 11To be sure, all who associate with it will be put to shame; and as for the craftsmen, they are only human. Let them all gather together and take their stand. Then let them be terrified\they will be humiliated together.
12The blacksmith prepares a tool and works in the coals, then fashions an idol with hammers, working by the strength of his arm. He even becomes hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.
13The carpenter measures it with a line; he traces its shape with a stylus, then fashions it with planes and shapes it with a compass. He makes the idol like a human figure, with human beauty, to be at home in a shrine. 14He cuts down cedars, or chooses a cypress tree or an oak, and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. Or he plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow. 15He divides it up for people to burn. Taking part of it, he warms himself, makes a fire, and bakes bread. Or perhaps he constructs a god and worships it. He makes it an idol and bows down to it. 16Half the wood he burns in the fire, and over that half he places meat so he can eat. He sits by its coals, warms himself, and says, gAh! I am warm in front of the fire.h 17And the rest of it he makes into a god. To blocks of wood he bows down, worships, prays, and says, gSave me, since you are my god.h
18They donft realize; they donft understand, because their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds, too, so they cannot understand. 19No one stops to think. No one has the knowledge or understanding to think\yes to think!\gHalf of it I burned in the fire. I even baked bread on its coals, and I roasted meat and ate it. And am I about to make detestable things from what is left? Am I about to bow down to blocks of wood?h 20He tends ashes. A deceived mind has lead him astray. It cannot be his life, nor can he say, gTherefs a lie in my right hand.h
21gRemember these things, Jacob,
Israel, for you are my servant.
I have formed you;
you are a servant to me.
Israel, you must not mislead me.
22Ifve wiped away your transgressions like a cloud
and your sins like mist.
Return to me;
because Ifve redeemed you.
23gShout for joy, you heavens,
for the Lord has done it!
Shout aloud, you depths of the earth!
Burst out with singing, you mountains,
you forest, and all your trees!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob
and will display his glory in Israel.
24gThis is what the Lord says, your Redeemer
and the one who formed you in the womb:
eI am the Lord, who has made everything,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth\
Who was with me at that time?\
25who frustrates the omens of idle talkers,
and drives diviners mad,
who turns back the wise,
and makes their knowledge foolish;
26who carries out the words of his servants,
and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, gIt will be inhabited,h
and of Judahfs cities, gThey will be rebuilt,h
and of her ruins, gIfll raise them uph;
27who says to the watery deep, gBe dry\
I will dry up your rivers;h
28who says about Cyrus, gHefs my shepherd,
and hefll carry out everything that I please:
Hefll say of Jerusalem, eLet it be rebuilt,f
and of my Temple, eLet its foundations be laid again.fhfh
Chapter 45
1This is what the Lord says to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him,
as I strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
and gates that cannot keep closed:
2 gI myself will go before you,
and he will make the mountains level;
Ifll shatter bronze doors
and cut through iron bars.
3Ifll give you concealed treasures
and riches hidden in secret places,
so that youfll know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
4For the sake of Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen,
Ifve called you,
and he has established you with a name,
although you have not acknowledged me.
5I am the Lord, and there is no other besides me:
and there are no gods.
Ifm strengthening you,
although you have not acknowledged me,
6so that from the sunfs rising to the west
people may know that there is none besides me.
 gI am the Lord, and there is no other.h
7gI form light and create darkness,
	I make goodness and create disaster.
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
8gShout, you skies above, and you clouds,
and let righteousness stream down.
I am the one who says to the earth, eLet salvation blossom,
and let righteousness sprout forth.f
9gWoe to the one who quarrels with his makers,
a mere potsherd with the potsherds of the earth!
Woe to the one who says to the one forming him,
eWhat are you making?f
or eYour work has no human hands?f!
10Woe to the one who says to his father,
eWhat are you begetting?f
or to a woman, eTo what are you giving birth?f!h
11This is what the Lord says,
the Creator of the signs:
	gQuestion me about my children?
 Or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12I myself made the earth
and personally created humankind upon it.
	My own hands stretched out the skies;
I marshaled all their starry hosts.h
13gI have aroused him in righteousness,
and Ifll make all his pathways smooth.
It is he who will rebuild my city
and set my exiles free,
but not for a price nor reward, h
says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
14	This is what the Lord says:
gThe wealth of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia,
those Sabeans, men of great heights.
Theyfll come over to you and will be yours;
Theyfll trudge behind you\
coming over in chains, theyfll bow down to you.
Theyfll plead with you,
eSurely God is in you;
and there is no other God at all.fh
15gTruly you are a God who hides himself,
O God of Israel, the Savior.
16All of them will be put to shame\indeed, disgraced!
The makers of idols will go off in disgrace together.
17But Israel will be saved by the Lord
with everlasting salvation;
you wonft be put to shame or disgraced ever again.h
18For this is what the Lord says,
who created the heavens\
he is God,
and the one who formed the earth and made it,
and he is the one who established it;
he didnft create it for chaos,
but formed it to be inhabited\
gI am the Lord and there is no other.
19	I didnft speak in secret,
from somewhere in a land of darkness;
I didnft say to Jacobfs descendants,
eSeek me in chaos.f
I, the Lord, speak truth,
declaring what is right.
20gGather together and come;
draw near and enter,
your fugitives from the nations.
Those who carry around their wooden idols
know nothing,
nor do those who keep praying to a god
that cannot save.
21Explain and present a case!
Yes, let them take counsel together.
Who announced this long ago,
who declared it from the distant past?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other God besides me,
a righteous God and Savior;
and there is none besides me.
22Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth.
For I am God, and there is no other.
23By myself I have sworn\
from my mouth has gone out integrity,
a promise that wonft be revoked:
eTo me every knee will bow,
and every tongue will swear. f
24One will say of me,
eOnly in the Lord are victories and might.f
All who raged against him will come to him
and will be put to shame.
25In the Lord all the descendants of Israel
will triumph and make their boast.h
Chapter 46
1gBel bows down, Nebo stoops low.
Their idols are on beasts, on livestock.
Your loads are more burdensome than their reports.
2They stoop, they bow down together,
and they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go off into captivity.
3gListen to me, house of Jacob,
and all you remnant of the house of Israel,
	who have been upheld from before your birth,
and who have been carried from the womb.
4Even until your old age, I am the one,
and Ifll carry you even until your gray hairs come.
	It is I who have created, and I who will carry,
and it is I who will bear and save.
5gTo whom will you compare me,
count me equal, or liken me, 
so that I may be compared?
6Those who pour out gold in a purse,
weigh silver in a balance,
	hire a goldsmith in order to make a god,
and then they bow down and even worship it.
7And they lift it on their shoulders, carry it,
set it up in its place, and there it stands.
It cannot move from that spot.
One may even call to it, but it cannot answer
nor save him from his distress.
8gRemember this, and stand firm;
take it again to heart, you rebels.
9Remember the former things from long ago,
Because I am God, and there is no one else;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10I declare from the beginning things to follow,
and from ancient times things that have not yet been done;
saying, eMy purpose will stand,
and he will accomplish everything that I please.f
11I am calling a bird of prey from the east,
and from a far country a man with his purpose.
Indeed, Ifve spoken;
I will certainly make it happen;
Ifve planned it; 
and I will certainly carry it out.
12gListen to me, you hard-hearted,
you who are far removed from righteousness:
13My righteousness is brought near and itfs not far off,
and my salvation wonft delay.
Ifll grant salvation in Zion,
and to Israel, my glory.h
Chapter 47
1gCome down and sit in the dust,
Virgin Daughter of Babylon.
Sit on the ground without a chair,
Daughter of the Chaldeans!
For no longer will they call you
tender and attractive. 
2Take millstones and grind flour.
Remove your veil,
strip off your robes,
bare your legs,
and wade through the rivers. 
3Your nakedness will be exposed,
and your disgrace will also be seen.
Ifll take vengeance,
and I will spare no mortal.
4gOur Redeemer\
the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name\
is the Holy One of Israel.
5gSit silent, and enter into the darkness,
you daughter of the Chaldeans;
for no more will they call you
Queen of Kingdoms. 
6I was angry with my people,
and I desecrated my heritage,
and gave them into your control.
You showed them no mercy;
even on the aged you laid your yoke most heavily. 
7You said, eI will always continue\Queen forever!f
You didnft take these things into your thinking,
nor did you think about their consequences.
8gNow hear this, you wanton creature,
lounging with no cares,
and saying to herself:
eI am the one, and there will be none besides me;
I wonft live as a widow,
nor will I see the loss of children.f 
9Both of these things will overtake you
suddenly on a single day:
loss of children and widowhood.
They will come upon you in full measure,
despite the multitude of your incantations
and the great power of your spells.h
10gYou trusted in your own knowledge.
You said, eNo one sees me.f
Your wisdom and knowledge have misled you.
You said in your heart,
eI am the one, and there will be none besides me.f 
11gBut disaster will come upon you,
and you will not know how to charm it away.
A calamity will befall you
that you will not be able to ward off;
and devastation will come upon you suddenly,
and you wonft anticipate it. 
12gBut stand up now with your spells
and your many incantations,
at which you have labored from your childhood until today, 
13		according to your multiple schemes.
Let them stand up now\
those who conjure the heavens
and gaze at the stars,
predicting at the new moons\
and save you from what is about to happen to them. 
14gSee, they are just like stubble;
fire burns them up.
They could not even save themselves
from the power of the flame.
There will be no coals for warming oneself,
no fire to sit by. 
15So will they be to you\those with whom you toiled
and did business since your childhood\
they wander about, each in his own direction;
there is not one who can save you.
Chapter 48
1gListen to this, house of Jacob,
you who are called by the name of Israel,
and who have come forth from Judahfs loins;
you who swear oaths in the name of the Lord
and invoke the God of Israel\
but not in truth, nor in good faith.
2For they name themselves after the holy city,
and rely on the God of Israel\
the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name.
3I foretold the former things long ago;
it went forth from my mouth,
and I disclosed them;
Suddenly, I acted,
and they came to pass.
4Because I knew that you are obstinate,
and because your neck is an iron sinew,
and your forehead is bronze,
5I told you these things long ago;
I announced them to you before they happened
so that you couldnft say, eMy idol did them;
my carved image or metal idol ordained them.f
6gYou have heard\now look at them all!
How can you not admit them?
	From now on, Ifll make you hear new things,
hidden things that you have not known.
7They are created now, and not long ago;
you didnft hear them before today,
so you cannot say, eYes, I knew them.f
8And neither had you heard, nor did you understand,
nor did you open your ear long ago.
Indeed, I knew that you would act very deceitfully,
and they would call you a rebel from birth.
9I defer my anger for my namefs sake,
and as my first act Ifm restraining it for you,
so as not to cut you off.
10Look, I have refined you, but not like silver;
I have purified you in the furnace of affliction.
11For my own sake\Yes, for my own sake!\Ifm doing it;
indeed, how can I be profaned?
Furthermore, I wonft give my glory to another.h
12gListen to these things, Jacob,
and Israel, whom I have called.
	I am the One: I am the first,
I am even the last.
13Moreover, my hands laid the earthfs foundation,
and my right hand spread out the heavens.
	I call out to them,
and they stand up together.
14Let all of them come together and listen:
Who is there among them that could declare these things?
gThe Lord loves me,
and he will accomplish my purpose against Babylon;
his arm will be against the Chaldeans.
15I\Yes, I!\have spoken;
indeed, Ifve called and Ifve brought him, 
and he will make his path successful.
16Draw near to me, and listen to this:
eFrom the beginning I havenft spoken in secret;
at the time it happened, I was there.f
And now the Lord God, and his Spirit, has sent me.
17gThis is what the Lord says,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
gI am the Lord your God,
who teaches you how to succeed,
who directs you in the path by which you should go.
18Now if only you had paid attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your success like the waves of the sea.
19Your descendants wouldfve been like the sand,
and your offspring like its numberless grains.
	Their name wouldnft have been cut off
or annihilated out of my reach.
20gGo out from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans!
With happy shouts, announce
and proclaim this to the ends of the earth:
Say, eThe Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!f
21They didnft thirst when he led him through the desolate places.
He made water gush from a rock for them;
he split open the rock, and water gushed out.
22gBut there is no peace,h says the Lord, gfor the wicked.h
Chapter 49
1gListen to me, you coastlands!
Pay attention, you people from far away!
The Lord called me from the womb;
while I was still in my motherfs body,
he pronounced my name.
2He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
he hid me in the shadow of his hands.
He made me like a polished arrow
and hid me away in his quivers.
3He said to me: eYou are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will glorify myself.f
4gI said: eIfve labored for nothing.
Ifve exhausted my strength on futility and on emptiness.f
Yet surely my recompense is with the Lord,
and my reward is with my God.
5gAnd now, says the Lord,
who formed you from the womb as his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
so that Israel might be gathered to him\
and I am honored in the Lordfs sight
and my God has been my help\
6he says: gIt is too small a thing for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Israel
and bring back those of Jacob I have preserved.
Ifll also make you as a light to the nations,
to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.
7gThis is what my Lord says\
the Lord your Redeemer, O Israel,
and his Holy One\
to one despised by people,
to those abhorred as a nation,
to the servant of rulers:
gKings see and arise,
and princes will bow down,
because of the Lord who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, 
the one who has chosen you.h
8gThis what the Lord says:
gIfll answer you in a time of favor,
and on a day of salvation Ifll help you.
I have watched over you,
and given you as a covenant for the people,
to restore the land,
to reassign the inheritances that have been devastated;
9saying to captives, eCome out!f
and to those who are in darkness, eBe free!f
gThey will feed on all the mountains,
and their pasture will be on all the barren hills.
10They wonft hunger or thirst,
nor will the desert heat or sun beat upon them;
for the one who has compassion on them will drive them
and guide them alongside springs of water.
11Ifll turn all my mountains into a road,
and my highways will be raised up.
12gWatch! Theyfll come from far away\
some from the north and from the west,
and others from the Aswan region.h
13Shout with joy, you heavens,
and rock with glee, you earth!
Break out in song, you mountains!
The Lord is comforting his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
14gBut Zion said, eThe Lord has abandoned me,
and my God has forgotten me.f
15gCan a woman forget her nursing child,
or have no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these mothers may forget;
But as for me, Ifll never forget you!
16Look! Ifve inscribed you on the palms of my hands,
and your walls are forever before me.
17Your builders are working faster than your destroyers,
and those who devastated you go away from you.
18Lift up your eyes and look around\
they have all gathered together
and are coming to you.
gAs surely as I live,h says the Lord,
gyou will clothe yourself with all of them like ornaments,
and tie them on like a bride.
19Indeed, your ruins, your desolate places,
and your devastated land
will now be too crowded for your inhabitants,
while those who swallowed you up will be far away.
20gThe children who are grieving at present
will yet say in your hearing,
eThis place is too crowded for me;
make room for me,
so I may have a place to live.f
21Then youfll ask in your heart,
eWho bore these children for me,
although I was childless and barren,
and an exile and cast aside?
Who brought these up?
Look! For my part I was left all alone;
but as for these, where have they come from?f
22gFor this what the Lord says,
eWatch! Ifll lift up my hand to the nations
and raise my banner to the peoples.
They will bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.f
23gOh, yes! Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens will be your nursing mothers.
They will bow to you with their faces to the ground,
and lick the dust from your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
24gCan they seize plunder from warriors,
or can the captives of tyrants be rescued?
25But this is what the Lord says:
gHe will seize even the warriorsf plunder,
and the captives of tyrants will be rescued.
I myself will quarrel with those who have a quarrel with you,
and I myself will save your children.
26gIfll make those who mistreat you eat their own flesh,
and they will get drunk on their own blood, as with new wine.
gThen all mankind will know that I am the Lord
your Savior and your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Jacob.h
Chapter 50
1This is what the Lord says:
 gWhere is your motherfs certificate of divorce
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?
Look! Itfs because of your sins that you were sold,
and because of your transgressions that your mother was sent away.
2Why is it that when I came, no one was there?
Why was there no answer when I called?
Was my arm too short to redeem you?
Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
Look! By my mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
I turn rivers into a desert.
Their fish stink for lack of water
and die of thirst. 	
3I clothe the skies with darkness
and make sackcloth their covering.h
4gThe Lord God has given me
a learned tongue, so that I may know
how to sustain the weary with words.
And morning after morning he wakens,
and he wakens my ear to
listen like those who are being taught.
5My Lord God has opened my ears,
and I did not rebel;
I did not shrink back.
6I gave my back to those who beat me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not turn away my face
from insults and spitting.
7For the Lord God helps me,
so I wonft be disgraced.
Therefore Ifve made my face like flint,
and I know that I wonft be put to shame.h
8The one who vindicates me is near.
Who, then, will bring a charge against me?
Letfs face each other!
Who has a case against me?
Let him confront me! 
9See! It is the Lord God who will help me.
Who is it that will declare me guilty?
See! They will all wear out like a garment;
moths will eat them up.
10Who among you fears the Lord,
obeying the voice of his servant,
who among you walks in darkness
and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord,
and rely upon his God. 	
11Look! All those who light a fire,
who surround yourselves with flaming torches\
walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have set ablaze!
This is what you will receive from my hand:
you will lie down in torment.
Chapter 51
1gListen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord!
Look to the rock from which you were cut,
to the quarry from which you were hewn.
2Look to Abraham your father,
and to Sarah who gave you birth.
For when he was only one person I called him,
but I made him fruitful and made him many.
3For the Lord will have compassion on Zion,
have compassion on all her ruins.
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
and her deserts like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving, and the sound of singing.
Sorrow and sighing will flee away.
4gPay attention to me, my people!
Listen to me, my nation!
For instruction will go out from me,
and my justice will become a light for the nations.
I will quickly bring 5my deliverance near;
my salvation is on the way.
His arm will bring justice to the nations;
the coastlands will hope for him,
and they will wait for his arm.
6gLift up your eyes, you heavens
and look to the earth beneath;
and see who created these.
Its inhabitants will die just like this;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never fail.
7Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
you people who have my instruction in their hearts.
Donft fear the insults of mortals,
and donft be dismayed at their hateful words.
8For moths will eat them up just like a garment,
and worms will devour them like wool;
but my deliverance will last forever,
and my salvation to all generations.
9gAwake! Awake! Clothe yourself with strength,
you arm of the Lord!
Awake, as in days gone by,
as in generations of long ago.
Was it not you who split apart Rehob,
who pierced that sea monster through?
10Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made a road in the depths of the sea
so that the redeemed could cross over?h
11gThe scattered ones of the Lord will return,
and they will enter Zion with singing.
Everlasting joy will be upon their heads;
they will attain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
12gI\yes, I\am the one who comforts you.
Who are you, that you are so afraid of humans who will die,
descendants of mere men, who have been made like grass?
13As a result, you have forgotten the Lord who made you,
who stretched out the heavens
and laid the earthfs foundations,
and you live in constant fear every day
because of the oppressorfs fury,
since hefs ready to destroy.
Now where is the oppressorfs fury?
14Distress will quickly be set free.
He wonft die in the Pit,
nor will he lack food.h
15gFor I am the Lord your God,
who churns up the sea, so that its waves roar,
eThe Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name.f
16I have put my words in your mouth
and have covered you with the shadow of my hand,
so that I could plant the heavens
and lay the earthfs foundations,
to say to Zion, eYou are my people.f
17gAwake, Awake!
Stand up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the Lordfs hand
from the cup that is his anger.
You have drunk to the dregs
the cup that makes you stagger,
and have drained it.
18There is no one to guide you
out of all the children she bore,
no one to take her by the hand
out of all the children she brought up.
19gThese twin things have come upon you
(who can feel sorry for you?):
ruin and destruction,
famine and the sword\
who can console you?
20Your children have fainted.
They lie at the head of every street,
like antelope caught in a trap,
	filled with the anger of the Lord
and the rebuke of your God.
21Now listen to this, you afflicted one,
made drunk, but not with wine:
22This is what your Lord, the Lord, says,
your God, who defends his peoplefs cause:
gSee, I have taken from your hand the cup that made you stagger.
And you will never again drink to the dregs the cup that is my anger.
23But I will put it into the hands of those who tormented and oppressed you,
those who said to you,
eLie down, so we can step over you,f
so that you had to make your back like the ground,
and like a street for them to walk over.h
Chapter 52
1Awake, awake!
Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city,
for the uncircumcised and the unclean wonft enter you.
2Shake yourself from the dust and arise,
and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem!
Loosen the bonds from your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion.
3For this is what the Lord says: gYou were sold for nothing, and youfll be redeemed without money.h
4For this is what the Lord says: gMy people went down long ago into Egypt to live there; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause.
5gNow therefore, what am I doing here,h asks the Lord, gseeing that my people are taken away without cause? Those who rule over them are deluded,h says the Lord, gand continually, all the day long, my name is blasphemed. 6Therefore my people will know my name; in that day theyfll know that it is I who speaks, eHere I am!f
7gHow beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the one who brings news of peace,
who announces good things,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, eYour God reigns!f
8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for they will see in plain sight
the return of the Lord to Zion with compassion.
9gBreak forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
and he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10The Lord has bared his holy arm
in the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
11gDepart! Depart! Go out from there;
touch no unclean thing;
go out from the midst of her;
purify yourselves,
you who carry the vessels of the Lord.
12For you wonft go out in haste,
nor will you go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you;
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
He is called the God of all the earth.h
13gLook! My servant will prosper,
and he will be exalted and lifted up,
and will be very high.
14Just as many were astonished at you\
so was he marred in his appearance, more than any human,
and his form beyond that of human semblance\
15so will he startle many nations.
Kings will shut their mouths at him;
for what had not been told them they will see,
and what they had not heard they will understand.
Chapter 53
1gWho has believed our message,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2For he grew up before him like a tender plant,
and like a root out of a dry ground;
he had no form and he had no majesty that we should look at him,
and there is no attractiveness that we should desire him.
3gHe was despised and rejected by others,
and a man of sorrows,
intimately familiar with suffering;
and like one from whom people hide their faces;
and we despised him
and did not value him.
4gSurely he has borne our sufferings
and carried our sorrows;
yet we considered him stricken,
and struck down by God,
and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions,
and he was crushed for our iniquities,
and the punishment that made us whole was upon him,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray,
we have turned, each of us, to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed and he was afflicted,
yet he didnft open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
as a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8gFrom detention and judgment he was taken away\
and who can even think about his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
he was stricken for the transgression of my people.
9Then they made his grave with the wicked,
and with rich people in his death,
although he had committed no violence,
nor was there any deceit in his mouth.h
10gYet the Lord was willing to crush him,
and he made him suffer.
Although you make his soul an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring,
and he will prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will triumph in his hand.
11Out of the suffering of his soul he will see light
and find satisfaction.
And through his knowledge his servant, the righteous one,
will make many righteous,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong;
because he poured out his life to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he carried the sins of many,
and made intercession for their transgressions.h
Chapter 54
1gSing, you barren woman,
even the one who never bore a child!
Burst into song and shout for joy,
even you who were never in labor!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
than the children of her that is married,h
says the Lord.
2gEnlarge the location of your tent,
let the curtains of your dwellings be stretched wide,
and donft hold back.
Lengthen your cords;
strengthen your stakes.
3For you will spread out to the right hand and to the left,
and your descendants will possess the nations
and will populate the deserted towns.
4 gDonft be afraid,
because you wonft be ashamed;
donft fear shame,
for you wonft be humiliated\
because you will forget the disgrace of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5For your Maker is your husband;
the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name,
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of the whole earth.
6For the Lord has called you back
 like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like the wife of a manfs youth when she is cast off,h
says the Lord your God.
7gFor a brief moment I abandoned you;
but Ifll gather you with great compassion.
8I hid my face from you for a moment in a surge of anger,
but I will have compassion on you with my everlasting gracious love,h
says the Lord your Redeemer.
9gFor this is like the waters of Noah to me,
when I swore that the waters of Noah
would never again spread over the earth;
so have I sworn that I wonft be angry with you again
and that I wonft rebuke you.
10For the mountains may collapse
and the hills may reel,
but my gracious love will not depart from you,
neither will my covenant of peace totter,h
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
11gO afflicted one, passed back and forth, and not comforted,
Look! I am about to set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12And Ifll make your battlements of rubies,
and your gates of jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
13Then all your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be your childrenfs prosperity.
14gIn righteousness youfll be established;
you will be far from tyranny,
for you wonft be afraid,
and from terror,
for it wonft come near you.
15Watch! If anyone does attack you,
it will not be from me;
whoever may attack you will fall because of you.
16Look! It is I who have created the blacksmith
who fans coals in the fire,
and produces a weapon for his purpose.
It is I who have created the ravager to wreak havoc;
17no weapon that is forged against you will be effective.
This is the heritage of the Lordfs servants,
and their righteousness from me,h
says the Lord.
Chapter 55
1gCome, everyone who is thirsty,
come to the waters!
Also, you that have no money, come,
buy, and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2Why spend your money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me,
and eat what is good,
and let your soul delight itself in rich food.
3Pay attention to me,
come to me;
and listen, so that you may live;
then Ifll make an everlasting covenant with you,
as promised by my faithful, sure love for David.
4gLook! I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.
5gLook! You will call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that does not know you will run to you,
because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.h
6gSeek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous person his thoughts.
Let him return to the Lord,
So hefll have mercy upon him,
and to our God,
for hefll pardon abundantly.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways,h declares the Lord.
9gFor just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10gFor just as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there without watering the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
yielding seed for the sower and bread for eating,
11so will my message be that goes out of my mouth\
it wonft return to me empty.
Instead, it will accomplish what I desire,
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12gFor you will go out in joy,
and come back with peace;
the mountains and the hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands.
13Instead of thornbushes, pine trees will grow,
and instead of briers, myrtles will grow;
and they will be a sign for the Lord,
and an everlasting name that will not be cut off.h
Chapter 56
1For this is what the Lord says:
gMaintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
and soon my deliverance will be revealed.
2Blessed is the one who does this,
and the person that holds it fast,
who observes the Sabbath without profaning it,
and restrains his hands from practicing any evil.
3gLet no foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say:
eThe Lord will surely exclude me from his people.f
Furthermore, let no eunuch say,
eLook! I am just a dry tree.fh
4For this is what the Lord says:
gTo the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me,
and who hold fast my covenant\
5to them I will give in my house and within my walls
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters.
I will give them an everlasting name
that will not be cut off.
6gAlso, the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
to be his servants,
and to bless the Lordfs name,
observing the Sabbath without profaning it,
and who hold fast my covenant\
7these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer.
Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
will rise up to be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called a house of prayer
for everyone.h
8This is what the Lord God says,
the one who gathers the outcasts of Israel:
gIfll gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.
9gAll you wild animals, come and devour\
even all of you wild animals.
10His watchmen are blind;
they are all without knowledge.
They are all dumb dogs\
they cannot bark.
They keep on dreaming and lying around,
 and theyfre lovers of sleep!
11Meanwhile, the dogs have a mighty appetite\
they can never get enough.
And as for them, they are the shepherds who lack understanding;
they have all turned to their own way,
each one to his gain,
 each and every one.
12geCome!f they say, eletfs have some wine,
and letfs fill ourselves with strong drink!
Then, tomorrow will be like today,
or even much better!fh
Chapter 57
1gAlso the righteous are perishing,
but no one takes it to heart;
devout people are taken away,
while no one understands
that the righteous person is taken away from calamity.
2Then he enters into peace,
and theyfll rest on his couches,
each one living righteously.
3gBut as for you, come here,
you children of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4Whom are you mocking?
And against whom do you make a wide mouth
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of lies,
5you who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every spreading tree,
who slaughter your children in the ravines,
under the clefts of the rocks?
6gAmong the smooth stones of the ravines is your portion\
there they are as your lot.
To them you have poured out drink offerings;
you have brought grain offerings.
Should I be lenient over such things?
7gYou have made your bed
on a high and lofty mountain,
and you went up to offer sacrifice there.
8Behind the doors and the doorposts
you have set up your pagan sign.h
For in deserting me you have uncovered your bed\
you have climbed up into it
and have opened it wide.
And you have made a pact for yourself with them;
you have loved their bed,
you have looked on their private parts.
9You went to Molech with olive oil
and increased your perfumes;
you sent your ambassadors far away,
you sent them down even to Sheol itself!
10You grew tired with your many wanderings,
but you wouldnft say: eIt is hopeless.f
You found new strength for your desire,
and so you did not falter.
11gWhom did you so dread\
and while you feared me\
that you lied,
and you did not remember me,
and did not lay to heart these things?
Havenft I remained silent for a long time,
and still you donft fear me?h
12gI will denounce your righteousness and your works,
for your collections of idols will not benefit you.
13When you cry out, let your collection deliver you!
The wind will carry them all off,
and a mere breath will sweep them all away.h
gBut whoever takes refuge in me will possess the land,
and will inherit my holy mountain.
14And one has said:
eBuild up! Build up the road!
Prepare the highway!
Remove every obstacle from my peoplefs way.f
15gFor this is what the high and lofty One says,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
gHe lives in the height and in holiness,
and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I wonft accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for then the human spirit would grow faint before me\
even the souls that I have created.
17Because of his wicked greed I was angry,
so I punished him;
and I hid my face, and was angry\
but he kept turning back to his stubborn will.
18Ifve seen his ways, yet I will heal him,
and restore for him comfort to him
and for those who mourn for him
19when I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace to the one who is far away or near,h says the Lord,
gand Ifll heal him.
20But the wicked are tossed like the sea;
for it is not able to keep still,
and its waters toss up mire and mud.
21gYet there is no peace,h says my God, gfor the wicked.h
Chapter 58
1gShout aloud!
Donft hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Declare to my people their rebellions,
and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2They seek me day after day,
and are eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practices righteousness
and has not forsaken the justice of their God.
gThey ask me to reveal just decisions;
they are eager to draw near to God.
3eWhy have we fasted,f they ask,
ebut you do not see?
eWhy have we humbled ourselves,f they ask,
ebut you take no notice?fh
gLook! On your fast day you serve your own interest
and oppress all your workers.
4gLook! You fast only for quarreling, and for fighting,
and for hitting with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and have your voice heard on high.
5gIs this the kind of fast that I have chosen,
merely a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it merely for bowing down onefs head like a bulrush,
for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is this what you call a fast,
an acceptable day to the Lord?
6Isnft this the fast that I have been choosing:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
and to untie the cords of the yoke,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7Isnft it to share your bread with the hungry,
and to bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked,
to cover him with clothing,
and not to raise yourself up from your own flesh and blood?h
8gThen your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will spring up quickly;
and your vindication will go before you,
and the glory of the lord will guard your back.
9Then youfll call,
and the Lord will answer;
youfll cry for help,
and hefll respond, eHere I am.f
gIf you do away with the yoke among you,
and pointing fingers and malicious talk;
10if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the needs of afflicted souls,
then your light will rise in darkness,
and your night will be like noonday.
11And the Lord will guide you continuously,
and satisfy your soul in parched places,
and they will strengthen your bones;
and youfll be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
12And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins;
Youfll raise up the age-old foundations,
and people will call you eRepairer of Broken Walls,f
eRestorer of Streets to Live In.f
13gIf you keep your feet from trampling the Sabbath,
from pursuing your own interests on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lordfs holy day honorable;
and if you honor it by not going your own ways
and seeking your own pleasure or speaking merely idle words,
14then you will take delight in the Lord,
and he will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;
and he will make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob, your father.
gYes! The mouth of the Lord has spoken.h
Chapter 59
1gSee, the Lordfs hand is not too short to save,
nor are his ears too dull to hear.
2Instead, your iniquities have been barriers
between you and your God,
and your sins have concealed his face from you
so that he wonft listen.
3For your hands are defiled with blood,
and your fingers with iniquity;
your tongue mutters wickedness.
4No one brings a lawsuit fairly,
and no one goes to law honestly;
they have relied on empty arguments
and they tell lies;
they conceive trouble
and give birth to iniquity.
5They hatch addersf eggs
and weave a spiderfs web;
whoever eats their eggs dies,
and any crushed egg hatches out futility.
6Their cobwebs cannot become clothing,
they cannot cover themselves with what they make.
Their deeds are deeds of iniquity,
and acts of violence fill their hands.
7Their feet rush to evil,
and they are quick to shed innocent blood.
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
ruin, destruction, and violence are in their paths.
8The pathway of peace they do not know,
and there is no justice in their courses.
They have made their roads crooked;
no one who walks in them will know peace.h
9gSo justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We wait for light, but look\there is darkness;
we wait for brightness, but we walk in deep darkness.
10Letfs grope along the wall like the blind;
let us grope like those who have no eyes.
We stumble at midday as if it were twilight,
in desolate places like dead people.
11We all growl like bears;
we sigh mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but there is none,
and for deliverance, but itfs far from us.
12gFor our transgressions before you are many,
and our sins testify against us;
for our transgressions are with us,
and as for our iniquities,
we acknowledge them:
13theyfve rebelled in treachery against the Lord,
and are turning away from following our God;
and theyfve spoken oppression and revolt,
and are conceiving lying words from the heart.
14Ifll drive back justice,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
for truth has fallen in the public square,
and honesty cannot enter.
15Truth is missing,
and whoever turns away from evil becomes a prey.h
gThen the Lord looked, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
16He saw that there was no one,
and was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm brought him victory,
and his righteous acts upheld him.
17He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in fury like a cloak.
18So he will repay according to their action:
Anger to his enemies, retribution to his foes;
to the coastlands he will render their due.
19So people will fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and his glories from the rising of the sun;
for he will come as a pent-up stream
that the breath of the Lord drives along.
20gAnd a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,h says the Lord.
21gAs for me, this is my covenant with them,h says the Lord. gAnd my Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, wonft depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your childrenfs children, from now on and forever.h
Chapter 60
1gArise, shine!
 For your light has come;
the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2For look! Darkness will cover the earth
and thick darkness is over the people,
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
3Nations will come to your light,
and kings before your dawn.
4gLift up your eyes and look around:
They all gather together, they come to you;
your sons will come from far away,
and your daughters will be carried on the hip.h
5Then you will look and be radiant;
your heart will swell with joy,
because the abundance of the seas will be diverted to you,
and the riches of the nations will come to you.
6Throngs of camels will blanket you:
the young camels of Midian and Ephu;
all those from Shebu will come.
Theyfll carry gold and frankincense,
and proclaim the praise of the Lord.
7All Kedarfs flocks will be gathered to you,
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you.
and theyfll come up with acceptance upon my altar,
and Ifll glorify my glorious house.h
8gWho are these that fly like clouds,
and like doves to their windows?
9For the coastlands will look to me,
with the ships of Tarshish in the lead,
to bring my children from far away,
their silver and gold with them,
to the name of the Lord your God,
and to the Holy One of Israel,
because he has glorified you.
10gForeigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings will serve you.
Though in my anger I struck you down,
in my favor I have shown you mercy.
11Your gates will always stand open
by day or night, and they will not be shut,
so that nations will bring you their wealth,
with their kings led in procession.
12For the nation or kingdom
that will not serve you will perish;
those nations will be utterly ruined.
13gHe has given you the glory of Lebanon,
and it will come to you,
the cypress, and the plane tree, and the pine,
to adorn the place of my sanctuary;
and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14gAll the descendants of those who oppressed you
will come bending low before you,
and all those who despised you
will bow down at your feet.
Theyfll call you eThe City of the Lord,f
eZion of the Holy One of Israel.fh
15gAlthough you have been forsaken and despised,
with no one traveling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride,
the joy of all generations.
16Youfll suck the milk of nations,
Youfll suck the breasts of kings.
Then you will realize that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17gInstead of bronze, Ifll bring gold,
and instead of iron, Ifll bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze,
and instead of stones, iron.
Ifll appoint peace as your supervisor
and righteousness as your taskmaster.
18Then violence will no longer be heard in your land,
nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
but youfll call your walls eSalvationf,
and your gates ePraisef.
19gThe sun will no longer be your light by day,
nor for brightness will the moon shine on you by night\
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
20Your sun wonft set,
nor will your moon withdraw itself\
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning will end.
21Then your people will all be righteous;
Theyfll possess the land forever.
They are the shoot that the Lord planted,
the works of his hands,
so that I might be glorified.
22The least of them will become a thousand,
and the smallest one a mighty nation.
gI am the Lord;
When the time is right, I will do this swiftly.h
Chapter 61
1gThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
 because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed
and to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives,
and release from darkness for the prisoners;
2to proclaim the year of the Lordfs favor,
the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3to provide for those who grieve in Zion\
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of despair.h
gThen people will call them gOaks of Righteousnessh,
gThe Planting of the Lordh,
in order to display his splendor.
4They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
they will restore the places long devastated;
they will build again the ruined cities,
they will build again the places devastated for many generations.
5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,
and foreigners will work your land
and dress your vines.
6But as for you, you will be called priests of the Lord,
and you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of the nations,
and you will boast about their riches.
7Instead of your shame you will receive double,
and instead of disgrace people will shout with joy over your inheritance;
therefore you will inherit a double portion in their land;
everlasting joy will be yours.h
8gFor I, the Lord, love justice,
and I hate robbery and iniquity;
I will faithfully present your reward
and make an everlasting covenant with you.
9Your offspring will be known among the nations,
and your descendants among the people.
All who see them will acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.h
10gI will heartily rejoice in the Lord,
my soul will delight in my God;
for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation;
he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
just like a bridegroom,
like a priest with a garland,
and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For just as the soil brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden makes what is sown within it spring up,
so the Lord God will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all the nations for Zionfs sake.h
Chapter 62
1gAnd I wonft remain silent,
and for Jerusalemfs sake I wonft stay quiet,
until her vindication shines out like brightness,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
2The nations will see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and people will call you by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
3You will be a crown of splendor in the Lordfs hand,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4And youfll no longer be called eDeserted,f
and your land will no longer be called eDesolatef;
but people will call you eHephzibah,f
and your land eBeulahf\
for the Lord will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.h
5gFor just as a young man marries a maiden,
so your sons will marry you;
and just as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so your God will rejoice over you.
6gUpon your walls, Jerusalem,
I have posted watchmen;
all day and all night
they wonft remain silent.
You who make mention of the Lord,
take no rest,
7and give him no rest
until he prepares, establishes and makes Jerusalem
a song of praise throughout the earth.
8gThe Lord has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
eI will never again give your grain
as food for your enemies;
never again will foreigners drink your new wine
for which you have toiled;
9but surely those who harvest it will eat it
and praise the name of the Lord,
and those who gather it will drink it
in the courts of my sanctuary,f says your God.h
10gPass through the gates!
prepare the way for the people!
Build up! Build up the highway!
Clear it of stumbling stones,
speak among the peoples.
11Here is the Lord!
Proclaim to the ends of the earth,
say to the inhabitants of Zion:
eSee, your salvation is coming!
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompenses are before him.f
12People will call them, eThe Holy People,f
eThe Redeemed of the Lordf;
and they will call you, eSought After,f
eThe City Not Deserted.fh
Chapter 63
1gWho is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah, in garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in such splendor,
marching in his great might?
It is I, speaking in vindication,
mighty to save.
2gWhy is your clothing red,
and your garments like those worn by the ones who tread in the winepress?
3gI have trodden the winepress alone,
and from my people no one was with me,
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their lifeblood spattered on my garments,
and I stained all my clothing.
4gFor the day of vengeance was in my heart,
and the year for my redeeming work had come.
5I looked, but there was no helper,
I was appalled that there was no one to give support;
so my own arm brought me victory,
and as for my wrath, it supported me.
6I trampled people in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and I poured out their lifeblood on the ground.h
7I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
according to all the Lord has done for us\
yes, the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his mercy,
according to the abundance of his gracious love.
8For he said, gSurely they are my people,
children who wonft act falsely.h
And so he became their savior.
9In all their distress he wasnft distressed,
but the angel of his presence saved them;
in his acts of love and in his acts of pity he redeemed them;
he carried them and lifted them up all the days of old.
10Yet they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit;
so he changed and became their enemy,
and he himself fought against them.
11Then they remembered the days of old,
of Moses his servant.
Where is the one who brought up out of the sea
the shepherds of his flock?
Where is the one who put his Holy Spirit among them,
12and who made his glorious arm march at Mosesf right hand,
who divided the waters in front of them
to win an everlasting name,
13who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the open desert,
they did not stumble;
14like cattle that go down into the valley,
the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
For you led your people,
to win for yourself a glorious name.
15Look down from heaven, and see
from your holy and glorious dwelling.
Where are your zeal and your might?
Where are the yearning of your heart and your compassion?
They are held back from me.
16But you are our Father,
even Abraham does not know us
and Israel has not acknowledged us;
you are he, O Lord, our Father,
from long ago, eOur Redeemerf is your name.
17Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our hearts, so that we do not fear you?
Turn back for the sake of your servants,
for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage.
18Your holy people took possession for a little while,
but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
19For a long time we have been those you do not rule,
those who are not called by your name.
Chapter 64
1If only you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence\
2just as fire sets twigs ablaze
and the fire causes water to boil\
to make known your name to your enemies,
yes, to your enemies before you,
so that the nations might quake at your presence!
3When you did awesome deeds that we expected,
you came down,
and the mountains shuddered before you.
4Since ancient times no one has heard,
and no ear has perceived,
and no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
5You come to the aid of those who gladly do whatfs right,
To those who remember you in your ways.
See, you were angry,
and we sinned against them for a long time,
but we will be saved.
6All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a filthy rag;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind, our iniquities sweep us away.
7There is no one who calls on your name
or rouses himself to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have given us into the control of our iniquity.
8But as for you, O Lord, you are our Father;
and we are clay,
and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hands.
9Donft be angry beyond measure, Lord,
and donft remember our iniquity for a season.
Please look now, we are all your people.
10Your holy cities have become a desert;
Zion has become like a desert,
Jerusalem a desolation.
11Our holy Temple and our splendor,
where our ancestors praised you,
have become a conflagration of fire,
and all our dearest places have become ruins.
12 Lord, after all this, can you hold yourself back?
Can you keep silent and punish us so severely?
Chapter 65
1gI let myself be sought by those who didnft ask for me;
I let myself be found by those who didnft seek me.
I said, eHere I am! Here I am!f
to a nation that didnft call on my name.
2I held out my hands all day long
to a disobedient people,
who walk in a way that isnft good,
following their own inclinations\
3a people who continually provoke me to my face;
they keep sacrificing in gardens
and waving their hands over stone altars;
4who sit among graves,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat pigsf meat,
with the broth of detestable things in their pots;
5who say, eKeep to yourself!f
eDonft touch me!f and eI am too holy for you!f
gSuch people are smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that keeps burning all day long.
6Watch out! It stands written before me:
eI wonft keep silent, but I will pay back in full;
Ifll indeed repay into their laps
7both your iniquities and your ancestorsf iniquities together,ff
says the Lord.
gBecause they offered incense on the mountains
and insulted me on hills,
Ifll measure into their laps
full payment for their earlier actions.h
8This is what the Lord says:
gJust as new wine is found in the cluster,
and people have said, eDonft destroy it,
for there is a gift in it,f
so Ifll act for my servantsf sake,
by not destroying them all.
9Ifll bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah they will inherit my mountains;
my chosen people will inherit it,
and my servants will live there.
10Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,
and the Valley of Achor a fold for herds,
for my people who have sought me.
11But as for you who forsake the Lord,
who forget my holy mountain,
who spread a table for Fortune
and fill drink offerings for Destiny,
12Ifll consign you to the sword,
and all of you will bend down for the slaughter\
because when I called, you didnft answer,
when I spoke, you didnft listen;
but you did what was evil in my sight,
and chose what I took no pleasure in.h
13Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
gSee, my servants will eat,
but youfll go hungry;
my servants will drink,
but youfll go thirsty;
my servants will rejoice,
but youfll be put to shame.
14My servants will sing in gladness of heart,
but youfll cry for help from anguish of heart,
and youfll howl from brokenness of spirit.
15Youfll leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse,
and the Lord God will put you to death permanently.
16Then whoever takes an oath by the God of faithfulness,
and whoever takes an oath in the land,
will swear by the God of faithfulness,
because the former troubles are forgotten
and are hidden from my eyes.
17Take notice! Ifm about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things wonft be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
18But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating,
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
19Ifll rejoice over Jerusalem,
and take delight in my people;
no longer will the sound of weeping be heard in it,
nor the cry of distress.
20gAnd there will no longer be in it
a young boy who lives only a few days,
or an old person who does not live out his days;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be thought a mere youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred years will be considered accursed.
21People will build houses and live in them;
Theyfll plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They wonft build for others to inhabit;
they wonft plant for others to eat\
for like the lifetime of a tree, so will the lifetime of my people be,
and my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They wonft toil in vain
nor bear children doomed to misfortune,
for they will be offspring blessed by the Lord,
they and their descendants with them.
24Before they call, I will answer,
while they are still speaking, Ifll hear.
25gThe wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox;
but as for the serpent\
its food will be dust!
They wonft harm or destroy
on my entire holy mountain,h
says the Lord.
Chapter 66
1This is what the Lord says:
gHeaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house that you would build for me,
and where will my resting place be?
2All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came into being,h
declares the Lord.
gBut this is the one to whom I will look favorably:
to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit,
and who trembles at my message.
3gWhoever slaughters an ox
is just like one who kills a human being;
whoever sacrifices a lamb
is just like one who breaks a dogfs neck;
whoever makes a grain offering
is just like one who offers pigfs blood;
and whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense
is just like one who blesses an idol.
Yes, these have chosen their own ways,
and they take delight in their contaminated actions.
4Therefore I, too, will choose harsh treatment for them,
and will bring upon them what they dread.
For when I called, no one answered;
when I spoke, they didnft listen;
but they did what I consider to be evil,
and chose what doesnft please me.h
5gHear this message from the Lord,
you who tremble at his words:
gYour own brothers who hate you
and exclude you because of my name
have said: eLet the Lord be glorified;
he will see your joy,f
yet it is they who will be put to shame.
6gListen to that uproar in the city!
Listen to that noise from the Temple!
It is the sound of the Lord
paying back retribution to his enemies!
7 gBefore she goes into labor she gives birth;
before her pains come upon her
she has delivered a son.
8Who has ever heard of such a thing?
And who ever sees such things?
Can a country be born in a single day,
or can a nation be brought forth in a single moment?
Yet no sooner was Zion in labor
than she delivered her children.
9Am I to open the womb and not deliver?h
asks the Lord.
gAnd when I bring to delivery, am I to close the womb?h
asks your God.
10gRejoice with Jerusalem, and be happy for her,
all you who love her;
rejoice with her in gladness,
all you who mourn over her,
11so that you may nurse and be satisfied
at her consoling breasts,
and so that you may drink deeply and take delight
from her glorious bosom.h
12This is what the Lord says:
gSee, I will extend prosperity to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
and you will nurse,
and you will be carried on her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.
13Like a child whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
14And when you look, your hearts will rejoice
and your bodies will flourish like grass;
and it will be made known
that the Lordfs hand is with his servants,
but his fury is with his enemies.
15gTake notice! The Lord will come with fire,
and his chariot will be like a whirlwind,
to pay back his anger\yes, his anger!\ in fury,
and his menacing rebukes in flames of fire.
16For with fire and with his sword the Lord will proceed to judgment on all humanity,
and those slain by the Lord will be many.h
17gThose who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves, following the one at the center of those who eat the meat of pigs, disgusting things, and rats, are all alike,h says the Lord. 18gBut as for me, I know their actions and their thoughts. Come and gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.
19gI will put up signs among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations\to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, (who draw the bow), to Tubal and Greece, to the far off coastlands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. Then they will proclaim my glory among the nations. 20They will bring all\yes, all!\ of your kindred from all the nations to my holy mountain Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord\on horses, in chariots, in wagons, and on mules\yes, even on mules!\ and on camels,h says the Lord, gjust as the Israelis bring a grain offering in a clean vessel to the Lordfs house. 21Then I will also select some of them for myself as priests and as Levites,h says the Lord.
22gFor as the new heavens and the new earth
that I am about to make
will endure before me,h says the Lord,
gso will your descendants and your name endure.
23And from New Moon to New Moon,
and from Sabbath to Sabbath,
all humanity will come to worship before me,h
says the Lord.
24gThen they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of the people who rebelled against me. For their worm will not die, nor will their fire be extinguished, and they will remain an object of revulsion to all humanity.h
Jeremiah
Chapter 1
1The words of Hilkiahfs son Jeremiah, who was one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2This message from the Lord came to him during the thirteenth year of the reign of Ammonfs son Josiah, the king of Judah, 3and during the reign of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and continued until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month, at the end of the eleventh year of the reign of Josiahfs son Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
4This message from the Lord came to me:
5gI knew you before I formed you in the womb;
I set you apart for me before you were born;
I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.h
6I replied, gAh, Lord God! Look, I donft know how to speak, because Ifm only a young man.h
7Then the Lord told me, gDonft say, eIfm only a young man,f for you will go everywhere I send you, and you will speak everything I command you. 8Donft be afraid of them, because I am with you to deliver you,h declares the Lord.
9The Lord stretched out his hand, touched my mouth, and then told me, gLook, Ifve put my words in your mouth. 10See, today Ifve appointed you to prophesy about nations and kingdoms, to pull up and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.h
11This message from the Lord came to me, asking, gWhat do you see, Jeremiah?h
I replied, gI see an almond branch.h
12The Lord told me, gYou have observed well, because Ifm watching over my message, to make sure it comes about.h
13This message from the Lord came to me a second time: gWhat do you see?h
I replied, gI see a boiling pot, and its mouth is tilted away from the north.h
14Then the Lord told me, gFrom the north disaster will pour out on all who live in the land, 15because Ifm about to summon all the families and kingdoms from the north,h declares the Lord.
gTheyfll come and each one will set up his seat
at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
against all of its surrounding walls,
and against all of the towns of Judah.
16gIfll pronounce my judgments against them
because of all their wickedness.
They have forsaken me,
they have burned incense to other gods,
and they have bowed down in worship
to the works of their own hands.h
17gAs for you, get ready! Stand up and tell them everything that Ifve commanded you. Donft be frightened as you face them, or Ifll frighten you right in front of them.
18gAs for me, today Ifm making you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall against the whole land\against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19Theyfll fight against you, but they wonft prevail against you, because I am with you,h declares the Lord, gto deliver you.h
Chapter 2
1This message from the Lord came to me:
2gGo and announce to Jerusalem:
eThis is what the Lord says:
gI remember the loyal devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride.
You followed me in the desert,
in a land that was not planted.
3Israel was consecrated to the Lord,
she was the first fruits of his produce.
All who devoured her became guilty
and disaster came on them,h
declares the Lord.fh
4Listen to this message from the Lord,
you descendants of Jacob
and all the families of the descendants of Israel.
5This is what the Lord says:
gWhat did your ancestors find wrong with me
that they left me,
and pursued worthless things,
and so they became worthless?
6gThey didnft ask, eWhere is the Lord
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us through the wilderness,
through the land of desert and pits,
through the land of dryness and deep darkness,
a land that people donft pass through,
and where no one lives?f
7gI brought you into the fruitful land to eat its fruit
and its good things.
But you came in, defiled my land,
and made my inheritance into an abomination.
8gThe priests didnft say, eWhere is the Lord?f
and those handling the Law didnft know me.
The rulers transgressed against me,
the prophets prophesied by Baal,
and they followed that which does not profit.
9gTherefore Ifll again accuse you,h
declares the Lord,
gand Ifll accuse your grandchildren.h
10gIndeed, go over to the coasts of Cyprus and see,
send to Kedar and pay very close attention.
See if there has ever been such a thing as this!
11Has a nation ever changed gods
when they arenft even gods?
But my people have exchanged their glory
for that which does not profit.
12Heavens, be appalled at this,
be shocked, be utterly devastated,h
declares the Lord.
13gIndeed, my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water,
and they have dug cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.h
14gIs Israel a slave, or was he born a servant?
Why then has he become plunder?
15Young lions roar at him, they cry out loudly.
They have made his land into a wasteland,
and his cities are destroyed
so they are without inhabitants.
16Also, people from Memphis and Tahpanhes
have broken your skull.
17You have done this to yourselves, have you not,
by forsaking the Lord your God, when he
is the one who led you on the way?
18Now, what are you doing on the road to Egypt,
to drink the waters of the Nile?
And what are you doing on the road to Assyria,
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19Your wickedness will be punished,
and you will be corrected due to your acts of apostasy.
Know and see that itfs evil and bitter for you
to forsake the Lord your God,
but the fear of me is not in you,h
declares the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
20gFor long ago I broke your yoke
and tore off your bonds,
But you said, eI wonft serve you!f
Instead, on every high hill
and under every green tree,
you bend down to commit fornication.
21I planted you myself as a choice vine,
from the very best seed.
How did you turn against me
into a degenerate and foreign vine?
22Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,h
declares the Lord God.
23gHow can you say, eIfm not defiled.
I havenft gone after the Baals.f?
Look at what youfve done in the valley.
Know what you have done.
You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly;
24a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,
sniffing the wind in her passion.
When shefs in heat,
who can turn her away?
None of the males who pursue her need to tire themselves out,
for in her month theyfll find her.h
25gDonft run until your feet are bare
and your throat is dry.
But you say, eItfs hopeless!
Because I love foreign gods, Ifll go after them!fh
26gAs a thief is disgraced when hefs caught,
so the house of Israel is disgraced\
they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
27who say to a tree, eYou are my father,f
and to a stone, eYou gave birth to me.f
They have turned their back to me,
but not their faces.
In the time of their trouble, theyfll say,
eRise up! Deliver us!fh
28gBut where are your gods
that you made for yourselves?
Let them rise up, if they can deliver you
in the time of your trouble.
You have as many gods as you have towns, Judah.
29Why do you contend with me?
You have rebelled against me,h
declares the Lord.
30gIfve punished your children with no results,
they have accepted no discipline.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a destroying lion.h
31gYou, generation,
pay attention to this message from the Lord!
Am I the desert to Israel,
or a land of gloom?
Why do my people say, eWefre free to roam?
We wonft come to you anymore.f
32Will a young woman forget her wedding ornaments,
or a bride her attire?
But my people have forgotten me
days without number.
33How well you perfect your techniques for seeking love.
Therefore you can teach even the most immoral women your techniques.
34On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
even though you didnft catch them breaking in.
Yet despite all these things,
35you say, eIfm innocent.
Surely his anger has turned away from me.fh
gIfm about to bring charges against you
because you say, eI havenft sinned.f
36Why do you go about changing your mind so much?
You will also be disappointed by Egypt,
just as you were disappointed by Assyria.
37You will also go out from this place
with your hands over your heads.
For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,
and you wonft prosper through them.h
Chapter 3
1gWhen a man divorces his wife, she leaves him and
becomes another manfs wife,
will the first husband return to her again?
The land would be deeply polluted, would it not?
Since you have committed fornication with many lovers,
would you now return to me?h
declares the Lord.
2gLook up to the barren heights and see.
Is there any place where you have not been ravished?
You have sat beside the road, waiting for them
like a nomad in the desert.
And you have polluted the land
with your fornication and your wickedness.
3This is why the rain has been withheld
and there are no spring showers.
Yet you have a harlotfs look
and you refuse to be ashamed.
4Have you not just called out to me,
eMy father, you are the friend of my youth\
5will he hold on to his anger forever,
will he persist in his wrath to the end?f
Look, you have spoken and done evil things,
and you have succeeded in it.h
6In the time of King Josiah the Lord told me, gHave you seen what unfaithful Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she committed fornication there. 7I thought, eAfter she has done all these things, she will return to me.f But she didnft return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw this. 8I saw that even though I had sent unfaithful Israel away for all her adulteries and had given her a divorce decree, her treacherous sister Judah didnft fear, and she, too, committed adultery. 9She took her fornication so lightly that she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. 10Yet in all this her treacherous sister Judah didnft return to me with her whole heart, but rather deceptively,h declares the Lord.
11Then the Lord told me, gUnfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say,
eReturn, unfaithful Israel,f
declares the Lord.
eI wonft look on you in anger,
for I am gracious,f
declares the Lord.
eI wonft remain angry forever.
13eOnly acknowledge your iniquity,
that you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
and have scattered your favors to strangers
under every green tree.
But you havenft obeyed me,f
declares the Lord.
14gReturn, unfaithful people,h declares the Lord, gfor I am your husband. Ifll take you, one from a city and two from a family, and Ifll bring you to Zion. 15Ifll give you shepherds after my own heart, and theyfll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense.h
16gAnd in those days when you increase in numbers and multiply in the land,h declares the Lord, gpeople will no longer say, eThe Ark of the Covenant of the Lord,f and it wonft come to mind, and they wonft remember it or miss it, nor will it be made again. 17At that time people will call Jerusalem, gThe Throne of the Lord,h and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. Theyfll no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires. 18In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and together theyfll come to the land that I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.h
19gI said,
eHow I wanted to treat you like children,
and give you a pleasant land,
the most beautiful inheritance of the nations.f
I said, eYou will call me, my father,
and wonft turn back from following me.f
20Instead, like an unfaithful wife leaves her husband,
so you have been unfaithful to me, house of Israel,h
declares the Lord.
21gA voice is heard on the barren heights,
the weeping and pleading of the children of Israel
because they have perverted their way.
They have forgotten the Lord their God.h
22gTurn back, unfaithful people,
and Ifll heal your unfaithfulness.h
gLook, wefre coming to you
because you are the Lord our God.
23Truly the hills are a deception,
and the mountains are confusion.
Truly, in the Lord our God is Israelfs salvation.h
24Since our youth the false gods have consumed
the products of our ancestorsf hard work,
their sheep and their cattle,
their sons and their daughters.
25gLet us lie down in our shame,
and let our humiliation cover us,
because both we and our ancestors have sinned
against the Lord our God from our youth
until this present time.
We havenft obeyed the Lord our God.h
Chapter 4
1gIsrael, if you return to me,h
declares the Lord,
gReturn to me,
remove your detestable idols from my presence,
and donft waver.
2If you swear, eas surely as the Lord lives,f
in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
then nations will be blessed by him,
and in him they will boast.h
3For this is what the Lord says
to the men of Judah and Jerusalem,
gBreak up your unplowed ground,
 and donft sow among thorns.
4Circumcise yourselves to the Lord
and remove the foreskin of your heart,
you men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem,
or else my wrath will break out like fire
and burn with no one to put it out,
because of your evil deeds.h
5Declare in Judah, make known in Jerusalem, by saying,
gBlow the trumpet in the land, cry out, and say,
eGather together
and letfs go to the fortified cities!f
6Raise a standard in the direction of Zion.
Flee! Donft stand around!
For Ifm bringing calamity from the north,
along with great destruction.
7A lion has gone up from his thicket,
and a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his place
to make your land a waste.
Your cities will be ruined,
and without inhabitants.
8So, put on sackcloth,
mourn and wail,
because the burning anger of the Lord
has not turned away from us.h
9gOn that day,h declares the Lord,
gthe courage of the king and the leaders will fail.
The priests will be appalled
and the prophets astounded.h
10Then I replied, gAh, Lord GOD, you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem when you said, eYou will have peace,f while the sword is at their throat!h
11At that time, it will be told this people and to Jerusalem, gA scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert is coming toward my people, and itfs not for winnowing or cleansing. 12A wind too strong for that is coming at my bidding. Now Ifm judging them as I speak.h
13Look, he comes up like clouds,
and his chariots are like a whirlwind.
His horses are as swift as eagles.
Woe to us\wefre destroyed!
14Jerusalem, wash your evil from your heart
so that you may be delivered.
How long will you harbor
evil schemes within you?
15For a voice announces from Dan
and declares disaster from Mount Ephraim.
16gTell the nations, eHere they come!f
Proclaim to Jerusalem,
eThe besieging forces are coming from a distant land.
They cry out against the cities of Judah.
17They have surrounded her like those guarding a field
because they have rebelled against me,fh
declares the Lord.
18gYour lifestyles and your actions
have brought these things on you.
This is your calamity\it is indeed bitter,
for it has reached your heart!h
19gMy anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain.
Oh, the aching of my heart!
My heart pounds within me;
I cannot keep silent.
For I hear the sound of the trumpet,
the alarm for war.
20Disaster upon disaster is proclaimed,
for the entire land is devastated.
Suddenly, my tent is destroyed,
in a moment my curtains.
21How long will I see the battle standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22gFor my people are foolish,
they donft know me.
Theyfre stupid children,
they have no understanding.
Theyfre skilled at doing evil,
but how to do good, they donft know.h
23I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void,
at the heavens, and there was no light there.
24I looked at the mountains; they were quaking,
and all the hills moved back and forth.
25I looked, and no people were there.
All the birds of the sky had gone.
26I looked, and the fruitful land had become a desert.
All its towns were broken down
because of the Lord,
because of his burning anger.
27For this is what the Lord says:
gThe entire land will be devastated,
but I wonft completely destroy it.
28Because of this, the land will mourn,
and the heavens above will be dark.
Because I have spoken and decided,
I wonft turn back from doing it.h
29At the sound of the horseman and the archer
the entire city flees.
Its residents go into the thickets and climb among the rocks.
Every city is abandoned, and no one lives in them.
30You are ruined! What are you doing
dressing in scarlet,
putting on golden ornaments,
and highlighting your eyes with makeup?
You are making yourself beautiful in vain.
Your lovers reject you\
theyfre out to kill you.
31I heard a cry like that of a woman in labor,
anguish like one giving birth to her firstborn,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for air,
stretching out her hand:
gWoe is me! Ifm about to faint in front of killers!h
Chapter 5
1gWander through the streets of Jerusalem.
Look and investigate;
search through her squares
and see whether you find anyone\
even one person there\doing justice and seeking truth.
Then Ifll forgive them.
2Although they say, eAs surely as the Lord lives,f
still they are swearing falsely.h
3Lord, donft your eyes look for truth?
You struck them, but they didnft flinch.
You brought them to an end,
but they refused to receive discipline.
They made their faces harder than stone,
and they refused to repent.
4Then I said, gThese are only the poor,
theyfre foolish,
for they donft know the Lordfs way,
the requirement of their God.
5Let me go to the leaders and speak to them.
For they know the Lordfs way,
the requirement of their God.h
gBut they, all together, have broken the yoke
and torn off the restraints.
6Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them,
a wolf from the desert will devastate them.
A leopard is watching their towns,
and everyone who goes out of them
will be torn to pieces.
For their transgressions are many,
and their apostasies numerous.
7Why should I forgive you?
Your sons have forsaken me,
and you have sworn by those
who arenft gods.
When I gave them enough food to satisfy them,
they committed adultery
and marched to the prostitutefs house.
8They were well-fed, lusty stallions,
each one neighing after his neighborfs wife.
9gShould I not punish them for these things?h
asks the Lord,
gAnd on a nation like this,
should I not seek retribution?h
10gGo through her rows of vines and destroy them,
but donft completely destroy them.
Strip away her branches,
because they arenft the Lordfs.
11For both the house of Israel and the house of Judah
have been utterly unfaithful to me,h
declares the Lord.
12gThey have lied about the Lord
by saying, eHe wouldnft do that!
Disaster wonft come on us.
We wonft see sword and famine.
13The prophets are nothing but wind,
and the word is not in them.
So may the disaster happen to them!fh
14Therefore, this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies says:
gBecause you people have said this,
my words in your mouth will become a fire
and these people the wood.
The fire will destroy them.
15People of Israel, Ifm now bringing
a nation from far away to attack you,h
declares the Lord.
gIt is an enduring nation,
an ancient nation,
a nation whose language you donft know.
And you wonft understand what they say.
16Their quiver is like an open grave,
and all of them are powerful warriors.
17gTheyfll devour your harvest and your food.
Theyfll devour your sons and your daughters.
Theyfll devour your vines and your fig trees.
With their swords theyfll batter down
your fortified cities in which you trust.
18gYet even in those days,h declares the Lord, gI wonft destroy you completely. 19When the people ask, eWhy has the Lord our God done all this to us?f you are to say to them, eJust as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.fh
20gDeclare this to the descendants of Jacob,
and proclaim it in Judah:
21eHear this, you foolish and stupid people:
They have eyes, but donft see;
they have ears, but donft hear.
22eYou donft fear me, do you?f declares the Lord.
eYou donft tremble before me, do you?
Ifm the one who put the sand as a boundary for the sea,
a perpetual barrier that it cannot cross.
Though the waves toss, they cannot prevail against it,
though they roar, they cannot cross it.f
23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts.
They have turned aside and have gone away.
24They donft say to themselves,
eLetfs fear the Lord our God,
who gives rain in its season,
both the autumn and the spring rain.
He sets aside for us the weeks appointed
for the harvest.f
25Your iniquities have turned these things away,
and your sins have held back from you what is good.
26gEvil men are found among my people.
They lie in wait like someone who traps birds.
They set a trap,
but they do so to catch people.
27Like a cage full of birds,
so their houses are filled with treachery.
This is how they have become prominent and rich,
28and have grown fat and sleek.
There is no limit to their evil deeds.
They donft argue the case of the orphan to secure justice.
They donft defend the rights of the poor.
29eShould I not punish them for this?f
asks the Lord.
eShould I not avenge myself
on a nation like this?f
30gAn appalling and horrible thing
has happened in the land:
31The prophets prophesy falsely,
the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
But what will you do in the end?h
Chapter 6
1gFlee to safety, you people of Benjamin,
leave Jerusalem.
Sound the trumpet in Tekoa,
and raise a signal over Beth-haccerem!
For calamity and terrible destruction
are turning toward you from the north.
2Ifll destroy the lovely and delicate
Daughter of Zion.
3Shepherds and their flocks will come against her.
Theyfll pitch their tents all around her,
and every one will tend his flock in his own place.
4Prepare for war against her.
Get ready, letfs attack at noon!
How terrible for us that the day is coming to an end,
and that the evening shadows are lengthening.
5Get ready, letfs attack at night,
and destroy her fortresses.h
6For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gCut down trees and
set up siege works against Jerusalem.
It is the city to be judged,
and there is oppression throughout the entire city.
7As a well keeps its waters fresh,
so the city keeps her wickedness fresh.
Violence and destruction are heard in her,
sickness and wounds are always before me.
8Be warned, Jerusalem,
or Ifll be alienated from you.
Ifll make you desolate,
a land not inhabited.h
9This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gLet them glean the remnant of Israel
as thoroughly as they would the vine.
Pass your hand over them like grape gatherers
over the branches.
10To whom will I speak and give a warning
so theyfll listen?
Look, their ears are closed,
and they cannot hear.
Look, this message from the Lord is contemptible to them;
they donft delight in it.
11Ifm full of the wrath of the Lord,
and Ifm tired of holding it back.
Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the groups of young men gathered together.
Indeed, both husband and wife will be caught in it,
the old and the very old.
12Their houses will be turned over to others\
their fields and wives together\
when I stretch out my hand against
those who live in the land,h
declares the Lord.
13gIndeed, from the least important to the most important,
theyfre all greedy for dishonest gain.
From prophet to priest,
they all act deceitfully.
14They treated my peoplefs wound superficially, telling them,
ePeace, peace,f but there is no peace.
15Were they ashamed because they did
what was repugnant to God?
They were not ashamed at all\
they donft even know how to blush!
Therefore theyfll fall with those who fall.
When I punish them, theyfll be brought down,h
says the Lord.
16This is what the Lord says:
gStand beside the roads and watch.
Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is.
Walk in it and find rest for yourselves.
But they said, eWe wonft walk in it!f
17I appointed watchmen over you.
Listen for the sound of the trumpet.
But they said, eWe wonft listen!f
18Therefore, hear, nations,
and know, congregation,
what will happen to them.
19Listen, earth!
Ifm about to bring calamity on this people,
on the fruit of their plans,
because they didnft listen to my words
and they rejected my instruction.
20What good is frankincense
that comes from Sheba to me,
or sweet cane from a distant country?
Your burnt offerings arenft acceptable,
nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me.h
21Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
gIfm about to put stumbling blocks in front of this people,
and fathers and sons will stumble over them together.
The neighbor and his friends will perish.h
22This is what the Lord says:
gLook, people are coming from a northern country.
A great nation is stirring from the ends of the earth.
23They grab bow and spear;
theyfre cruel and show no mercy.
Their sound roars like the sea
as they ride on horses,
deployed like men ready for battle
against you, daughter of Zion.h
24We have heard the news about it,
and our hands are limp.
Distress has seized us
like a woman in labor.
25Donft go out into the field,
and donft travel on the road,
because the enemy has a sword,
and terror is on every side.
26Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth
and roll in ashes.
Mourn with bitter wailing,
as one mourns at the death of an only son.
For the destroyer will come on us suddenly.
27gIfve made you an assayer of my people,
as well as a fortress.
You know how
to test their way.h
28All of them are very rebellious,
going around as slanderers.
Theyfre bronze and iron,
and all of them are corrupt.
29The bellows blow fiercely to consume
the lead with the fire.
The assayer keeps on refining,
but the impurities arenft separated out.
30Theyfre called reject silver,
because the Lord has rejected them.
Chapter 7
1The message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2gStand at the gate of the Lordfs Temple and proclaim this message there. Say, eListen to this message from the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord.fh
3This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says:
gChange your ways and your deeds, and Ifll let you live in this place. 4Donft trust deceptive words like these, and say, eThe Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord,f 5but rather, truly change your ways and your deeds. If you truly practice justice between each person and his neighbor, 6and if you donft oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, and donft shed an innocent personfs blood in this place, and if you donft follow other gods to your own harm, 7then Ifll let you dwell in this land, the land that I gave to your ancestors forever and ever.
8gLook, youfre trusting in deceptive words that cannot benefit. 9Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear by false gods, burn incense to Baal, follow other gods that you donft know, 10and then come to stand before me in this house that is called by my name and say, eWefre deliveredf so we can continue to do all these things that are repugnant to God? 11Has this house that is called by my name become a hideout for bandits in your eyes? Look, Ifm watching,h declares the Lord.
12gGo to my place that was in Shiloh, where I first caused my name to dwell. See what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel. 13Now, because you have done all these things,h declares the Lord, gI spoke to you over and over again, but you didnft listen. I called to you, but you didnft answer. 14Just as I did to Shiloh, Ifll do to the house in which you trust and which is called by my name, the place that I gave to you and your ancestors. 15Ifll cast you out of my sight, just as I cast out all your brothers, all the descendants of Ephraim.
16gAs for you, donft pray on behalf of this people, donft cry or offer a petition for them, and donft plead with me, for I wonft listen to you. 17Donft you see what theyfre doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven, and they pour out liquid offerings to other gods in order to provoke me. 19Are they provoking me?h asks the Lord. gIs it not themselves, and to their own shame?h 20Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: gIfm about to pour out my anger and my wrath on this place, on people and animals, on the trees of the field, and on the fruit of the ground. It will burn, and it wonft be put out.h
21This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says:
gAdd your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat the meat. 22Indeed, when I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I didnft speak or command them about burnt offering and sacrifice, 23but I did give them this command: eObey me and Ifll be your God, and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you so it will go well for you.f 24But they didnft listen, nor did they pay attention. They pursued their own plans, stubbornly following their own evil desires. They went backward and not forward. 25From the day your ancestors left the land of Egypt to this present time, Ifve sent all my servants, the prophets, to you, again and again. 26But they didnft listen to me, and they didnft pay attention. They stiffened their necks, and they did more evil than their ancestors.
27gYou will tell them all these things, but they wonft listen to you. You will call out to them, but they wonft answer you. 28You will say to them, eThis is the nation that wouldnft listen to the voice of the Lord its God and wouldnft accept correction. Truth has perished; it has been eliminated from their discussions.f
29gCut off your hair and throw it away;
let your lamentations rise on the barren heights,
because the Lord has rejected and abandoned
the generation that is subject to his wrath.
30gFor the people of Judah have done evil in my eyes,h declares the Lord. gThey have put their detestable idols in the house that is called by my name in order to defile it. 31They have built high places at Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire. I didnft command this, and it never entered my mind!
32gTherefore, the time is near,h declares the Lord, gwhen it will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. Theyfll bury in Topheth because there is no other place to do it. 33The dead bodies of these people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the animals of the land, and no one will disturb them. 34In the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem Ifll bring an end to the sound of gladness and rejoicing, to the sounds of the bridegroom and bride, for the land will become a wasteland.h
Chapter 8
1gAt that time,h declares the Lord, gthe bones of the king of Judah, the bones of his officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the residents of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. 2Theyfll be spread out to the sun, the moon, and all the stars of the heavens, which they loved and served, and which they followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones wonft be collected, nor will they be buried. Theyfll be like dung on the surface of the ground.
3gIn all the places where the people remain, where Ifve banished them, death will be chosen over life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
4gYou are to say to them, eThis is what the Lord says:
gWill a person fall down and then not get up?
Will someone turn away and then not turn back again?
5Why has this people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem continue in apostasy?
They hold on to deceit and refuse to repent.
6Ifve listened and Ifve heard,
and what they say is not right.
No one repents of his evil and says,
eWhat have I done?f
gThey all turn to their own course
like a horse racing into battle.
7Even the stork in the sky knows its seasons,
and the dove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time for migration.
But my people donft know
the requirements of the Lord.
8How can you say, eWefre wise,
and the Law of the Lord is with us,f
when, in fact, the deceitful pen of the scribe has made it
into something that deceives.
9The wise men will be put to shame.
Theyfll be dismayed and taken captive.
Look, they have rejected the message from the Lord!
So what kind of wisdom do they have?
10Therefore, Ifll give their wives to others,
and their fields to new owners.
Indeed, from the least important to the most important,
theyfre all greedy for dishonest gain.
From prophet to priest,
they all act deceitfully.
11They have treated my peoplefs wound
superficially, telling them, ePeace, peace,f
when there is no peace.
12Are they ashamed because they have done
what is repugnant to God?
They werenft ashamed at all;
they donft even know how to blush!
Therefore theyfll fall with those who fall.
When I punish them, theyfll be brought down,h
says the Lord.
13gI would have gathered them,h
declares the Lord,
gbut there were no grapes on the vine,
and no figs on the fig tree,
and their leaves were withered.
What Ifve given them has been taken away.hfh
14Why are we sitting here?
Join together! Letfs go to the fortified cities
and perish there!
For the Lord our God has condemned us to perish
and given us poisoned water to drink,
because we have sinned against him.
15We waited for peace, but no good has come,
for a time of healing, but instead there was terror.
16gThe snorting of their horses is heard from Dan.
At the neighing of their stallions,
the whole earth quakes.
Theyfre coming to devour
the land and all it contains,
the city and all who live in it.
17Look, Ifll send snakes among you,
vipers that cannot be charmed,
and theyfll bite you.h
18Incurable sorrow has overwhelmed me,
my heart is sick within me.
19Listen! My people cry
from a distant land:
gIs the Lord no longer in Zion?
Is her king no longer there?h
gWhy did they provoke me to anger with their images,
with their worthless foreign gods?h
20The harvest is past,
the summer has ended,
and we havenft been delivered.
21Because my people are crushed, Ifm crushed.
I mourn, and dismay overwhelms me.
22Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
So why is there no healing for my people?
Chapter 9
1gOh, that my head were a spring of water,
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
for then I would cry day and night for those
of my people who have been killed.
2Oh, that I had a lodging place for travelers in the desert,
so that I could leave my people
and go away from them.
For all of them are adulterers,
a band of traitors.
3They use their tongues like a bow.
Lies rather than truth fly throughout the land.
They progress from one evil to another,
and they donft know me,h
declares the Lord.
4gBeware of your neighbors, and donft trust
any of your relatives.
For all of your relatives act deceitfully,
and every friend goes around as a slanderer.
5People deceive their friends,
and they donft tell the truth.
They have taught their tongues to tell lies.
They exhaust themselves practicing evil.
6You yourself live in the midst of deception,
and because they are deceived they do not know me,h
declares the Lord.
7Therefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gLook, Ifm about to refine and test them.
Because theyfre my people, what else can I do?
8Their tongue is a deadly arrow
that speaks deceit.
With his mouth a person says, ePeace,f to his friend,
but inwardly he sets a trap for him.
9Should I not punish them for these things?h
asks the Lord,
gand should I not avenge myself on a nation like this?h
10Ifll weep and mourn for the mountains,
and lament for the desert pastures,
because they are desolate and no one passes through them.
They donft hear the lowing of the cattle.
Both the birds of the sky and the animals have fled.
Theyfre gone!
11gIfll make Jerusalem a heap of ruins,
a refuge for jackals.
Ifll make the towns of Judah desolate,
without inhabitants.h
12Who is the wise person who understands this, and to whom has the Lord spoken so that he may declare it? Why is the land destroyed, ruined like the desert, without anyone passing through it? 13The Lord said, gIt is because they have forsaken my Law that I gave them. They didnft obey me and didnft live according to it. 14Instead, they followed their rebellious hearts and the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.h
15Therefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gLook, Ifll make these people eat wormwood and drink poisoned water. 16Ifll scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known, and Ifll pursue them with the sword until Ifve finished them off.h
17This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gThink about what Ifm saying!
Indeed, call out the professional mourners!
Send for the best of them to come.
18Let them hurry and lament for us.
Let tears run down from our eyes,
and let our eyelids flow with water.
19For a sound of mourning is heard from Zion:
eHow wefre ruined!
Our shame is very great,
because we have left the land,
because our houses are torn down.fh
20gNow, you women, hear the message from the Lord;
listen to what he has to say!
Teach your daughters how to mourn,
let every woman teach her friend how to lament.
21For death comes up through our windows;
it has come into our palaces
to eliminate children from the streets
and young men from the town squares.
22Speak! eThis is what the Lord says:
gThe corpses of people will fall like dung
on the surface of the field,
and like a row of cut grain behind
the harvester when there is no one to gather it.hfh
23This is what the Lord says: gThe wise man is not to boast in his wisdom; the strong man is not to boast in his strength; and the rich man is not to boast in his riches. 24Rather, let the one who boasts, boast in this: that he understands and knows me, for I am the Lord who acts with gracious love, justice, and righteousness in the land. I delight in these things,h declares the Lord.
25gLook, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen Ifll punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh: 26Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, all those who live in the desert and shave the corners of their beard; indeed all the other nations that are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel that is uncircumcised of heart.h
Chapter 10
1Hear the message that the Lord has spoken to you, house of Israel. 2This is what the Lord says:
gDonft learn the way of the nations,
and donft be terrified by signs in the heavens,
though the nations are terrified of them.
3For the practices of the people are worthless.
Indeed, a tree is cut down from the forest;
itfs the work of the hands of a craftsman with an ax.
4They decorate it with silver and gold.
They secure it with nails and hammers
so it wonft totter.
5Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field.
They canft speak!
They must always be carried
because they canft walk!
Donft be afraid of them
because they can do no harm,
nor can they do any good.h
6There is no one like you, Lord.
You are great, and your name is great and powerful.
7Who wouldnft fear you, king of the nations?
This is what you deserve!
Indeed, among all the wise men of the nations,
and throughout all their kingdoms,
there is no one like you!
8Everyone is stupid and senseless.
They follow worthless instruction
from a piece of wood!
9Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,
and gold from Uphaz.
The idols are the work of a craftsman
and of the hands of a goldsmith.
Their clothing is violet and purple.
The idols are all the work of skilled craftsmen.
10The Lord is the true God;
hefs the living God and the everlasting king.
At his wrath the earth quakes,
and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
11Tell this to them: gThe gods who didnft make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from these heavens.h
12The Lord is the one who made
the world by his power,
who established the earth by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
13When his voice sounds there is thunder
from the waters of heaven,
and he makes clouds rise up from
the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and brings wind out of his storehouses.
14Everyone is stupid and without knowledge.
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false.
There is no life in them.
15Theyfre worthless, a work of mockery,
and when the time of punishment comes,
theyfll perish.
16The Portion of Jacob is not like these.
He made everything,
and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance.
The Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name.
17You who live under siege,
Gather up your bundle from the ground.
18For this is what the Lord says:
gIfm going to throw out the inhabitants
of the land at this time,
and Ifll bring distress on them
so theyfll experience it.h
19Woe is me because of my injury.
My wound is severe.
I said, gTruly this is my sickness,
and I must bear it.
20My tent is destroyed,
and all my tent cords are broken.
My sons have gone away from me,
they no longer live.
There is no one to pitch my tent again
and set up my curtains.
21Because the shepherds are stupid
and donft seek the Lord,
therefore, they donft prosper,
and their flock is scattered.
22The sound of a report, itfs coming now!
There is a great commotion from a land in the north
to make the towns of Judah desolate,
a refuge for jackals.h
23Lord, I know that a personfs life is not his to control,
nor does a person establish his way in life.
24Lord, correct me, but with justice,
not with anger.
Otherwise, youfll bring me to nothing.
25Pour out your anger on the nations
that donft acknowledge you,
and on the families that donft call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob;
they have devoured and consumed him;
they have devastated his habitation.
Chapter 11
1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2gListen to the words of this covenant, and convey them to the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem. 3You are to say to them, eThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: gCursed is the person who does not listen to the words of this covenant 4which I commanded to your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace. I said, eObey me and do everything that I commanded you. Then you will be my people and Ifll be your God.f 5As a result, Ifll fulfill the oath that I made with your ancestors to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, just as is the case today.hfh
Then I answered, gSo be it, Lord.h
6The Lord told me, gProclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. You are to say, eListen to the words of this covenant and do them. 7For Ifve diligently warned your ancestors from the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt until now, regularly warning them, saying, gObey me!h 8But they would not listen or turn their ear, and each of them stubbornly followed his own evil desires. So I brought on them all the consequences of this covenant that I commanded them to fulfill, but they did not.fh
9The Lord told me, gConspiracy has been found among the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem. 10They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors of old who refused to listen to my words. They followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah broke my covenant which I made with their ancestors.h
11Therefore, this is what the Lord says: gIfm about to bring disaster on them from which they wonft be able to escape. Theyfll cry out to me, but I wonft listen to them. 12The towns of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but theyfll be no help at all to them in the time of their disaster. 13Judah, you have as many gods as you have towns, and you have set up as many altars to the shameful idols as there are streets in Jerusalem. You burn incense to Baal on these altars.
14gJeremiah, donft pray for this people and donft cry or pray for them. I wonft listen when they cry out to me because of their disaster.
15gWhat right does my beloved have in my house,
when she has carried out many evil schemes?
Can sacrificial flesh turn disaster away from you,
so you can rejoice?h
16The Lord once called you a green olive tree,
with beautiful shape and fruit.
With a great roaring sound, he has set fire to it
and its branches will be destroyed.
17The Lord of the Heavenly Armies who planted you has called for disaster on you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, has provoked me by burning incense to Baal.h
18The Lord made it known to me,
and so I understood.
Then you showed me their malicious deeds.
19I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter.
I didnft know that they had devised schemes
against me. They told themselves,
gLetfs destroy the tree with its fruit.
Letfs eliminate him from the land of the living,
so his name wonft be remembered again.h
20Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the righteous judge,
the one who tests feelings and the heart,
let me see your vengeance on them,
for Ifve committed my cause to you.
21Therefore, this is what the Lord says about the men of Anathoth who seek to kill you, all the while threatening you, gDonft prophesy in the name of the Lord so you wonft die by our hand!h 22Therefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gIfm about to punish them. The young men will die by the sword. Their sons and daughters will die by famine. 23Not one of them will be left, for Ifll bring disaster on the men of Anathoth when I punish them.h
Chapter 12
1You are righteous, Lord,
even when I bring a complaint to you.
But I want to discuss justice with you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper,
while all who are treacherous are at ease?
2You plant them and they take root,
they grow and bear fruit.
gYou are near to us,h they say with their mouths,
but the truth is that youfre far from their hearts.
3You know me, Lord.
You see me and test my thoughts toward you.
Pull the wicked out like sheep for slaughter;
set them apart for the day of butchering.
4How long will the land mourn
and the vegetation of every field dry up?
Because of the wickedness of those who live in it,
animals and birds are swept away.
For they say, gHe does not see our future.h
5Indeed, if you run with others on foot,
and they tire you out,
how can you compete with horses?
You are secure in a land at peace,
but how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
6Indeed, even your brothers and your fatherfs family
conspire against you.
Even they cry out after you loudly.
Donft believe them, even though they speak friendly words to you.
7Ifll forsake my house,
Ifll abandon my inheritance.
Ifll give the beloved of my heart
into the hand of her enemies.
8My inheritance has become like a lion in the forest to me.
She roars at me; therefore, I hate her.
9Is my inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to me?
Are the other birds of prey all around her coming against her?
Go, gather all the wild animals and
bring them to devour it.
10Many shepherds will destroy my vineyard.
Theyfll trample down my portion.
Theyfll turn my pleasant portion
into a desolate desert.
11Theyfll make it into a desolate place,
and, desolate, it will cry out in mourning to me.
The whole land will be desolate
because no one takes it to heart.
12On all the barren heights in the desert
destroyers will come.
Indeed, a sword of the Lord will devour from
one end of the land to the other.
There will be no peace for any person.
13They have sown wheat,
but they have harvested thorns.
They have tired themselves out,
but they donft show a profit.
Now be disappointed about your harvest
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
14This is what the Lord says about all the wicked neighbors who strike out against the land Ifve given to my people Israel as their inheritance: gIfm about to uproot them from their land, and Ifll uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15After Ifve uprooted them, Ifll again have compassion on them. Ifll return each one of them to his inheritance, and each one to his own land. 16If they have learned the ways of my people well, to swear by my name: eAs surely as the Lord lives,f just as they once taught my people to swear by Baal, then theyfll be built up among my people. 17But if they donft listen, then Ifll completely uproot that nation and destroy it,h declares the Lord.
Chapter 13
1This is what the Lord told me: gGo and buy a linen belt for yourself, and put it around your waist. But donft let it get wet.h 2So I bought the belt according to the Lordfs instruction, and put it around my waist.
3Then this message from the Lord came to me a second time: 4Take the belt that you bought and that is around your waist. Get up and go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a crevice in the rock.h 5So I went and hid it at the Euphrates, just as the Lord had commanded me.
6After a long time, the Lord told me, gArise, go to the Euphrates, and get the belt that I commanded you to hide there.h 7I went to the Euphrates and dug it up. I got the belt from the place where I had hidden it. The belt was ruined! It was not good for anything.
8Then this message from the Lord came to me: 9gThis is what the Lord says: eIn the same way Ifll ruin the pride of Judah and the pride of Jerusalem. 10This evil people that refuses to listen to my words, that stubbornly pursues their own desires, and that follows other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt that is not good for anything. 11For just as the belt clings tightly to a personfs waist, so Ifve made all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah cling tightly to me,f declares the Lord. eI did this so that they would be my people, name, praise, and glory. But they wouldnft listen.f
12gThis is what youfre to tell them: eThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: gEvery wineskin is to be filled with wine.hf When they say to you, eDonft we know very well that every wineskin is to be filled with wine?f, 13then say to them, eThis is what the Lord says: gIfm about to make all the inhabitants of this land drunk\the kings who sit on Davidfs throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the residents of Jerusalem. 14Ifll smash them against each other, even fathers against their sons,h declares the Lord. gIfll have no pity, mercy, or compassion when I destroy them.hfh
15Listen and pay attention!
Donft be proud, for the Lord has spoken.
16Give glory to the Lord your God
before he brings darkness,
before your feet stumble on the
mountains at twilight.
You hope for light,
but he turns it into deep darkness.
He changes it into heavy gloom.
17If you donft listen, Ifll cry secretly
because of your pride.
My eyes will cry bitterly, flowing tears,
because the Lordfs flock has been taken captive.
18Say to the king and the queen mother,
gCome take a lowly seat,
because your beautiful crowns have fallen off your heads.h
19The towns in the Negev will be closed up,
and there will be no one to open them.
All Judah will be taken into exile
and be completely exiled.
20gLook up and see those who are coming from the north.
Where is the flock that was given to you\
your beautiful sheep?
21What will you say when the Lord
appoints over you as your head
those whom you taught to be your allies?
Pain will seize you like that seizing a woman
about to give birth, will it not?
22When you say to yourselves,
eWhy have all these things happened to me?f
Itfs because of the extent of your iniquity
that your skirt has been lifted up,
and your heels have suffered violence.
23Can an Ethiopian change his skin,
or a leopard his spots?
Then you who are trained to do evil
will also be able to do good.
24Ifll scatter them like chaff
blown away by a desert wind.
25gThis is your fate,
the portion Ifve measured out for you,h
declares the Lord,
gbecause you have forgotten me
and have trusted in false gods.
26Ifll also pull your skirt up over your face,
so your shame will be seen,
27Ifve seen your detestable behavior:
your adulteries, your passionate neighing,
your lewd immorality on the hills in the field.
How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem!
You are unclean. How much longer will this go on?h
Chapter 14
1This is this message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2gJudah mourns, and her gates languish.
The people mourn for the land,
and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
3Their nobles send their young people for water.
They go to the cisterns, but they find no water.
They return with their vessels empty.
Theyfre disappointed and dismayed,
and they cover their heads in shame.
4The ground is cracked,
because there has been no rain in the land.
The farmers are disappointed,
and they cover their heads in shame.
5Even the doe in the field gives birth
and then abandons her young
because there is no grass.
6Wild donkeys stand on the barren hills.
They pant for air like jackals.
Their eyesight fails
because there is no vegetation.h
7Lord, even though our iniquities testify against us,
do something for the sake of your name.
Indeed, our apostasies are many,
and we have sinned against you.
8Hope of Israel,
its deliverer in time of trouble,
why are you like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler who sets up his tent for a night?
9Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
like a strong man who canft deliver?
You are among us, Lord,
and your name is the one by which wefre called.
Donft abandon us!
10This is what the Lord says to these people:
gYes, they do love to wander,
and they havenft restrained their feet.
So the Lord wonft accept them now.
He will remember their iniquity
and punish their sin.h
11Then the Lord told me, gDonft pray for the welfare of these people. 12Although they fast, I wonft listen to their cry, and although they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I wonft accept them. Instead, Ifll put an end to them with the sword, with famine, and with a plague.h
13Then I said, gAh, Lord GOD, look! The prophets are saying to them, eYou wonft see the sword and you wonft experience famine. Rather, Ifll give you lasting peace in this place.fh
14Then the Lord told me, gThe prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didnft send them, I didnft command them, and I didnft speak to them. Theyfre proclaiming to you false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own minds. 15Therefore, this is what the Lord says about the false prophets who prophesy in my name, eThere will be no sword and famine in this landf (though I havenft sent them): eBy the sword and by famine these prophets will be finished off! 16The people to whom they have prophesied will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters. Ifll pour out on them the judgment they deserve.fh
17gAnd deliver this message to them:
eLet tears run down my face,
night and day, and donft let them stop,
because my virgin daughter\my people\
will be broken with a powerful blow,
with a severe wound.
18If I go out into the field,
I see those slain by the sword!
If I go into the city,
I see the ravages of the famine!
Indeed, both prophet and priest
ply their trade in the land,
but they donft know anything.fh
19Have you completely rejected Judah?
Do you despise Zion?
Why have you struck us,
so that there is no healing for us?
We hoped for peace, but no good came,
for a time of healing, but there was only terror.
20We acknowledge, Lord, our wickedness,
the guilt of our ancestors.
Indeed, we have sinned against you.
21For the sake of your name donft despise us.
Donft dishonor your glorious throne.
Remember, donft break your covenant with us!
22Can any of the worthless gods of the nations make it rain?
Can the heavens themselves bring forth showers?
Arenft you the one who does this,
Lord our God?
So we hope in you,
for you are the one who does all these things.
Chapter 15
1Then the Lord told me, gEven if Moses and Samuel were standing before me, I wouldnft be favorably disposed toward this people. Send them out of my presence! Let them go!
2gWhen they say to you, eWhere can we go?f, say to them, eThis is what the Lord says:
gThose destined for death,
to death will go;
those destined for the sword,
to the sword will go;
and those destined for captivity,
to captivity will go.
3gIfll appoint four kinds of judgment for them,h declares the Lord: gthe sword to kill, the dogs to drag off, the birds of the sky to devour, and the animals of the land to destroy. 4Ifll make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Hezekiahfs son Manasseh, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.
5gWho will have pity on you, Jerusalem,
and who will grieve for you?
Who will go out of his way
to ask about your welfare?
6You have deserted me,h declares the Lord.
gYou keep going backward.
Ifll reach out my hand and destroy you.
Ifm tired of showing compassion.
7Ifll winnow them with a winnowing fork
in the gates of the land.
Ifll make them childless.
Ifll destroy my people,
for they didnft change their ways.
8Ifll make their widows more numerous
than the sand of the sea.
At noontime Ifll send a destroyer
against the mother of a young man.
Ifll cause terror and anguish
to come to her unexpectedly.
9gThe woman who gave birth to seven will grow faint,
her life will expire.
Her sun will set while itfs still day.
She will be disgraced and humiliated.
Ifll kill the rest of them with swords
in the presence of their enemies,h
declares the Lord.
10How terrible for me, my mother,
that you gave birth to me,
a man of strife and contention for the whole land!
Ifve neither lent nor borrowed,
yet everyone curses me.
11The Lord said,
gHave I not set you free
for a good purpose?
Have I not intervened for you with your enemies
in times of trouble and times of distress?
12gCan anyone break iron\
iron from the north\or bronze?
13gIfll give away your wealth and your treasures
as plunder, for free,
because of all your sins throughout your territory.
14Ifll make you serve your enemies
in a land you donft know,
for my anger has started a fire
that will burn against you.h
15You are aware\
Lord, remember me,
pay attention to me,
and vindicate me in front of those who pursue me.
You are patient\
donft take me away.
Know that I suffer insult because of you!
16Your words were found, and I consumed them.
Your words were joy and my hearts delight,
because I bear your name,
Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
17I didnft sit in the company of those who have fun,
and I didnft rejoice.
Because of your hand on me, I sat alone,
for you filled me with indignation.
18Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
You are like a deceptive brook,
whose waters cannot be depended on.
19Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
gIf you repent, Ifll take you back
and you will stand before me.
If you speak what is worthwhile,
instead of what is worthless,
then you will be my spokesman.
People will turn to you,
but you arenft to turn to them.
20Ifll make you a fortified wall of bronze to this people.
Theyfll fight against you,
but they wonft prevail against you,
for I am with you to save you
and deliver you,h
21So Ifll deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.h
Chapter 16
1This message from the Lord came to me: 2gYou are not to take a wife, nor are you to have sons or daughters in this place.h
3For this is what the Lord says about the sons and daughters who are born in this place, about their mothers who give birth to them, and about their fathers who father them in this land: 4gTheyfll die of deadly diseases. People wonft mourn for them, nor will they be buried. Theyfll be dung on the surface of the ground, and theyfll come to an end with the sword and with famine. Their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the animals of the land.h
5For this is what the Lord says: gDonft go to a house where there is mourning, donft go to lament, nor to express sorrow to them. For Ifve taken my peace away from this people,h declares the Lord, gas well as gracious love and compassion. 6Both the most and the least important people will die in this land, and they wonft be buried. People wonft mourn for them. They wonft cut themselves, nor will they shave their heads for them. 7They wonft break bread for the mourner to be consoled for the dead. They wonft give anyone the cup of consolation to drink for his father or mother. 8Donft go to a banquet to sit with people to eat and drink.h 9For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gIn this place Ifm about to bring an end to the sounds of happiness and rejoicing, the sounds of the bridegroom and the bride. Ifll do it in front of your eyes and in your time.
10gWhen you speak all these words to this people, theyfll say to you, eWhy has the Lord pronounced all this disaster against us? What is our iniquity, and what is the sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?f 11Then say to them, eIt is because your ancestors abandoned me,f declares the Lord. eThey followed other gods, served them, worshipped them, abandoned me, and didnft keep my Law. 12You have done even more evil than your ancestors, and each one of you is stubbornly following his own evil desires, refusing to listen to me. 13Ifll throw you out of this land into a land neither you nor your ancestors have known. There you will serve other gods day and night, and Ifll show you no favor.f
14gTherefore, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen it will no longer be said, eAs surely as the Lord lives, who brought up the Israelis from the land of Egypt.f 15Rather it will be said, eAs surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelis up from the land of the north and from all the lands to which the Lord had banished them.f Ifll bring them back to their land, which I gave to their ancestors.
16gIfm about to send many fishermen,h declares the Lord, gand theyfll catch them. Afterwards, Ifll send for many hunters and theyfll hunt for them on every mountain and hill and in the crevices of the rocks. 17For I am watching all their ways; they are not hidden from my sight. Their iniquity is not concealed from my eyes. 18First Ifll repay them double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the dead bodies of their detestable images, and they have filled my inheritance with their abominations.h
19Lord, my strength and my stronghold,
my refuge in a time of difficulty,
to you the nations will come,
and from the ends of the earth theyfll say,
gSurely our ancestors inherited deception,
things that are worthless,
and in which there is no profit.h
20Can a person make a god for himself?
They are not gods!
21Therefore, Ifm about to make them understand;
this time Ifll make them understand
my power and strength,
so theyfll understand that my name is the Lord.
Chapter 17
1The sin of Judah is engraved
with an iron stylus.
It is inscribed with a diamond point
on the tablet of their heart
and on the horns of their altars.
2When their sons remember,
they remember their altars and their Asherah poles
beside green trees on the high hills.
3My mountain in the field, your wealth and your treasures
Ifll give as spoil;
along with your high places as the price of your sin
throughout your territory.
4You will let go of your inheritance
which I gave you,
and Ifll make you serve your enemies
in a land that you donft know.
For with my anger you have started a fire
that will burn forever.
5This is what the Lord says:
gCursed is the person who trusts in mankind,
who makes flesh his strength,
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6He will be like a bush in the desert,
and he wonft see when good comes.
He will dwell in parched places in the wilderness,
a land of salt, without inhabitants.
7Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord,
making the Lord his trust.
8He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by a stream.
He wonft fear when the heat comes,
and his leaves will be green.
In a year of drought he wonft be concerned,
nor will he stop producing fruit.h
9gThe heart is more deceitful than anything.
It is incurable\
who can know it?
10I am the Lord who searches the heart,
who tests the inner depths
to give to each person
according to what he deserves,
according to the fruit of his deeds.
11As a partridge gathers together eggs
that it didnft lay,
so is a person who amasses wealth unjustly.
In the middle of his life it will leave him,
and in the end he will prove to be a fool.
12A glorious throne exalted from the beginning
is the place of our sanctuary.
13Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn aside from you will be
written in the dust,
because they have forsaken the Lord,
the spring of living water.
14Heal me, Lord, and Ifll be healed;
deliver me, and Ifll be delivered,
because you are my praise.
15Look, theyfre saying to me,
gWhere is the message from the Lord?
Let it come about!h
16I havenft run away from being your shepherd,
and I havenft longed for the day of sickness.
You know what comes out from my lips,
itfs open before you.
17Donft be a terror to me.
You are my refuge in a day of trouble.
18Let those who pursue me be put to shame,
but donft put me to shame.
Let them be terrified,
but donft let me be terrified.
Bring the day of judgment on them,
and destroy them with double destruction!
19The Lord told me, gGo, stand in the gate of the people, where the kings of Judah come in and go out, and in the other gates of Jerusalem as well. 20Say to them, eKings of Judah, all Judah, and all the residents of Jerusalem entering these gates, hear this message from the Lord. 21This is what the Lord says: gBe careful! On the Sabbath day, donft carry any load or bring anything through the gates of Jerusalem. 22Donft bring any load out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor are you to do any work. You are to consecrate the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors. 23But they didnft listen, nor did they pay attention. They were determined not to listen and not to accept instruction. 24If you listen to me carefully,h declares the Lord, gand donft bring a load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and you consecrate the Sabbath day and donft do any work on it, 25then kings and princes, sitting on the throne of David will come through the gates of this city. They, their princes, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem will come riding in chariots and on horses, and this city will be inhabited forever. 26Theyfll come from the cities of Judah, from the places around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negev, bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense, and bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORDfs Temple. 27But if you donft listen to me, to consecrate the Sabbath day and not carry any load as you enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then Ifll start a fire in its gates. It will consume the palaces of Jerusalem and wonft be extinguished.hfh
Chapter 18
1The message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2gArise and go down to the potterfs house, and there Ifll allow you to hear my words.h 3So I went down to the potterfs house, and there he was doing work at the potterfs wheel. 4But the vessel he was working on with the clay was ruined in the potterfs hand. So he remade it into another vessel that seemed appropriate to him.
5Then this message from the Lord came to me: 6gIsrael, canft I deal with you like this potter?h declares the Lord. gLook, Israel, like clay in the potterfs hand, so are you in my hand. 7At one moment I may speak about a nation or a kingdom to uproot it, pull it down, or destroy it. 8But if that nation about which I spoke turns from its evil way, Ifll change my mind about the disaster that I had planned for it. 9At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it. 10But if that nation does evil in my eyes by not obeying me, Ifll change my mind about the good that I said I would bring on it.
11gNow say to the people of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem, eThis is what the Lord says: gLook, Ifm designing a disaster just for you, and Ifm making plans against you. Each one of you must repent from his evil way. Make your ways and deeds right.hf 12But theyfll say, eItfs useless! We will follow our plans and each of us will pursue his own evil desires.f
13gTherefore, this is what the Lord says:
eAsk the nations.
Who has ever heard of anything like this?
You have done a most horrible thing,
virgin Israel.
14Does the snow of Lebanon
ever vanish from its rocky slopes?
Or does the cold water from a foreign land
ever cease to flow?
15Yet my people have forgotten me,
and they burn incense to worthless idols
that make them stumble in their journey
on the ancient paths.
They walk on trails,
on a way that is not built up.
16They make their land into a desolate place,
an object of lasting scorn.
All who pass by will be appalled
and will shake their heads.
17eLike the east wind, Ifll scatter them
before the enemy.
Ifll show them my back and not my face,
on the day of their downfall.fh
18Then they said, gCome, letfs make up a plot against Jeremiah. After all, the priestfs instruction, the wise manfs counsel, and the prophetfs message wonft be destroyed. So letfs verbally attack him. Pay no attention to anything he says!h
19Lord, pay attention to me.
Listen to the voice of my accusers!
20Should good be repaid with evil?
Yet they have dug a pit to take my life.
Remember! I stood before you
and spoke good on their behalf
in order to turn your wrath away from them.
21Therefore, make their children undergo famine,
and deliver them over to death in time of war.
May their women be childless widows!
May their men be slaughtered!
May their young men be slain
by the sword in battle!
22Let a cry be heard from their houses because you
have brought a raiding party against them suddenly.
For they have dug a pit to capture me
and have set traps for my feet.
23But you, Lord, know all their plots to kill me.
Donft forgive their iniquity,
and donft erase their sin from your sight.
Let them stumble before you.
When itfs time for you to be angry, act against them!
Chapter 19
1This is what the Lord says: gGo and buy a potterfs clay jug. Take along some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests. 2Go out to the Valley of Hinnom at the entrance to the Potsherd Gate, and there proclaim the words that Ifm telling you.
3gYou are to say, eHear this message from the Lord, you kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem!
geThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gIfm about to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of all who hear about it tingle. 4For they have forsaken me and have treated this place as foreign. In it they have burned incense to other gods that neither they, their ancestors, nor the kings of Judah knew. They have also filled this place with the blood of innocent people. 5They built the high places for Baal to burn their children in the fire as a burnt offering to Baal\something I didnft command, didnft say, nor did it ever enter my mind!
6gegTherefore, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen this place will no longer be called Topheth, or the Valley of Hinnom, but rather the Valley of Slaughter. 7Ifll shatter the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place, and Ifll make them fall by the sword before their enemies and at the hands of those seeking their lives. Ifll give their dead bodies as food to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the land. 8Ifll make this city into a desolate place and an object of scorn. All who pass by it will be astonished and will scoff because of all its wounds. 9Ifll cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and people will eat the flesh of their neighbors in the siege and in the distress to which their enemies and those seeking their lives will subject them.hfh
10gThen you are to break the jug in front of the men who have come with you, 11and say to them, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gIn this same way Ifll break this people and this city, just as someone breaks a potterfs vessel which he then cannot put back together again. Theyfll bury corpses in Topheth until there is no more room to bury anyone. 12This is what Ifll do to this place and its residents,h declares the Lord, gmaking this city like Topheth. 13The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be polluted like Topheth, as will be all the houses on whose roofs people burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out liquid offerings to other gods.hfh
14Then Jeremiah went from Topheth where the Lord had sent him to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the Lordfs Temple, saying to all the people, 15gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eIfm about to bring on this city and all its towns all the disaster that I declared against it because they were determined not to obey my message.fh
Chapter 20
1When the priest Pashhur, Immerfs son, who was the officer in charge of the Lordfs Temple heard Jeremiah prophesying these words, 2Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate of the Temple. 3The next day, Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, and Jeremiah told him, gThe Lord has not named you Pashhur, but rather Magor-missabib. 4For this is what the Lord says: eLook, Ifm going to make you a terror to yourself and to all your loved ones. Theyfll fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes will see it. Ifll give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will take them into exile to Babylon, and he will execute them with swords. 5Ifll turn over all the wealth of this city, all its possessions, all its valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah right into the hands of their enemies, and theyfll plunder them, capture them, and take them to Babylon. 6You, Pashhur, and all those living in your house will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon and there you will die. There you and all your loved ones to whom you have falsely prophesied will be buried.fh
7You deceived me, Lord,
and Ifve been deceived.
You overpowered me,
and you prevailed.
Ifve become a laughing stock all day long,
and everyone mocks me.
8Indeed, as often as I speak, I cry out,
and shout, gViolence and destruction!h
For this message from the Lord has caused me
constant reproach and derision.
9When I say, gI wonft remember the Lord,
nor will I speak in his name anymore,
then there is this burning fire in my heart.
It is bound up in my bones,
I grow weary of trying to hold it in,
and I cannot do it!
10Indeed, I hear many people whispering,
gTerror on every side.
Denounce him, letfs denounce him!h
All my close friends watch my steps and say,
gPerhaps he will be deceived,
and we can prevail against him
and take vengeance on him.h
11But the Lord is with me like a fearsome warrior.
Therefore, those who pursue me will stumble
and wonft prevail.
Theyfll be put to great shame,
when they donft succeed.
Their everlasting disgrace wonft be forgotten.
12Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
who tests the righteous,
who sees the inner motives and the heart,
let me see you take vengeance on them,
for Ifve committed my case to you.
13Sing to the Lord,
give praise to the Lord!
For he saves the life of the poor
from the hand of the wicked.
14Let the day on which I was born be cursed.
Donft let the day on which my mother gave birth to me be blessed.
15Cursed is the person who brought
the good news to my father,
gA baby boy has been born to you,h
making him very happy.
16May that man be like the cities that
the Lord overthrew without compassion.
Let him hear a cry in the morning,
and a battle cry at noon,
17because he didnft kill me in the womb,
so that my mother would have been my grave
and her womb forever pregnant.
18Why did I ever come out of the womb
to see trouble and sorrow,
and to finish my life living in shame?
Chapter 21
1The message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Malchijahfs son Pashhur and Maaseiahfs son Zephaniah the priest: 2Please inquire of the Lord on our behalf, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is fighting against us. Perhaps the Lord will do some of his miraculous acts for us, and Nebuchadnezzar will depart from us.h
3Jeremiah told them, gThis is what you are to say to Zedekiah, 4eThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: gIfm about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. Ifll gather them into the center of this city. 5Because of my anger, wrath, and great fury, Ifll fight against you myself with an outstretched hand and a strong arm. 6Ifll strike down the residents of this city, both people and animals, and theyfll die from a terrible plague. 7Afterwards,h declares the Lord, gIfll give King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people\those who are left in this city from the plague, the sword, and the famine\into the control of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, right into the hand of their enemies and the hand of those who want to kill them. Hefll execute them with swords and wonft pity them. He wonft spare them, nor will he have compassion on them.hf
8gYou are to say to this people, eThis is what the Lord says: gIfm about to set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, by famine, and by the plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live. He will save his life as a spoil of war. 10Indeed, Ifm firmly decided\Ifm sending calamity to this city, not good,h declares the Lord. gIt will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will set it on fire.hf
11gTo the house of the king of Judah say, eHear this message from the Lord.
12This is what the Lord says, house of David:
gJudge appropriately every morning,
and deliver those who have been robbed
from the oppressor,
so my anger does not break out like fire
and burn with no one to put it out
because of your evil deeds.
13gLook, Ifm against you,
city dwelling in the valley,
rock of the plain,h
declares the Lord,
gthose of you who say, eWho can come down against us
and who can enter our habitations?f
14But Ifll punish you according to
what you have done,h
declares the Lord.
gIfll start a fire in her forest,
and it will consume everything around her.hfh
Chapter 22
1This is what the Lord says: gGo down to the house of the king of Judah and tell him this: 2eListen to this message from the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David\you, your officials, and your people who enter these gates. 3This is what the Lord says: gUphold justice and righteousness. Deliver from their oppressor those who have been robbed. Donft mistreat or do violence to the alien, the orphan, or the widow, or shed the blood of innocent people in this place. 4Rather, carefully obey this message, and then kings sitting for David on his throne and riding in chariots and on horses will enter the gates of this house. The king will enter along with his officials and his people. 5But if you donft listen to these words, I swear,h declares the Lord, gthat this house will become a ruin.hfh 6For this is what the Lord says about the house of the king of Judah,
gYou are like Gilead to me,
like the summit of Lebanon.
Yet Ifll surely make you a desert,
towns where no one lives.
7Ifll appoint people to destroy you,
men with their weapons.
Theyfll cut down some of your choice cedars
and throw them into the fire.
8gMany nations will pass by this city and say to one another, eWhy did the Lord do this to this great city?f 9Then people will respond, eIt is because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have bowed down to other gods and served them.f
10gDonft cry for the dead
or grieve for them.
Weep bitterly for the one going away,
because he wonft return again
nor see the land of his birth.
11gFor this is what the Lord says about Josiahfs son Shallum, king of Judah, who reigned in place of his father Josiah: eHe went out from this place and wonft return to it again. 12He will die in the place where they exiled him, and he wonft ever see this land again.fh
13gHow terrible for him who builds his house
without righteousness,
and its upper rooms without justice,
who makes his neighbor work for nothing,
and does not pay him his wage.
14How terrible for him who says, eIfll build a large
house for myself with spacious upper rooms,
who cuts out windows for it,
paneling it with cedar and painting it red.f
15Are you a king because you try to outdo
everyone with cedar?
Your father ate and drank and upheld
justice and righteousness, did he not?
And then it went well for him.
16He judged the case of the poor and needy.
And then it went well for him.
Isnft this what it means to know me?
17But your eyes and heart are on nothing but
your dishonest gain,
shedding the blood of innocent people,
and practicing oppression and extortion.h
18Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
gThey wonft lament for him with these words:
eHow terrible, my brother,
How terrible, my sister!f
They wonft lament for him with these words:
eHow terrible, lord,
How terrible, your majesty!f
19He will receive a donkeyfs burial,
dragged out and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.h
20Go up to Lebanon and cry out,
to Bashan and lift up your voice.
Cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers
have been crushed.
21I spoke to you when you were secure,
but you said, gI wonft listen!h
This has been your way since your youth,
for you havenft obeyed me.
22The wind will shepherd all your shepherds,
and your lovers will go into exile.
Indeed, you will then be ashamed and humiliated
because of all your wickedness.
23You who live in Lebanon,
who build your nest in the cedars,
how you will groan when pains come upon you,
pain like that of a woman giving birth.
24gAs certainly as Ifm alive and living,h declares the Lord, geven if Jehoiakimfs son King Jehoiachin of Judah were a signet ring on my right hand, I would pull you off 25and give you to those who are trying to kill you, whom you fear\that is, to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Chaldeans. 26Ifll hurl you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land where you were not born, and there you will die. 27As for the land to which you want to return, you wonft return there!
28gIs this man Jehoiachin a despised and shattered jar,
a vessel no one wants?
Why were he and his descendants hurled away,
thrown into a land that they didnft know?
29Land, land, land,
listen to this message from the Lord!
30This is what the Lord says:
eWrite this man off as childless,
a man who does not prosper in his lifetime.
None of his descendants will succeed
in sitting on the throne of David,
or ever ruling in Judah again.fh
Chapter 23
1gHow terrible for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!h declares the Lord. 2Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Israel says about the shepherds who are shepherding my people, gYou have scattered my flock and driven them away. You havenft taken care of them, and now Ifm about to take care of you because of your evil deeds,h declares the Lord. 3gIfll gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where Ifve driven them, and bring them back to their pasture where theyfll be fruitful and increase in numbers. 4Ifll raise up shepherds over them, and theyfll shepherd them. My flock will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing,h declares the Lord.
5gThe time is coming,h declares the Lord,
gwhen Ifll raise up a righteous branch for David.
He will be a king who rules wisely,
and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
6In his time Judah will be delivered
and Israel will dwell in safety.
This is the name by which he will be known:
eThe Lord Our Righteousness.f
7gTherefore, the time is coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen people will no longer say, eAs surely as the Lord lives who brought up the Israelis from the land of Egypt,f 8but theyfll say, eAs surely as the Lord lives who brought the descendants of the Israelis from the land of the north and from all the lands where I had driven them and brought them into the land.f Then theyfll live in their own land.h
9Concerning the prophets:
My heart is broken within me,
and all my bones shake.
Ifm like a drunk man,
like a person overcome with wine,
because of the Lord,
and because of his holy words.
10Indeed, the land is full of adulterers.
Indeed, the land mourns because of the curse;
the pastures of the wilderness have dried up.
The adulterersf lifestyles are evil,
and they use their strength for what is not right.
11Indeed, both priest and prophet are ungodly.
Even in my house I find evil,h declares the Lord.
12Therefore their way will be slippery.
Theyfll be driven out into the darkness,
where theyfll fall.
For Ifll bring disaster on them,
the year of their judgment,h
declares the Lord.
13gAmong the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing,
for they prophesied by Baal
and led my people Israel astray.
14Among the prophets of Jerusalem I saw a horrible thing,
for they commit adultery and live a lie.
They strengthen the hands of those who do evil,
so that no one repents of his evil.
All of them are like Sodom to me,
and her residents like Gomorrah.h
15Therefore, this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies says about the prophets,
gIfm about to make them eat wormwood
and drink poisoned water,
because godlessness has spread from the
prophets of Jerusalem throughout the land.h
16This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gDonft listen to the words of the prophets
who are prophesying to you;
theyfre giving you false hopes.
They declare visions from their own minds\
they donft come from the Lord!
17They keep on saying to those who despise me,
eThe Lord has said, gYou will have peace.hf
To all who stubbornly follow their own desires they say,
eDisaster wonft come upon you.f
18But who has stood in the Lordfs council
to see and hear his message?
Who has paid attention to his message and obeyed it?
19Look, the storm of the Lordfs wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest,
and it will swirl down
around the head of the wicked.
20The Lordfs anger wonft turn back
until he has accomplished
what he intended to do.
In the future
you will clearly understand it.
21I didnft send these prophets,
but they ran anyway.
I didnft speak to them,
but they prophesied.
22If they had stood in my council
and had delivered my words to my people,
then they would have turned them back
from their evil way,
from their evil deeds.h
23gAm I a God who is near,h declares the Lord,
grather than a God who is far away?
24If a person hides himself in secret places,
will I not see him?h
declares the Lord.
gI fill the heavens and the earth, do I not?h
declares the Lord.
25gIfve heard what the prophets who prophesy lies in my name have said: eI had a dream; I had a dream.f 26How long will this go on? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy from the deceit that is in their hearts? 27With their dreams that they relate to one another, they plan to make my people forget my name just as their ancestors forgot my name by embracing Baal. 28Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but let whoever receives my message speak my message truthfully. What does straw have in common with wheat?h declares the Lord. 29gMy message is like fire or like a hammer that shatters rock, is it not?h declares the Lord.
30gTherefore, look, Ifm against the prophets,h declares the Lord, gwho steal my words from each other. 31Look, Ifm against the prophets,h declares the Lord, gwho use their tongues to issue a declaration. 32Look, Ifm against those who prophesy based on false dreams,h declares the Lord, gand relate them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness. I didnft send them; I didnft command them, and they provide no benefit at all to these people,h declares the Lord.
33gJeremiah, when these people, the prophet, or a priest ask you, eWhat is the oracle of the Lord?f say to them, eYou are the burden, and Ifll cast you out,fh declares the Lord. 34gAs for the prophet, the priest, or the people who say, eI have an oracle of the Lord,f Ifll judge that person and his household. 35This is what you should say to one another and among yourselves, eWhat has the Lord answered?f or eWhat has the Lord said?f 36But you are to no longer mention the oracle of the Lord, because the oracle is only for the person to whom the Lord gives his message, and you have overturned the words of the living God, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, our God. 37This is what you should say to the prophet, eWhat has the Lord answered?f or eWhat has the Lord said?f 38Since youfre saying, eWe have an oracle of the Lord,f therefore this is what the Lord says: He will answer your message with this message, eBurden of the Lord,f and Ifll send you away with these words: eDonft say, gOracle of the Lord.hf 39Therefore Ifll surely forget you and cast you and the city I gave you and your ancestors out of my presence. 40Ifll bring on you everlasting reproach and everlasting humiliation that wonft ever be forgotten.h
Chapter 24
1After Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken Jehoiakimfs son Jeconiah, king of Judah, along with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the smiths from Jerusalem into exile, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs placed right in front of the Temple of the Lord. 2One basket contained very good figs like the first figs that ripen on the tree. The other basket contained very bad figs that were too bad to be eaten. 3The Lord told me, gWhat do you see?h
I replied, gFigs. The good figs are very good, and the bad figs are very bad. Theyfre too bad to be eaten.h
4Then this message from the Lord came to me: 5gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eLike these good figs, so Ifll regard as good the exiles of Judah whom I sent from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6Ifll look at them with good intentions, and Ifll bring them back to this land. Ifll build them up. I wonft tear them down; Ifll plant them and not rip them up. 7Ifll give them the ability to know me, for I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God when they return to me with all their heart.
8geLike the bad figs that are too bad to be eaten\for this is what the Lord says\so Ifll give up on Zedekiah king of Judah, along with his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem that is left in this land, and those living in the land of Egypt. 9Ifll make them into a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth; into a cause for contempt, into a byword, into a taunt, and into a curse in all the places to which I drive them. 10Ifll send the sword, famine, and plague against them until theyfre completely destroyed from the land which I gave them and their ancestors.fh
Chapter 25
1This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah. (This was also the first year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.) 2This is what Jeremiah the prophet told all the people of Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem: 3gFrom the thirteenth year of the reign of Ammonfs son Josiah, the king of Judah, until the present time, for 23 years this message from the Lord has come to me, and Ifve spoken to you again and again, but you havenft listened. 4Again and again, the Lord sent all his servants, the prophets, to you, but you wouldnft listen or even turn your ears in my direction to hear. 5They said, eTurn, each one of you, from your evil habits and evil deeds, and live in the land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever and ever. 6Donft follow other gods to serve and worship them. Donft provoke me with the idols you make with your hands, and I wonft bring disaster on you.f 7But you didnft listen to me,h declares the Lord, gso as to provoke me with the idols you make with your hands to your own harm.
8gTherefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eBecause you havenft listened to my message, 9Ifm now sending for all the tribes from the north, declares the Lord, and for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Ifll bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. Ifll utterly destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting desolation. 10Ifll destroy the sounds of gladness and rejoicing from them, the sounds of the bridegroom and the bride, the sound of the hand mill and also the light of the lamp. 11This entire land will be a desolation and a waste, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
12eThen when the seventy years have passed, Ifll judge the king of Babylon and that nation, declares the Lord, Ifll judge the land of the Chaldeans for their iniquity and Ifll make it a desolation forever. 13Ifll bring on that land all the things I spoke against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied about the nations. 14Indeed many nations and great kings will make slaves even of them, and Ifll repay them according to their deeds, according to what they have done.fh
15For this is what the Lord God of Israel says to me, gTake this cup of the wine of burning anger from my hand and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16Theyfll drink, stagger, and act like madmen because of the sword Ifm sending among them.h 17So I took the cup from the Lordfs hand, and I made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink it: 18Jerusalem, the cities of Judah, its kings and officials to make them into a ruin, an object of horror and scorn, and a curse, as it is this day; 19Pharaoh, king of Egypt, his officials, his princes, and all his people; 20all the various people; all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and what remains of Ashdod; 21Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon; 22all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and all the kings of the coast lands that are beyond the sea; 23Dedan, Tema, Buz, and those who shave the corners of their beards; 24all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the various people who live in the desert; 25all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media; 26all the kings of the north near and far, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. The king of Sheshak will drink after all the others.
27gYou are to say to them, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gDrink, get drunk, and vomit! Fall down and donft get up because of the sword Ifm sending among you.hf 28And if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink it, say to them, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gYou will surely drink it! 29Look, Ifm beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and do you actually think you will avoid punishment? You wonft avoid punishment because Ifm summoning the sword against all those who live in the land,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.fh
30gYou are to prophesy all these things against them, and you are to say to them,
eThe Lord roars from his high place,
from his holy dwelling he lifts his voice.
He roars loudly against his flock,
and against all who live on the earth;
he shouts like those treading grapes.
31A tumult reaches to the ends of the earth
because the Lord is bringing an indictment against the nations.
He judges all flesh.
He has given the wicked over to the sword,f
declares the Lord.
32eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gLook, disaster is going from nation to nation,
a great storm is being stirred up
from the most distant parts of the earth.
33gThose slain by the Lord on that day will extend from one end of the earth to the other. They wonft be mourned for or gathered up or buried. Theyfll be like dung on the surface of the ground.
34gScream, you shepherds! Cry out!
Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock!
Indeed, the time for your slaughter
and your dispersion has arrived,
and you will break like a choice vessel.
35Flight will be impossible for the shepherds,
as will be escape for the leaders of the flock.
36A sound\itfs the cry of the shepherds
and the scream of the leaders of the flock\
because the Lord is destroying their pastures.
37The peaceful meadows are silent
because of the Lordfs fierce anger.
38Like a lion, he has left his den.
Indeed, their land has become a waste
because of the anger of the oppressor
and because of the Lordfs fierce anger.h
Chapter 26
1In the beginning of the reign of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, this message came from the Lord: 2gThis is what the Lord says: eStand in the courtyard of the Lordfs Temple and tell those from all the cities of Judah who are coming to worship at the Lordfs Temple everything that Ifve commanded you to say to them. Donft leave out a word! 3Perhaps theyfll listen, and each of them will repent from his evil way. Then Ifll change my mind about the disaster Ifm planning to bring on them because of their evil deeds. 4Say to them, gThis is what the Lord says: eIf you donft listen to me to follow my Law which Ifve set before you, 5and listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom Ifve sent to you over and over\but you wouldnft listen\ 6then Ifll make this house like Shiloh and make this city into a curse to all the nations of the earth.fhfh
7The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened as Jeremiah spoke these words at the Lordfs Temple. 8As soon as Jeremiah finished saying everything that the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him, telling him as they did: gYou must certainly die! 9Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be without an inhabitant?h Then all the people gathered around Jeremiah at the Lordfs Temple.
10When the Judean officials heard all these things, they came up from the kingfs house to the Lordfs Temple and sat in the doorway of the New Gate of the Lordfs Temple. 11The priests and prophets told the officials and all the people, gA death sentence for this man, because he prophesied against this city, as you heard with your own ears!h
12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people: gThe Lord has sent me to prophesy all the things you heard against this house and against this city. 13Now, change your habits and your deeds and obey the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he told you about. 14Look, Ifm in your hands, so do with me what you think is good and right. 15But know for certain that if you kill me, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and its residents because the Lord really did send me to you to say all these things for you to hear.h
16The officials and all the people told the priests and the prophets, gNo death sentence for this man because he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.h
17Some of the elders of the land got up and told all the assembled people, 18gMicah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah to all the people of Judah, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gZion will be a plowed field,
and Jerusalem a ruin.
The Temple Mount will be a wooded hill.hf
19gDid Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone in Judah kill him? Didnft he fear the Lord and seek the Lordfs favor, and so the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he had spoken to them about. Wefre bringing great disaster on ourselves. 20There was also a man named Uriah, Shemaiahfs son from Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied in the Lordfs name. He prophesied about this city and this land in words similar to those of Jeremiah. 21King Jehoiakim, all his troops, and all the officials heard his words, and the king sought to kill him. Uriah heard about this and was afraid, so he fled and went to Egypt. 22King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. He sent Achborfs son Elnathan, along with a contingent of men into Egypt. 23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword. Then they threw his body into a common grave.h
24Yet because Shaphanfs son Ahikam supported Jeremiah, he was not handed over to the people for them to kill.
Chapter 27
1At the beginning of the reign of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2this is what the Lord says to me: gMake restraints and yokes for yourself and put them on your neck. 3Then send messengers to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon through the envoys who come to Jerusalem to king Zedekiah of Judah. 4Give them this order for their masters: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says, and this is what you are to say to your masters, 5gBy my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth, mankind, and the animals that are on the face of the earth, and I give it to whomever I see fit. 6Now Ifve given all these lands to my servant, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Ifve even given him the wild animals to serve him. 7All the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until his countryfs time also comes, and then many nations and great kings will use him as a slave. 8If a nation and kingdom does not serve him\King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon\and does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, Ifll judge that nation with the sword, with famine, and with plague,h declares the Lord, guntil Ifve completely destroyed it by his hand. 9You arenft to listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, and your sorcerers who say to you, eDonft serve the king of Babylon.f 10Theyfre prophesying a lie to you in order to remove you far away from your land. Ifll drive you out and you will perish. 11But Ifll let the nation that brings its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him remain in its own land,h declares the Lord, gand theyfll work it and remain in it.hfh
12I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah using words like these: gBring your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon. Serve him and his people, and you will live! 13Why should you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by plague as the Lord has decreed about the nation that does not serve the king of Babylon? 14Donft listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, eYou wonft serve the king of Babylon.f Indeed, theyfre prophesying a lie to you. 15For I didnft send them,h declares the Lord, gand theyfre falsely prophesying in my name, so I will drive both you and the prophets who prophesy to you out of the land.h
16Then I spoke to the priests and all this people: gThis is what the Lord says: eDonft listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: gThe vessels from the Temple are about to be returned from Babylon very soon now.h Indeed, theyfre prophesying a lie to you. 17Donft listen to them! Serve the king of Babylon and youfll live. Why should this city become a ruin? 18If theyfre prophets, and if they have a message from the Lord, let them plead with the Lord of the Heavenly Armies so that the utensils that remain in the Lordfs Temple, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem might not be taken to Babylon. 19For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says about the pillars, the bronze sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that remain in this city 20that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didnft take when he took Jehoiakimfs son Jeconiah, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem from Jerusalem into exile to Babylon\ 21For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says about the vessels that remain in the Lordfs Temple, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, 22gTheyfll go into Babylon and there theyfll remain until the time I take note of them,h declares the Lord. gThen Ifll bring them up and return them to this place.hfh
Chapter 28
1In that same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, Azzurfs son Hananiah, the prophet from Gibeon, told me at the Lordfs Temple in front of the priests and all the people, 2gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eIfve broken the yoke of the king of Babylon, 3and within two years Ifll bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lordfs Temple that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and carried to Babylon. 4Ifll bring back Jehoiakimfs son Jeconiah, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon to this place,f declares the Lord, efor Ifll break the yoke of the king of Babylon.fh
5The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people who were standing in the Lordfs Temple. 6The prophet Jeremiah said, gMay the Lord truly do this thing! May the Lord fulfill the words that you prophesied to bring back the vessels of the Lordfs Temple and all the exiles from Babylon to this place. 7But please listen to what Ifm saying in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8The prophets who came before us from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and plague against many lands and great kingdoms. 9When a prophet prophesies peace, and what the prophet speaks comes about, he will be known as the prophet whom the Lord has truly sent.h
10Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11Hananiah, in front of all the people, said, gThis is what the Lord says: eIn the same way, within two years, Ifll break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.fh Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.
12This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet: 13gGo and say to Hananiah, eThis is what the Lord says: gYou have broken wooden yokes, but you have made iron yokes in their place.h 14For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gIfve put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Theyfll serve him, and Ifve even given the wild animals to him.hfh
15The prophet Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, gListen, Hananiah! The Lord didnft send you, and you are causing these people to trust in a lie. 16Therefore, this is what the Lord says: eIfm about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you will die because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.fh
17So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year.
Chapter 29
1These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 2after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the palace officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths left Jerusalem. 3The letter was sent by Shaphanfs son Elasah and by Hilkiahfs son Gemariah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in Babylon, and it said, 4gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were taken from Jerusalem into exile to Babylon, 5eBuild houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6Take wives and father sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so they may have sons and daughters. Increase in numbers there, donft decrease. 7Seek the welfare of the city to which Ifve exiled you and pray to the Lord for it, for your welfare depends on its welfare.f 8For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eDonft let the prophets and diviners who are among you deceive you, and donft listen to them when they tell you their dreams. 9Indeed, theyfre prophesying lies to you in my name. I didnft send them,f declares the Lord.
10gFor this is what the Lord says: eWhen Babylonfs seventy years are completed, Ifll take note of you and will fulfill my good promises to you by bringing you back to this place. 11For I know the plans that I have for you,f declares the Lord, eplans for well-being, and not for calamity, in order to give you a future and a hope. 12When you call out to me and come and pray to me, Ifll hear you. 13You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14Ifll be found by you,f declares the Lord, eand Ifll restore your security and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which Ifve driven you,f declares the Lord. eIfll bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.f
15gIndeed, you have said, eThe Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon.f
16gBut this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on Davidfs throne, and about the people who live in this city\your brothers who didnft go with you into exile: 17This is what the Lord says: eIfm about to send the sword, famine, and plague on them, and Ifll make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten because theyfre so bad. 18Ifll pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with plague, and Ifll make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. Ifll make them a curse, an object of horror, and scorn, and a desolation in all the nations to which Ifve driven them, 19because they didnft listen to my words,f declares the Lord. eWhen I sent my servants, the prophets, to you again and again, you didnft listen,f declares the Lord.
20gNow, all you exiles whom I sent from Jerusalem to Babylon, listen to this message from the Lord! 21This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiahfs son Ahab and Maaseiahfs son Zedekiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name, eIfm about to give them into the domination of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your eyes. 22What happens to them will be the basis for a curse for all the Judean exiles who are in Babylon. People will say, gMay the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the Lord roasted in the fire, 23because they did something stupid in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighborsf wives, and in my name they spoke lies that I didnft command them. Ifm the one who knows, and Ifm a witness,h declares the Lord.fh
24gYou are to say to Shemaiah of Nehelam: 25eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gBecause you sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to Maaseiahfs son Zephaniah the priest and to all the priests\ 26The Lord made you a priest instead of Jehoiada the priest to serve in the LORDfs Temple as an official against every crazy prophet, and to put him in stocks and restraints. 27And now, why didnft you rebuke Jeremiah from Anathoth who prophesies to you? 28So he sent a message to us in Babylon: eThe exile will be long, so build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce.fhfh
29Then Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet, 30and this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31gSend a message to all the exiles: eThis is what the Lord says about Shemaiah from Nehelam, gBecause Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I didnft send him, and has made you trust a lie,h 32therefore, this is what the Lord says: gIfm about to judge Shemaiah from Nehelam along with his descendants. He wonft have anyone related to him living among these people. Nor will he see the good that Ifll do for my people,h declares the Lord, gbecause he advocated rebellion against the Lord.hfh
Chapter 30
1This message came from the Lord to Jeremiah: 2gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eWrite all the words that Ifve spoken to you in a book. 3Indeed, the time will come,f declares the Lord, ewhen Ifll restore the security of my people Israel and Judah,f says the Lord. eIfll bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and theyfll possess it.fh
4These are the words that the Lord spoke about Israel and Judah:
5gIndeed, this is what the Lord says:
eWe have heard a sound of terror
and of fear, and there is no peace.
6Ask about this and think about it\
Can a man give birth to a child?
Why then do I see every strong man
with his hands on his thighs
like a woman giving birth,
and all their faces have turned pale?
7Oh how terrible! That time will be worse
than any like it.
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be rescued from it.
8On that day,f declares the Lord
of the Heavenly Armies,
eIfll break the yoke from your neck
and will tear off your restraints.
Foreigners will no longer make you serve them.
9Rather, they will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
10eMy servant Jacob, donft be afraid,f declares the Lord,
eand Israel, donft be dismayed.
For Ifll deliver you from a distant place
and your descendants from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return. He will be undisturbed and secure,
and no one will cause him to fear.
11For Ifll be with you to save you,f
declares the Lord.
eFor Ifll put an end to all the nations
where I scattered you;
but I wonft make an end of you.
Ifll discipline you justly,
but I certainly wonft leave you unpunished.f
12gFor this is what the Lord says:
eYour injury wonft heal;
your wound is severe.
13There is no one to plead your cause.
There is no medicine for your sore;
no healing for you.
14All your lovers have forgotten you;
they donft seek you.
Indeed, Ifve struck you down
with the blow of an enemy,
with the punishment of a cruel foe
because your wickedness is great,
and your sins are numerous.
15Why do you cry out because of your injury?
Your wound wonft heal.
Because your wickedness is severe,
and your sins are numerous,
Ifve done all these things to you.
16In addition, all who devour you will be devoured,
and all your oppressors\all of them\
will go into captivity.
Those who plunder you will become plunder,
and all who spoil you will become spoil.
17Indeed, Ifll bring you healing,
and Ifll heal you of your wounds,f
declares the Lord,
ebecause they have called you an outcast
and have said, gIt is Zion, no one cares for her!hfh
18gThis is what the Lord says:
eIfm going to restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob
and have compassion on his dwellings.
A city will be rebuilt on its ruins
and a palace will sit on its rightful place.
19Thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter
will come out of them.
Ifll cause them to increase in numbers and not decrease.
Ifll honor them and not make them insignificant.
20Their children will be as they were before,
and their congregation will be established before me.
Ifll punish all who oppress them.
21Their leader will be one of their own,
and their ruler will come from among them.
Ifll bring him near, and he will approach me,
for who would otherwise dare to approach me?f
declares the Lord.
22eYou will be my people,
and Ifll be your God.fh
23Look, the storm of the Lord!
His wrath has gone forth, a twisting storm.
It will swirl around the head of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the Lord wonft turn back
until he has accomplished and established the plan of his heart.
In the days to come, you will understand this.
Chapter 31
1gAt that time,h declares the Lord, gIfll be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.h
2This is what the Lord says:
gThe people who survived the sword,
found favor in the desert
while Israel was seeking rest.
3The Lord appeared to Israel from far away and said,
gIfve loved you with an everlasting love,
therefore Ifve drawn you with gracious love.
4Ifll again build you, and you will be rebuilt,
Virgin Israel!
You will again take up your tambourines
and go out to dance with those who are filled with joy.
5You will again plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria
where planters had planted and defiled the fruit.
6For there will be a day when the watchmen
will call out on the hills of Ephraim,
eArise, letfs go up to Zion to the Lord our God.fh
7For this is what the Lord says:
gCry out with joy for Jacob
and shout for the chief among the nations.
Announce, give praise, and say,
eLord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.f
8Look, Ifm bringing them from the northern region,
and Ifll gather them from the farthest parts of the earth.
among them will be the blind and the lame,
together with the pregnant woman
and the woman in labor.
A large group will return here.
9Theyfll come crying,
and Ifll lead them as they pray for mercy.
Ifll make them walk by streams of water,
along a straight path on which they wonft stumble.
For I am Israelfs father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.h
10Nations, listen to this message from the Lord,
and declare it in the distant coastlands.
Say, gThe one who scattered Israel will gather him
and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.h
11For the Lord will deliver Jacob
and redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he.
12Theyfll come and cry out with joy
on the heights of Zion.
Theyfll be radiant over the Lordfs goodness,
over the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,
and over the young of the flocks and herds.
Their lives will be like a well-watered garden.
Theyfll never again grow faint.
13The virgins will rejoice with dancing,
together with young men and old men.
For Ifll turn their mourning into joy,
and Ifll comfort them and give them gladness
instead of sorrow.
14Ifll give the priests abundant provisions,
and my people will be satisfied with my goodness,h
declares the Lord.
15This is what the Lord says:
gA voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter crying.
Rachel is crying,
and she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no longer alive.h
16This is what the Lord says:
gRestrain your voice from crying,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,h
declares the Lord.
gTheyfll return from the enemyfs land.
17There is hope for your future,h
declares the Lord.
gYour children will return to their own territory.h
18gIfve certainly heard Ephraim
shuddering with grief as they said,
eYou have disciplined me,
and Ifm disciplined like an untrained calf.
Restore me, and let me return,
for you are the Lord my God.
19Indeed, after I turned away, then I repented.
And after I came to understand,
I slapped my forehead.
I was both ashamed and humiliated
because I bear the disgrace of my youth.fh
20gIs Ephraim my dear son?
Is he a darling child?
Indeed, as often as Ifve spoken about him,
I surely still remember him.
Therefore I deeply yearn for him.
Ifll surely have great compassion on him,h
declares the Lord.
21Set up markers for yourselves.
Erect signposts for yourselves.
Pay attention to the highway,
to the road you traveled.
Return, virgin Israel,
return to these cities of yours.
22How long will you go this way and that,
rebellious daughter?
Indeed, the Lord will create a new thing on the earth;
a woman will protect a man.
23This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gTheyfll again speak this message in the land of Judah and its towns when I restore their fortunes: eThe Lord bless you, righteous dwelling, holy mountain.f 24Judah and all its towns will live together in the land, along with farmers and those who follow the flock. 25Ifll provide abundance for those who are weary, and fill all who are faint.h 26Then I awoke and looked around, and I had had a pleasant sleep.
27gLook, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen Ifll sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah using people and animals as seed. 28Just as Ifve watched over them to pull up, tear down, overthrow, destroy, and bring disaster, so Ifll watch over them to build and to plant,h declares the Lord. 29gIn those days people will no longer say, eThe fathers have eaten sour grapes, but the childrenfs teeth have been set on edge.f 30Instead, each person will die for his own iniquity. Everyone who eats sour grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.h
31gLook, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen Ifll make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It wonft be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. They broke my covenant, although I was a husband to them,h declares the Lord. 33gRather, this is the covenant that Ifll make with the house of Israel after those days,h declares the Lord. gIfll put my Law within them and will write it on their hearts. Ifll be their God and they will be my people. 34No longer will a person teach his neighbor or his relative: eKnow the Lord.f Instead, theyfll all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,h declares the Lord. gIndeed, Ifll forgive their iniquity, and Ifll remember their sin no more.h
35This is what the Lord says,
who gives the sun for light by day,
the laws that govern the moon and stars for light by night,
and who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar.
The Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name:
36gIf these laws cease to function in my presence,h
declares the Lord,
gthen the descendants of Israel will cease to be
a nation in my presence for all time!h
37This is what the Lord says:
gIf the heavens could be measured above,
or the foundations of the earth be searched out below,
then I also would reject all the descendants of Israel
because of everything they have done,h
declares the Lord.
38gLook, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen the city of the Lord will be rebuilt from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39A measuring line will go straight out from there to the hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah. 40The whole valley of dead bodies and ashes and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east will be holy to the Lord. It wonft be uprooted or overthrown again, forever.h
Chapter 32
1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah. It was the eighteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. 2The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard at the palace of the king of Judah 3where Zedekiah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, gWhy did you prophesy and say these things? You said, eThis is what the Lord says: gIfm about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4Zedekiah, king of Judah, wonft escape from the Chaldeans, for he has surely been given over to the king of Babylon. He will speak to him face to face and look at him eye to eye. 5The king of Babylon will take Zedekiah to Babylon and there he will stay until I judge him,h declares the Lord. gIf you fight against the Chaldeans, you wonft succeed.hfh
6Jeremiah replied, gThis message from the Lord came to me: 7eLook, Hanamel, your cousin, is coming to you and will say, gBuy my field in Anathoth for yourself, because the right of redemption to buy it belongs to you.hf
8gThen my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard just as the Lord had said, and he told me, ePlease buy my field in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin because you have the right to possess it, and the right to redeem it belongs to you. Buy it for yourself.f So I knew that this was a message from the Lord.
9gThen I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out the silver for him\seventeen shekels of silver. 10I signed the deed and sealed it. I called in witnesses and used scales to weigh out the silver. 11Then I took the deed of purchase\both the sealed one with the terms and conditions and the open one\12and I gave the deed of purchase to Neriahfs son Baruch, the grandson of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans sitting in the courtyard of the guard. 13In their presence, I instructed Baruch as follows: 14eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gTake these deeds\both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed\and put them in a clay pot so theyfll last for a long time. 15For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eHouses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.fhfh
16gAfter I had given the deed of purchase to Neriahfs son Baruch, I prayed to the Lord: 17eLord! Look, you made the heavens and the earth with your great power and your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you! 18You, the great God, the mighty one, show gracious love to thousands and repay the parentsf iniquity to their children after them. The Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name. 19You are great in regards to your purposes and mighty in regards to your works. Your eyes are open to everything that people do, and will reward each one according to their ways and just as their actions deserve. 20You are the one who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt and continue to do so until this day, both in Israel and among the rest of humanity. You made a reputation for yourself that continues to this day. 21By your strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror, you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders. 22And you gave them this land which you had promised their ancestors that you would give them\a land flowing with milk and honey. 23They came and took possession of it, but they didnft obey you or walk according to your Law. They didnft do what you commanded them to do, so you caused all this calamity to happen to them. 24Look, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it. Because of the sword, famine, and plague, the city has been given over to the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you said has happened, and you are watching it occur! 25Lord, you have told me, gBuy the field for yourself with money and call in witnesses,h even though the city is being given over to the Chaldeans.fh
26Then this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27gLook, I am the Lord, the God who rules over all flesh. Is anything too difficult for me?h 28Therefore, this is what the Lord says: gIfm about to give this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 29The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come, set this city on fire, and burn it along with the houses on whose roofs incense was burned to Baal and liquid offerings were poured out to other gods in order to provoke me. 30Indeed, the Israelis and Judeans have been doing only evil in my presence since their youth. Indeed, the Israelis have done nothing but provoke me by what they have made with their hands,h declares the Lord.
31gIndeed, this city has provoked me to anger and wrath from the day they built it until now, and so Ifll remove it from my sight 32because of all the evil that the Israelis and Judeans have done to provoke me. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, their prophets, the people of Judah, and those living in Jerusalem have done these things. 33They have turned their backs to me rather than their faces. Even though I taught them, teaching them again and again, they didnft listen to accept correction. 34They put their detestable idols in the house that is called by my name and defiled it. 35They built the high places of Baal that are in the Hinnom Valley in order to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech\something that I didnft command, nor did it ever enter my mind for them to require this utterly repugnant thing\and lead Judah into sin.h
36gNow therefore,h says the Lord God of Israel, gconcerning this city about which you are saying, eIt is being given into the control of the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and plague,f 37Ifm about to gather my people from all the lands where Ifve driven them in my anger, wrath, and great indignation. Ifll bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38Theyfll be my people, and Ifll be their God. 39Ifll give them one heart and one lifestyle so theyfll fear me always for their own good and for the good of their descendants after them. 40Ifll make an everlasting covenant with them that I wonft turn away from doing good for them. Ifll put the fear of me in their hearts so they wonft turn away from me. 41Ifll rejoice over them to do good for them, and Ifll faithfully plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.f
42Indeed, this is what the Lord says: gJust as Ifm bringing all this great disaster on this people, so Ifll bring on them all the good things that Ifm promising concerning them. 43Fields will be bought in this land about which you will say, eIt is a desolate place without people or animals. It is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.f 44People will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and call witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the areas around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah, the towns of the hill country, the towns of the Shephelah, and the towns of the Negev, for Ifll restore their fortunes,h declares the Lord.
Chapter 33
1This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard: 2gThis is what the Lord says who made the earth, the Lord who formed it in order to establish it\whose name is the Lord\ 3eCall to me and Ifll answer you, and will tell you about great and hidden things that you donft know.f 4For this is what the Lord God of Israel says about the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to defend against the siege ramps and the sword, 5eThe Chaldeans are coming to fight and to fill those houses with the dead bodies of the people that Ifve struck down in my anger and wrath, for Ifve hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness.
6geLook, Ifll bring restoration and healing to it, and Ifll heal them. Ifll reveal to them an abundance of peace and faithfulness. 7Ifll restore the security of Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were at first. 8Ifll cleanse them from all their sin that they have committed against me, and Ifll forgive all their sins that they committed against me and by which they rebelled against me. 9Jerusalem will be for me a name of joy, praise, and glory to all the nations of the earth that hear about all the good that Ifm doing for them. Theyfll fear and tremble because of all the good and because of all the peace that Ifm bringing to Jerusalem.f
10gThis is what the Lord says: eYou are saying about this place, gIt is a ruin without people and without animals.h Yet in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem which are desolate places without inhabitants and without animals, there will again be heard 11the sounds of rejoicing and gladness, the sounds of the bridegroom and the bride, and the sounds of those saying,
gGive thanks to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
for the Lord is good,
and his gracious love lasts forever,h
as they bring thanksgiving offerings to the LORDfs Temple. For Ifll restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,f declares the Lord.
12gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIn this place that is now a ruin without people or animals, and in all its towns there will again be pasture for shepherds resting their flocks. 13In the towns of the hill country, in the towns of the Shephelah, in the towns of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the areas around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them,f says the Lord.h
14geLook, the time is coming,f declares the Lord, ewhen Ifll fulfill the good promise that I spoke concerning the house of Israel and Judah. 15In those days and at that time Ifll cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he will uphold justice and righteousness in the land. 16At that time Judah will be delivered and Jerusalem will dwell in safety. And this is the name people will call it, gThe Lord is Our Righteousness.hf 17For this is what the Lord says: eDavid will never be without a man sitting on the throne of the house of Israel, 18nor will the Levitical priests be without a man offering up burnt offerings, bringing in grain offerings, and offering sacrifices continually before me.fh
19This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20gThis is what the Lord says: eIf you could break my covenant with the day and night so that day and night wouldnft occur at the proper time, 21then my covenant with my servant David might also be broken so that he wouldnft have a son sitting on his throne, and so also with my servants the Levitical priests. 22As the heavenly bodies cannot be counted, and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so Ifll multiply the descendants of my servant David and the descendants of Levi who serve me.fh
23This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: 24gHavenft you noticed what these people have been saying?\eThe Lord rejected the two families that he had chosen!f They have contempt for my people and no longer consider them a nation. 25This is what the Lord says: eIf I had not established my covenant for day and night and the laws that govern the heavens and earth, 26then I might reject the descendants of Jacob and my servant David by not taking some of his descendants as rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, Ifll restore their fortunes, and Ifll have compassion on them.fh
Chapter 34
1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord while king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, all his army, all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his authority, along with all the people were fighting against Jerusalem and all its towns: 2gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eGo and speak to king Zedekiah of Judah. Say to him, gThis is what the Lord says: eLook, Ifm giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will set it on fire. 3You wonft escape from him. You will certainly be captured and given into his control. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye, he will speak to you face to face, and you will go to Babylon.fhf 4Yet, hear this message from the Lord, king Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the Lord says to you, eYou wonft die by the sword. 5You will die peacefully, and as they burned fires for your ancestors, the former kings who were before you, so theyfll burn fires for you, wailing, gOh how terrible, your majesty!hf For Ifve spoken the message,h declares the Lord.
6Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all of this in Jerusalem to king Zedekiah of Judah, 7while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, namely Lachish and Azekah. (They were the only fortified cities that remained among the cities of Judah.)
8This is this message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem proclaiming release for them. 9Each person was to set free his male and female slaves who were Hebrews, so that no Jewish person would enslave his brother. 10All the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant agreed that each would set his male and female slaves free so that they would not enslave them any longer. They obeyed and they released them. 11But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves that they had set free, and they forced them to become male and female slaves.
12Then this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 13gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eI made a covenant with your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. I told them: 14gAt the end of seven years, each of you is to set free your fellow Hebrew who has sold himself to you and has served you for six years. You are to send him out from you with no further obligation.h But your ancestors didnft obey me or pay attention. 15You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming release for one another, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name. 16But then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves whom you had set free according to their desire, and you forced them to become male and female slaves.hf
17gTherefore, this is what the Lord says: eYou havenft obeyed me by each of you proclaiming a release for your brothers and neighbors. Now Ifm going to proclaim a release for you,f declares the Lord, ea release to the sword, to plague, and to famine, and Ifll make you a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18Ifll give over the men who transgressed my covenant, who havenft fulfilled the terms of the covenant that they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts\19the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf. 20Ifll give them to their enemies who are seeking to kill them, and their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the animals of the land. 21Ifll give Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his officials into the domination of their enemies, to those who are seeking to kill them, and to the army of the king of Babylon that is coming against them. 22Look, Ifm in command of them,f declares the Lord, eand Ifll bring them back to this city. Theyfll capture it and burn it with fire, and Ifll turn the towns of Judah into desolate places without inhabitants.fh
Chapter 35
1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah: 2gGo to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them. Bring them into the Lordfs Temple, to one of the offices, and offer them wine to drink.h 3So I took Jeremiahfs son Jaazaniah (a descendant of Habazziniah), his brothers, all his sons, and the whole family of the Rechabites. 4I brought them to the Lordfs Temple to the office of the descendants of Igdaliahfs son Hanan, the man of God, which was next to the office of the officials, and which was above the office of Shallumfs son Maaseiah, the keeper of the threshold.
5I put containers full of wine and cups in front of the members of the Rechabite clan and told them, gDrink the wine!h
6But they said, gWe wonft drink wine, because our ancestor, Rechabfs son Jonadab commanded us: eYou and your descendants are never to drink wine! 7You arenft to build houses, you arenft to sow seeds, and you arenft to plant vineyards, or own them. Instead, you are to live in tents all your lives, so you will enjoy a long life in the land where you reside.f 8We have obeyed everything that our ancestor, Rechabfs son Jonadab, commanded us. So we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters have drunk no wine all our lives, 9and have built no houses to live in. We donft have vineyards, fields, or seed. 10We have lived in tents. We have obeyed and have done everything that our ancestor Jonadab commanded us. 11Now when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, eCome on! Letfs go to Jerusalem because of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of Aram. And now wefre living in Jerusalem.fh
12This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: eGo and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, gWill you not accept correction by listening to what I say?h declares the Lord. 14gBut what Rechabfs son Jonadab commanded his sons about not drinking wine is observed, and they havenft drunk wine until this day. Indeed, they obey the commands of their ancestor. But Ifve spoken to you again and again, and you havenft obeyed me. 15Ifve sent you all my servants, the prophets, sending them again and again. Ifve said, eEach of you turn from his evil behavior and make your deeds right. Donft follow other gods to serve them. Then you will remain in the land that I gave to you and to your ancestors.f But you havenft paid attention and you havenft obeyed me. 16Indeed the descendants of Rechabfs son Jonadab have carried out the command of their ancestor that he gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.h 17Therefore, this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: gLook, Ifm bringing on Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster that I pronounced against them, because I spoke to them, but they didnft listen, and I called out to them, but they didnft answer.h'h
18Then Jeremiah told the house of the Rechabites, gThis is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: eBecause you obeyed the commandment of your ancestor Jonadab, have observed all his commandments, and have done everything that he commanded you,f 19therefore, this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: eRechabfs son Jonadab wonft lack a descendant who serves me always.fh
Chapter 36
1In the fourth year of the reign of Josiahfs son King Jehoiakim of Judah, this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2gTake a scroll and write on it all the words that Ifve spoken to you about Israel, about Judah, and about all the nations, since I first spoke to you in the time of Josiah until the present time. 3Perhaps the house of Judah will hear about all the calamity that Ifm planning to bring on them, and so each of them will turn from his wicked way and Ifll forgive their iniquities and sins.h
4Jeremiah summoned Neriahfs son Baruch and at Jeremiahfs dictation, Baruch wrote on the scroll all the words of the Lord that he had spoken to him.
5Jeremiah instructed Baruch, gIfm confined and canft go to the Lordfs Temple. 6You go and read the words of the Lord that you wrote at my dictation from the scroll. Read them to the people at the Lordfs Temple on the fast day. Also read them to all the people of Judah who are coming from their towns. 7Perhaps their pleas for help will come to the Lordfs attention, and each of them will turn from his evil lifestyle in light of the great anger and wrath that the Lord has declared against this people.h 8So Neriahfs son Baruch did just as Jeremiah the prophet instructed him, reading the words of the Lord from the scroll at the Lordfs Temple.
9In the ninth month of the fifth year of the reign of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, a fast was proclaimed in the Lordfs presence in Jerusalem for all the people of Jerusalem, as well as all the people who were coming from the towns of Judah. 10Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll to all the people at the Lordfs Temple. He did this from the office of Shaphanfs son Gemariah the scribe, in the upper court at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lordfs Temple.
11When Gemariahfs son Micaiah, the grandson of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll, 12he went down to the palace, to the scribefs office, where all the officials were sitting. Elishama the scribe, Shemaiahfs son Delaiah, Achborfs son Elnathan, Shaphanfs son Gemariah, Hananiahfs son Zedekiah, and all the other officials were there. 13Micaiah told them all the things that he had heard when Baruch read from the scroll to the people. 14Then all the officials sent Nethaniahfs son Jehudi, (who was also the grandson of Shelemiah and Cushifs great-grandson), to Baruch, who said, gTake the scroll that you read to the people and come.h Neriahfs son Baruch took the scroll with him and went to them.
15They told him, gPlease sit down and read it to us.h So Baruch read it to them. 16When they heard all the words, they turned to one another in fear, saying to Baruch, gWe must report all these things to the king.h 17Then they asked Baruch, gPlease tell us how you wrote all the words. Did Jeremiah dictate them all?h
18Baruch answered them, gYes, Jeremiah dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them in the scroll with ink.h
19Then the officials told Baruch, gGo, hide yourself, both you and Jeremiah, and donft let anyone know where you are.h
20The officials went to the king in the courtyard, but they deposited the scroll in the office of Elishama the scribe. Then they reported everything written on the scroll to the king. 21The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the office of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi read it to the king and to all the officials who were standing beside the king. 22The king was sitting in the winter palace in the ninth month and a stove was burning in front of him. 23As Jehudi would read three or four columns, the king would cut it with a scribefs knife and throw it into the fire which was in the stove, until all the scroll was burned in the fire in the stove. 24The king and all his officials who were listening to these words were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26The king ordered his son Jerahmeel, Azrielfs son Seraiah, and Abdeelfs son Shelemiah to get Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord had hidden them.
27This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah after the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiahfs dictation: 28gGo back, take another scroll and write on it all the original words which were on the scroll that Jehoiakim, king of Judah, burned. 29Concerning Jehoiakim, king of Judah, you are to say, eThis is what the Lord says: gYou burned this scroll, all the while saying, eWhy did you write on it that the king of Babylon will definitely come, destroy this land, and eliminate both people and animals from it?fh 30Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim, king of Judah, gHe will have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his corpse will be thrown out to rot during the heat of the day and the frost of the night. 31Ifll punish him, his descendants, and his officials for their iniquity. Ifll bring on them, on the residents of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the calamity about which Ifve warned them, but they would not listen.hfh
32Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Neriahfs son Baruch the scribe. He wrote on it, at Jeremiahfs dictation, all the words of the book that Jehoiakim king of Judah burned in the fire. He also added to them many similar words.
Chapter 37
1Josiahfs son King Zedekiah reigned in place of Jehoiakimfs son Coniah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king of the land of Judah. 2But neither he nor his officials nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that were spoken by Jeremiah the prophet.
3King Zedekiah sent Shelemiahfs son Jehucal and Maaseiahfs son Zephaniah the priest to Jeremiah the prophet, asking him, gPlease pray to the Lord our God for us.h 4Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people since he had not yet been put in prison. 5Pharaohfs army had come out of Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
6Then this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: 7gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says: eThis is what you are to say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, gLook, Pharaohfs army that has come to help will go back to its own land of Egypt, 8and then the Chaldeans will come back to fight against this city, to capture it, and burn it with fire.hf 9gThis is what the Lord says: eDonft deceive yourselves by saying, gThe Chaldeans will surely go away from us,h efor they wonft go. 10Indeed, even if you defeated the entire Chaldean army that is fighting against you, and they had only wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn this city with fire.fhfh
11When the Chaldean army was leaving Jerusalem because of Pharaohfs army, 12Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go to the territory of Benjamin to take possession of his property there among the people. 13He was in the Gate of Benjamin, and chief officer Irijah, Shelemiahfs son and the grandson of Hananiah, was there. He arrested Jeremiah the prophet, accusing him: gYou are going over to the Chaldeans!h
14Jeremiah said, gItfs a lie! Ifm not going over to the Chaldeans.h But Irijah would not listen to him, and he arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. 15The officials were angry with Jeremiah and beat him. They put him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe because they had made it into a prison. 16So Jeremiah came into the cells in the dungeon and remained there for a long time.
17Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house: gIs there a message from the Lord?h
Jeremiah said, gThere is,h and then he said, gYou will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon.h 18Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, gWhat offense have I committed against you, your officials, or these people that you have put me in prison? 19Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, telling you: eThe king of Babylon wonft come against you or against this landf? 20Now, please listen, your majesty, and pay attention to what Ifm asking you. Donft make me go back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, so I donft die there.h
21So King Zedekiah gave the order, and they assigned Jeremiah to the courtyard of the guard. Each day they gave him a loaf of bread from the bakersf street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
Chapter 38
1Mattanfs son Shephatiah, Pashhurfs son Gedaliah, Shelemiahfs son Jucal, and Malchijahfs son Pashhur heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people: 2gThis is what the Lord says: eWhoever stays in this city will die by the sword, by famine, and by the plague, but the one who goes over to the Chaldeans will live. His life will be spared, and he will live.f 3This is what the Lord says: eThis city will surely be given to the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.fh
4Then the officials told the king, gLet this man be put to death because hefs undermining the efforts of the soldiers who remain in this city and that of all the people by speaking words like these to them. Indeed, this man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but rather their harm.h
5King Zedekiah said, gLook, hefs in your hands, and the king can do nothing to you.h 6So they threw Jeremiah into a cistern that belonged to the kingfs son Malchijah and was located in the courtyard of the guard. When they let Jeremiah down with ropes, because there was no water in the cistern\only mud\Jeremiah sank into the mud.
7Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch in the kingfs house, heard that Jeremiah had been put in the cistern. The king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, 8so Ebed-melech went out of the palace and spoke to the king: 9gYour majesty, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern. He will die where he is because of the famine since there is no more bread in the city.h
10Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: gThirty men are at your disposal. Take them with you and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies.h 11So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the palace, underneath the storeroom. He took worn out rags and worn out clothes from there, and using ropes he lowered them down to Jeremiah in the cistern.
12Ebed-melech the Ethiopian told Jeremiah, gPut the worn out rags and clothes under your armpits under the ropes,h and Jeremiah did as he said. 13They pulled Jeremiah with the ropes and brought him up from the cistern, but Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
14King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and had him brought to him at the third entrance to the Lordfs Temple. The king told Jeremiah, gIfm going to ask you something, and donft hide anything from me.h
15Jeremiah told Zedekiah, gWhen I tell you, you will surely put me to death, wonft you? And when I give you advice, you donft listen to me.h
16Then King Zedekiah, in secret, swore an oath to Jeremiah: gAs surely as the Lord lives, who gave us this life to live, I wonft have you put to death, nor will I hand you over to these men who are seeking to kill you.h
17So Jeremiah told Zedekiah, gThis is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eIf you will immediately surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, and this city wonft be burned with fire. Both you and your family will live. 18But if you donft surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given to the Chaldeans, and theyfll burn it with fire. You wonft escape from their hands.fh
19Then King Zedekiah told Jeremiah, gIfm afraid of the Judeans who have gone over to the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans may turn me over to them, and they may treat me harshly.h
20Jeremiah said, gThey wonft turn you over. Obey the Lord in what Ifm telling you, and it will go well for you and you will live. 21But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has shown me: 22Look, all the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon, and will say,
eThese friends of yours have mislead you
and overcome you.
Your feet have sunk down into the mire,
but they have turned away.f
23gTheyfll bring all your women and children out to the Chaldeans, and you wonft escape from their hand. Indeed, you will be seized by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned with fire.h
24Then Zedekiah told Jeremiah, gDonft let anyone know about these words and you wonft die. 25If the officials hear that Ifve spoken with you, and they come to you and say, eTell us what you told the king, and what the king told you; donft hide it from us, and we wonft put you to death,f 26then you are to say to them, eI was presenting my request to the king that I not be taken back to the house of Jonathan to die there.fh
27When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he replied to them exactly as the king had ordered him. So they stopped speaking with him because the conversation had not been overheard. 28Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.
Chapter 39
1This is how Jerusalem was captured: In the tenth month of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. 2On the ninth day of the fourth month, in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, the wall of the city was breached. 3All the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate, including Nergal-sarri-usur, governor of Sinmagir, Nabu-sarrussu-ukin the high official, Nergal-sarri-user, the chief official, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
4When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled and went out of the city at night through the kingfs garden through the gate between the two walls. Then he went out on the road toward the Arabah. 5The Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. When they seized him they brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed judgment on him. 6At Riblah, the king of Babylon executed Zedekiahfs sons right before his eyes. He also executed all the nobles of Judah. 7Then he put out Zedekiahfs eyes and bound him with bronze fetters to take him to Babylon.
8The Chaldeans burned the palace and the houses of the people with fire, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, took into exile in Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had deserted to Nebuchadnezzar, and the rest of the people who remained. 10Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who did not have anything, and he gave them vineyards and fields on that day.
11Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard: 12gTake him, look after him, and donft do anything to harm him. Rather, do for him whatever he tells you.h 13So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, the high official, Nergal-sar-ezer, the chief official, and all the officials of the king of Babylon sent for Jeremiah. 14They sent for Jeremiah and took him from the courtyard of the guard. They handed him over to Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, to take him home. So he remained among the people.
15This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guard: 16gGo and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gLook, Ifm going to fulfill my promise against this city for disaster rather than for good, and on that day it will happen before your eyes. 17But Ifll deliver you on that day,h declares the Lord. gYou wonft be given into the hands of the men you fear. 18For Ifll surely deliver you, and you wonft fall by the sword. Your life will be spared because you trusted me,h declares the Lord.fh
Chapter 40
1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him from Ramah, when he was bound in chains, along with all the exiles from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken into exile in Babylon.
2The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and told him, gThe Lord your God has predicted this disaster on this place. 3And now the Lord has brought it about and has done just as he said. Because you people sinned against the Lord and didnft obey him, this has happened to you. 4Now, look, Ifve freed you today from the chains that were on your hands. If you want to come with me to Babylon, come, and Ifll look after you. But if you donft want to come with me to Babylon, donft. Look, the whole land lies before you, so go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.h
5When he still did not respond, Nebuzaradan said, gReturn to Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and remain with him among the people\or go wherever it seems right for you to go.h Then the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a gift and sent him off. 6Jeremiah came to Ahikamfs son Gedaliah at Mizpah, and he remained with him among the people who were left in the land.
7All the leaders of the forces who were in the field along with their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah over the men, women, children, and the poor of the land who had not been taken into exile in Babylon. 8Those who came to Gedaliah at Mizpah included Nethaniahfs son Ishmael, Jonathan, Kareahfs son Jonathan, Tanhumethfs son Seraiah, Ephaifs sons from Netophah; and Jezaniah, the son of a man from Maacah. They came along with their men.
9Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men: gDonft be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Remain in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you. 10As for me, Ifll remain at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil. Put it in your containers and live in your cities that you have taken over.h
11All the Judeans who were in Moab, those with the people in Ammon, those in Edom, and those in all the other countries also heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah and that he had appointed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, over them. 12So all the Judeans returned from all the countries where they had been scattered. They came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
13Kareahfs son Jonathan and all leaders of the forces who were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 14They told him, gAre you aware that Baalis, the king of the people of Ammon, has sent Nethaniahfs son Ishmael to take your life?h But Ahikamfs son Gedaliah did not believe them.
15Then Kareahfs son Jonathan spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah: gLet me go kill Nethaniahfs son Ishmael, and no one will know. Why should he take your life? Otherwise all the Judeans who have gathered around you will be scattered, and the remnant of Judah will perish.h
16Ahikamfs son Gedaliah replied to Kareahfs son Jonathan, gDonft do this! Youfre lying about Ishmael!h
Chapter 41
1In the seventh month, Nethaniahfs son Ishmael, the grandson of Elishama, a member of the royal family and one of the chief officers of the king, came to Ahikamfs son Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with ten men. While they were dining together there at Mizpah, 2Nethaniahfs son Ishmael and the ten men with him got up and killed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, with swords and killed the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land. 3Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with him (that is, with Gedaliah) at Mizpah, along with the Chaldean soldiers who were found there.
4Now on the day after Gedaliah was killed, when as yet no one knew about it, 5eighty men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria came with their beards shaved, their clothes torn, and their bodies slashed. They had grain offerings and incense with them to present at the Lordfs Temple.
6Nethaniahfs son Ishmael went out from Mizpah to meet them, crying as he went. As he met them he told them, gCome meet with Ahikamfs son Gedaliah.h 7When they reached the middle of the city, Nethaniahfs son Ishmael and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.
8Ten men who were among them told Ishmael, gDonft kill us because we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the field. So Ishmael stopped and did not kill them or their companions. 9Ishmael threw the bodies of the men he killed on account of Gedaliah into the cistern that King Asa had made for protection against King Baasha of Israel. That is the same one Nethaniahfs son Ishmael filled with those he killed. 10Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, including the kingfs daughters and all the rest of the people in Mizpah over whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had appointed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah. Nethaniahfs son Ishmael took them captive and then set out to cross over to the Ammonites.
11Kareahfs son Jonathan and all the military leaders who were with him heard about all the terrible things that Nethaniahfs son Ishmael had done. 12So they took all the men and went to fight Nethaniahfs son Ishmael, and they found him at the large pool that is at Gibeon. 13When all the people who were with Ishmael saw Kareahfs son Jonathan and all the military leaders who were with him, they were glad. 14All the people whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned around and went back to Kareahfs son Jonathan. 15But Nethaniahfs son Ishmael and eight other men escaped from Jonathan and went to the Ammonites. 16Kareahfs son Jonathan and all the military leaders who were with him took all the rest of the people from Mizpah whom he had rescued from Nethaniahfs son Ishmael after he had killed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, including the young men, the soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs whom he had rescued from Gibeon. 17They traveled and then stopped at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt 18because of the Chaldeans. They were afraid of the Chaldeans because Nethaniahfs son Ishmael had killed Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.
Chapter 42
1Then all the military leaders, Kareahfs son Jonathan, Hoshaiahfs son Jezaniah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah. 2They told Jeremiah the prophet, gPlease listen to what we have to ask of you. Pray to the Lord your God for us and for all these survivors. Indeed, only a few of us remain out of many, as you can see. 3Pray that the Lord your God may inform us as to how we should live and what we should do.h
4Jeremiah the prophet told them, gIfve heard, and Ifm going to pray to the Lord your God just as you have requested. Whatever the Lord answers, Ifll tell you. I wonft withhold anything from you.h
5Then they told Jeremiah, gMay the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we donft do everything that the Lord your God tells us through you. 6Whether it seems good or bad, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we send you, so it may go well for us. Indeed, we will obey the Lord our God.h
7At the end of ten days a message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8So he called Kareahfs son Jonathan, all the military leaders who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest. 9He told them, gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says, to whom you sent me to take your request:
10eIf you will just remain in this land, Ifll build you up and not pull you down. Ifll plant you and not uproot you, for Ifm sorry about the disaster Ifve brought on you. 11Donft be afraid of the king of Babylon as you have been. Donft fear him,f declares the Lord, ebecause I am with you to save you and deliver you from his control. 12Ifll show you compassion, so he will have compassion on you and return you to your land. 13But if you disobey the Lord your God by saying, gWe wonft stay in this land,h 14and you also say, gNo, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we wonft see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or hunger for bread, and there we will stay,h 15then hear this message from the Lord, remnant of Judah: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gIf you are really determined to go into Egypt, and you go there to settle, 16the sword that you fear will overtake you there in the land of Egypt. The famine that you dread will pursue you into Egypt, and there you will die. 17All the people who are determined to go into Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, by famine, and by the plague. No one will survive the disaster that Ifll bring on them.h 18For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eJust as my anger and my wrath were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. You will be a curse and an object of horror, ridicule, and scorn, and you will never again see this place.f 19The Lord has told you, remnant of Judah, eDonft go to Egypt!f So be fully aware that Ifve warned you, today, 20that you have deceived yourselves. Indeed, you yourselves sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ePray to the Lord your God for us, and whatever the Lord our God tells us we will do.f 21Ifve told you today, but you havenft obeyed the Lord your God in all that he sent me to tell you. 22Now, be fully aware that you will die by the sword, by famine, and by plague in the place where you want to settle.h
Chapter 43
1When Jeremiah had finished telling all the people all the words that the Lord their God had sent him to tell them\that is, all these words\2Hoshaiahfs son Azariah, Kareahfs son Johanan, and all the arrogant men told Jeremiah, gYoufre lying! The Lord our God didnft send you to say, eDonft go to Egypt to settle there.f 3Indeed, Neriahfs son Baruch is inciting you against us in order to give us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, or to take us into exile to Babylon.h
4So Kareahfs son Johanan, all the military leaders, and all the people did not obey the instructions given by the Lord to remain in the land of Judah. 5Kareahfs son Johanan and all the military leaders took the entire remnant of Judah that had returned from all the nations where they had been scattered to settle in the land of Judah\6the young men, the women, the children, the daughters of the king, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Ahikamfs son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, along with Jeremiah the prophet and Neriahfs son Baruch. 7So they went into the land of Egypt, because they did not obey the Lord, and they travelled as far as Tahpanhes.
8Then this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes: 9gTake large stones in your hands, and, in the sight of the men of Judah, bury them in the mortar of the brickwork at the entrance of Pharaohfs house in Tahpanhes. 10Then say to them, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: gIfm going to send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Ifll take him and set his throne over these stones that Ifve buried, and he will spread his canopy over them. 11He will come and attack the land of Egypt\those meant for death will be put to death, those meant for captivity will be taken captive, and those meant for the sword will be put to the sword. 12He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt. He will burn their idols and take them captive. He will wrap himself with the land of Egypt like a shepherd wraps himself with a garment, and then he will leave from there in peace. 13He will shatter the pillars of Heliopolis in the land of Egypt and will burn the temples of the gods of Egypt with fire.hfh
Chapter 44
1This is the message that came to Jeremiah for all the Judeans who were living in the land of Egypt, who were living in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, saying, 2gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eYou have seen the disaster that I brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah. Look, theyfre in ruins today, with no one living in them, 3because of the wickedness that they did, provoking me to anger by continuing to offer sacrifices and worship other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors had known. 4Yet I sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again, saying, gDonft do this repulsive thing that I hate.h 5eBut they didnft listen or pay attention by turning from their wickedness and not offering sacrifices to other gods. 6My wrath and my anger were poured out, and they burned in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem so that they have become a ruin and a desolate place, as is the case today.f
7gNow, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eWhy are you doing great harm to yourselves so as to cut off from Judah man and woman, child and infant from you, leaving yourselves without a remnant? 8And why have you provoked me to anger by the works of your hands, by offering sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to settle so that you cut yourselves off and become an object of ridicule and scorn among all the nations of the earth? 9Have you forgotten the evil deeds of your ancestors, the evil deeds of the kings of Judah, the evil deeds of their wives, your evil deeds, and the evil deeds of your wives, that they did in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem? 10To this day they havenft humbled themselves, they havenft shown reverence for the Lord, and they havenft lived according to my Law and my statutes that I set before them and before their ancestors.f
11gTherefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eLook, Ifve determined to bring disaster on you and to cut off all Judah. 12Ifll take the remnant of Judah that determined to go to the land of Egypt to settle there, and all of them will come to an end in the land of Egypt. Theyfll fall by the sword, and theyfll come to an end by famine. Theyfll become a curse, an object of horror, ridicule, and scorn. 13Ifll punish those who live in the land of Egypt just as I punished Jerusalem\with the sword, with famine, and with plague. 14Of the remnant of Judah that came into the land of Egypt to settle there, no one will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah where they long to return and live. Indeed, they wonft return, except for some refugees.fh
15Then all the men who knew that their wives were offering sacrifices to other gods and all the women who were standing by\a large group, including all the people who were living in the land of Egypt in Pathros\answered Jeremiah: 16gAs for the message that you reported to us in the name of the Lord, we wonft listen to you! 17Rather, we will keep doing everything that we said we would by offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and by pouring out liquid offerings to her just as we, our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had plenty of bread, things went well for us, and we didnft experience disaster. 18From the time we stopped offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out liquid offerings to her, we have lacked everything, and we have been consumed by the sword and famine. 19Indeed, we are going to continue offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out liquid offerings to her. And do you think we have made cakes to represent her or poured out liquid offerings for her without our husbandsf approval?h
20Then Jeremiah spoke a message to all the people, to the young men, to the women, and to all the people who were answering him: 21gAs for the sacrifices that you, your ancestors, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land offered in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, the Lord remembered them, did he not? And they came to his attention, did they not? 22The Lord could no longer bear it because of your evil deeds and the repulsive things that you did. So your land has become a ruin and an object of horror and ridicule without an inhabitant, as is the case today. 23Because you offered sacrifices and sinned against the Lord, you didnft obey the Lord and didnft live according to his Law, his statutes, or his testimonies; therefore, this disaster has happened to you, as is the case today.h
24Then Jeremiah told all the people and all the women, gAll you people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt, listen to this message from the Lord! 25This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eYou and your wives have spoken with your mouths and acted with your hands: gWe will certainly carry through on the vows that we vowed to offer sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and pour out liquid offerings to her!h Go ahead, carry through on your vows, and diligently do what you vowed!f 26But listen to this message from the Lord, all you people of Judah who are living in the land of Egypt. eLook, Ifve sworn by my great namef, says the Lord, emy name will no longer be invoked by the mouth of any person in the entire land of Egypt, as he says, gAs surely as the Lord God livesch
27geLook, Ifm watching over them to bring disaster rather than good. Every person of Judah in the land of Egypt will be brought to an end by the sword and by famine until theyfre completely gone. 28The ones who escape the sword will return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number. Then all the remnant of Judah who have come into the land of Egypt to settle will know whose message will stand, mine or theirs. 29This will be a sign to you,f declares the Lord, ethat Ifll punish you in this place so that you may know that my words concerning disaster against you will surely stand.f
30This is what the Lord says: gLook, Ifm going to give Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, into the hands of his enemies and into the hands of those seeking his life, just as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who was seeking his life.h
Chapter 45
1This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Neriahfs son Baruch, when in the fourth year of the reign of Josiahfs son King Jehoiakim of Judah had, at Jeremiahfs dictation, written these words in a scroll: 2gThis is what the Lord God of Israel says to you, Baruch: 3eYou have said, gHow terrible for me, for the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. Ifm weary with my groaning, and I havenft found rest.hf 4Say this to him: eThis is what the Lord says: gLook! What Ifve built Ifm about to tear down, and what Ifve planted Ifm about to pull up\and this will involve the entire land.h 5Are you seeking great things for yourself? Donft seek them. Indeed, Ifm about to bring disaster on all flesh,f declares the Lord, ebut your life will be spared wherever you go.fh
Chapter 46
1This is the message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2To Egypt: Concerning the army of King Pharaoh Neco of Egypt, which was encamped by the Euphrates River at Carchemish and which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of the reign of Josiahfs son Jehoiakim, king of Judah.
3gPrepare buckler and shield,
and advance into the battle!
4Harness the horses!
Riders, mount up!
Take your positions with your helmets!
Polish lances,
and put on armor!
5Why am I seeing this?
Theyfre terrified,
they have turned back.
Their warriors are crushed,
and they take flight.
They donft look back.
Terror is on every side,h
declares the Lord.
6gThe swift cannot flee,
nor can the strong escape.
In the north, beside the Euphrates River,
they stumble and fall.
7Who is this, rising like the Nile,
like rivers whose waters surge?
8Egypt is rising like the Nile,
like rivers whose waters surge.
He says, eIfll rise and cover the land.
Ifll destroy the city and its inhabitants.f
9Horses, get up!
Chariots, drive furiously!
Let the warriors go forward,
Ethiopia and Put, who carry shields,
and the Lydians who handle and bend the bow.
10That day belongs to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
It is a day of vengeance to take vengeance on his foes.
The sword will devour and be satisfied,
and will drink its fill of their blood.
For the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies
will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north,
by the Euphrates river.
11Go up to Gilead and get balm,
virgin daughter of Egypt!
In vain you multiply remedies,
but there is no healing for you.
12The nations have heard of your disgrace,
and your cry of distress fills the earth.
Indeed, one warrior stumbles over another,
and both of them fall down together.h
13This is the message that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to conquer the land of Egypt.
14gAnnounce in Egypt, proclaim in Migdol.
Proclaim also in Memphis and Tahpanhes.
Say, eTake your positions and be ready,
for the sword will devour all around you.f
15Why are your warriors prostrate?
They donft stand because the Lord has brought them down.
16They repeatedly stumble and fall.
They say to each other, eGet up!
Letfs go back to our people
and to the land of our birth,
away from the oppressorfs sword.f
17There theyfll cry out,
ePharaoh, king of Egypt, is just a big noise.
He has let the appointed time pass by.f
18As certainly as Ifm alive and living,h declares the King,
whose name is the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
gIndeed, one will come like Tabor among the mountains
and like Carmel by the sea.
19Prepare your baggage for exile,
daughter living in Egypt,
for Memphis will become a desolate place.
It will become a ruin without inhabitant.
20Egypt is a beautiful calf,
but a horsefly from the north is surely coming.
21Even the mercenary troops in her ranks
are like a fattened calf.
They too will turn around,
and will flee together.
They wonft stand,
for the day of their disaster is coming on them,
the time of their punishment.
22Her cry will be like that of a fleeing serpent
when they come in strength.
Theyfre coming to her with axes like woodcutters.
23Theyfll cut down her forest, though itfs impenetrable,h
declares the Lord,
gfor theyfre more numerous than locusts,
and there are too many of them to count.
24The daughter of Egypt will be put to shame,
she will be given into the hands of the people from the north.h
25The Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says, gLook, Ifm going to punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt, its gods and its kings, Pharaoh, and those who trust in him. 26Ifll give them to those who are seeking their lives and to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers. Then afterwards, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,h declares the Lord.
27gAs for you, my servant Jacob, donft be afraid,
and Israel, donft be dismayed.
For Ifll deliver you from a distant place,
and your descendants from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return.
He will be undisturbed and secure,
and no one will cause him to fear.
28gAs for you, my servant Jacob, donft be afraid,
and Israel, donft be dismayed,h
declares the Lord, gfor I am with you.
Indeed, Ifll make an end of all the nations
where I scattered you;
but I wonft make an end of you!
Ifll discipline you justly,
but Ifll certainly not leave you unpunished.h
Chapter 47
1This is the message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. 2This is what the Lord says:
gLook, waters are rising from the north,
and theyfll become an overflowing river.
Theyfll overflow the land and all that fills it\
the city and those that live in it.
People will cry out,
and all those living in the land will wail.
3At the sound of the galloping hooves of his horses,
at the rumbling of his chariots,
the clatter of his wheels,
fathers wonft turn back for their children
because their hands are weak,
4for the day is coming to destroy all the Philistines,
to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
every helper who remains.
For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,
the remnant of the coastlands of Caphtor.
5Baldness is coming to Gaza.
Ashkelon is silenced.
Remnant of their valley,
how long will you gash yourself?
6Ah, sword of the Lord,
how long before you are quiet?
Put yourself into your scabbard,
be at rest, be silent!
7How can it be quiet,
when the Lord has ordered disaster
to come to Ashkelon and the seashore?
Thatfs where he has assigned it.h
Chapter 48
1To Moab: This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says:
gHow terrible for Nebo, for itfs laid waste.
Kiriathaim is put to shame, itfs captured.
The fortress is put to shame, itfs shattered.
2The pride of Moab is no more.
In Heshbon they plotted evil against her:
eCome and letfs eliminate her as a nation.f
Madmen will also be silenced,
and the sword will pursue you.
3The sound of crying will come from Horonaim,
devastation and great destruction.
4Moab will be destroyed;
her little ones will cry out.
5Indeed, at the ascent of Luhith
people will go up with bitter weeping.
At the descent of Horonaim
the anguished cries over the destruction will be heard.
6Flee, save your lives,
and you will be like a wild donkey in the desert.
7But, because you trust in your deeds and your riches,
you will also be captured.
Chemosh will go out into exile,
along with his priests and officials.
8A destroyer will come to every town
and no town will escape.
The valley will be ruined and the plateau destroyed.h
This is what the Lord has said!
9gPut salt on Moab
for she will surely fall.
Her towns will become desolate places,
without any inhabitants in them.
10Cursed is the one who is slack
in doing the Lordfs work.
Cursed is the one who holds back his sword
from shedding blood.
11Moab has been at ease from his youth.
He has been undisturbed like wine on its dregs
and not poured from vessel to vessel.
He has not gone into exile.
Therefore, his flavor has remained,
and his aroma has not changed.
12gTherefore, look, days are coming,h declares the Lord, gwhen Ifll send those who tip over vessels to him, and theyfll tip him over. Theyfll empty his vessels and shatter his jars. 13Moab will be ashamed because of Chemosh just as the house of Israel was ashamed because of Bethel, their confidence.
14gHow can you say, eWefre strong warriors,
and soldiers ready for battlef?
15Moab will be destroyed,
and the enemy will come up against her cities.
Her finest young men will go down to slaughter,h
declares the King,
whose name is the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
16gMoabfs disaster is near at hand,
and his calamity is coming very quickly.
17Mourn for him, all who live around him,
and all who know his name.
Say, eOh how the mighty rod is broken,
the glorious staff.f
18gCome down from glory, and sit on parched ground,
O woman who lives in Dibon,
for the destroyer of Moab will come up
against you to destroy you.
He will destroy your strongholds.
19Stand by the road and keep watch,
O woman who lives in Aroer.
Ask the man who flees and the woman who escapes.
Say, eWhat happenedf?
20Moab will be put to shame,
for it will be destroyed.
Wail and cry out.
Announce by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.
21Judgment has come to the plateau:
to Holon and Jahzah,
and against Mephaath,
22Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
23against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,
24against Kerioth, Bozrah,
and all the towns in the land of Moab,
both far and near.
25The strength of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,h
declares the Lord.
26gMake him drunk for he has exalted himself
against the Lord.
Moab will wallow in his vomit,
and he will be the object of mocking.
27Wasnft Israel an object of mocking for you?
Wasnft he treated like a thief,
so that whenever you spoke about him
you shook your head in contempt?
28Abandon the cities, and live on the cliffs,
you inhabitants of Moab.
Be like a dove that builds a nest
by the mouth of a cave.
29We have heard about Moabfs pride\
hefs very proud\
his haughtiness, his arrogance,
his insolence, and his conceit.
30I know his gall,h
declares the Lord,
gand itfs futile;
the boasting that they do is futile.
31Therefore, Ifll wail for Moab,
and for the whole of Moab Ifll cry out,
for the men of Kir-heres Ifll moan.
32More than the weeping for Jazer,
Ifll weep for you, vine of Sibmah.
Your branches spread out to the sea,
and reached as far as the Sea of Jazer.
On your summer fruit and grapes
the destroyer will fall.
33Gladness and rejoicing will be taken away
from the fruitful land.
From the land of Moab Ifll cause the wine
in the wine presses to stop flowing.
The workers wonft tread the grapes with a loud shout.
There will be no shout!
34gFrom the cry of Heshbon, to Elealeh, to Jahaz they have lifted up their voice. From Zoar to Horonaim and to Eglath-shelishiyah, even the waters of Nimrim will become a desolate place. 35In Moab,h declares the Lord, gIfll put an end to the one who offers a burnt offering on the high place and to the one who burns incense to his gods. 36Therefore my heart wails for Moab like flutes and my heart wails for the men of Kir-heres like flutes. Therefore theyfll lose the abundance they produced. 37Indeed every head will be bald and every beard cut short. There will be gashes on all the hands and sackcloth on the loins. 38On all the housetops of Moab and in the streets there will be nothing but mourning, for Ifll break Moab like a vessel that no one wants,h declares the Lord. 39gHow it will be shattered! How theyfll wail! How Moab will turn his back in shame! Moab will be an object of ridicule and terror to all those around him.h
40For this is what the Lord says:
gLook, like an eagle one will fly swiftly
and spread his wings against Moab.
41The towns will be captured
and the strongholds seized.
On that day the hearts of the warriors of Moab
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
42Moab will be destroyed as a nation
because he exalted himself against the Lord.
43Terror, pit, and trap will be used against you
who live in Moab,h
declares the Lord.
44gThe one who flees from the terror
will fall into a pit.
And the one who comes up out of the pit
will be caught in a trap.
For Ifll bring upon her, that is upon Moab,
the time of her punishment,h
declares the Lord.
45gThe fugitives will stand without strength
in the shadow of Heshbon,
for fire will go out from Heshbon
and a flame from the middle of Sihon.
It will devour the forehead of Moab
and the heads of the rebellious people.
46How terrible for you, Moab!
The people of Chemosh will perish.
Indeed, your sons will be taken into captivity,
and your daughters as well.
47But Ifll restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days,h
declares the Lord.
This concludes the judgment on Moab.
Chapter 49
1To the people of Ammon:
This is what the Lord says:
gDoes Israel have no sons?
Does he have no heir?
Why then has Milcom taken possession of Gad,
and his people settled in its towns?
2Therefore, look, the time is coming,h
declares the Lord,
gwhen Ifll cause a battle cry to be heard in
Rabbah of the Ammonites.
It will become a desolate mound,
and its towns will be burned with fire.
Israel will take possession of those who possessed him,h
says the Lord.
3gWail, Heshbon, because Ai is destroyed.
Cry out, daughters of Rabbah,
put on sackcloth and lament.
Run back and forth inside the walls,
for Milcom is going into exile
along with his priests and his princes.
4Why do you boast in your valleys?
Your valley is flowing away, faithless daughter,
who trusted in her treasures,
saying, eWho will come against me?f
5Look, Ifm bringing terror on you from all around you,h
declares the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies.
gYou will be driven out, fleeing recklessly,
and there will be no one to gather the fugitives.
6But afterwards Ifll restore the fortunes of
the people of Ammon,h
declares the Lord.
7To Edom:
This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gIs there no longer wisdom in Teman?
Has counsel perished among the prudent?
Is their wisdom gone?
8Flee, turn around!
Go to a remote place to stay,
residents of Dedan!
For Ifll bring Esaufs disaster on him
at the time when I punish him.
9If the grape harvesters came to you,
would they not leave gleanings?
If thieves came at night, they would destroy
only until they had enough.
10But Ifll strip Esau bare.
Ifll uncover his hiding places so he cannot conceal himself.
His offspring, his relatives,
and his neighbors will be destroyed,
and he will no longer exist.
11Leave your orphans. Ifll keep them alive.
Let your widows trust in me.h
12For this is what the Lord says: gLook, those who donft deserve to drink the cup will surely drink it, and will you actually go unpunished? You wonft go unpunished! You will certainly drink it! 13Indeed, Ifve sworn by myself,h declares the Lord, gthat Bozrah will become an object of horror and scorn, a waste, and an object of ridicule. All her towns will become perpetual ruins.h
14Ifve heard a message from the Lord,
and a messenger has been sent
among the nations:
gGather together and come up against her,
and rise up to fight.
15Indeed, Ifll make you the least of the nations,
despised among men.
16The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you.
You who live in hidden places in the rocks,
who hold on to the heights of the hill,
although you make your nest high like the eagle,
Ifll bring you down from there,h
declares the Lord.
17gEdom will become an object of horror. Everyone who passes by her will be horrified and will scoff because of all her wounds. 18Just like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors,h says the Lord, gno one will live there. No human being will reside in it. 19Look, like a lion comes up from the thicket of the Jordan to a pasture that grows year round, so Ifll drive them away from her in an instant, and Ifll appoint whomever is chosen over her. Indeed, who is like me? Who gives me counsel? Who is the shepherd who will stand against me?h 20Therefore, hear the plan that the Lord has made against Edom, and the strategy that he devised against the inhabitants of Teman. Surely he will drag the little ones of the flock away. Surely their pasture will be desolate because of them. 21The earth will quake at the sound of their fall. A cry\itfs her voice\is heard at the Reed Sea. 22Look, he will rise up and fly swiftly like an eagle. He will spread his wings against Bozrah, and on that day the hearts of the warriors of Edom will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
23To Damascus:
gHamath and Arpad will be humiliated.
Their courage melts because they have heard bad news.
There is anxiety like the sea that cannot be calmed.
24Damascus will become weak.
She will turn to flee, but panic will seize her.
Distress and anguish will take hold of her
like that of a woman giving birth.
25Why is the famous city, the joyful town,
not abandoned?
26Therefore her young men will fall in her streets,
and all her soldiers will be silenced on that day,h
declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
27gIfll kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,
and it will devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.h
28To Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed:
This is what the Lord says:
gArise, go against Kedar!
Plunder the people of the east!
29Take their tents and their flocks,
their tent curtains and all their goods.
Take their camels away from them.
Cry out against them, eTerror is all around!f
30Flee! Run away quickly!
Go to a remote place to stay, residents of Hazor,h
declares the Lord.
gFor King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has formed a plan
and devised a strategy against them.
31gArise, go up against a nation at ease, living securely,h
declares the Lord,
gwithout gates or bars, living alone.
32Their camels will become booty,
their many herds will become spoil.
Ifll scatter to the winds
those who shave the corners of their beards,
and Ifll bring disaster on them from every side,h
declares the Lord.
33gHazor will become a dwelling place for jackals,
a perpetual wasteland.
No one will live there;
no human being will reside in it.h
34This is what came as a message from the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet about Elam at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah:
35This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gLook, Ifm going to break the bow of Elam,
the finest of their troops.
36Ifll bring the four winds against Elam
from the four corners of the heavens,
and Ifll scatter them to all these winds.
There will be no nation to which the exiles
from Elam wonft go.
37Ifll terrify Elam before their enemies
and before those who seek to kill them.
Ifll bring on them disaster and become fiercely angry at them,h
declares the Lord.
gIfll send the sword after them,
until Ifve made an end of them.
38Ifll put my throne in Elam,
and destroy the king and the officials there,h
declares the Lord.
39gBut in the latter days Ifll restore
the fortunes of Elam,h
declares the Lord.
Chapter 50
1This is the message that the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah about Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans.
2gDeclare and proclaim among the nations.
Lift up a banner and proclaim.
Donft conceal anything.
Say, eBabylon will be captured.
Bel will be disgraced,
and Marduk will be destroyed.
Her idols will be disgraced,
and her filthy images will be destroyed.f
3For a nation from the north will go up against her.
It will make her land into an object of horror,
and no one will live in it.
Both people and animals will wander off,
and theyfll leave.
4In those days, and at that time,h
declares the Lord,
gthe people of Israel will come together
with the people of Judah.
Theyfll be weeping as they travel along,
and theyfll be seeking the Lord their God.
5Theyfll ask the way to Zion,
turning their faces in that direction.
Theyfll come and join themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant that wonft be forgotten.
6My people have become lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray,
turning them toward the mountains.
They go from mountain to hill.
They have forgotten their resting place.
7All who find them devour them,
but their enemies say, eWefre not guilty,
because they have sinned against
the Lord, the habitation of righteousness,
the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.f
8Move away from the middle of Babylon,
and go out of the land of the Chaldeans.
Be like male goats at the head of the flock.
9Indeed, Ifm going to stir up
and bring against Babylon
a great company of nations
from the land of the north.
Theyfll deploy for battle against her,
and from there she will be captured.
Their arrows will be like a skilled warrior;
they wonft miss their targets.
10The Chaldeans will become plunder,
and all who plunder them will get more than enough,h
declares the Lord.
11gThough you rejoice, though you exult,
you plunderers of my inheritance,
though you skip around like a heifer in the grass
and neigh like stallions,
12your mother will be greatly devastated,
she who gave birth to you will be ashamed.
She will become the least of the nations,
a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13Because of the anger of the Lord
she wonft be inhabited,
but will be utterly devastated.
Everyone who passes by Babylon will be horrified
and will scoff because of all her wounds.
14Deploy the troops all around Babylon.
All who bend the bow, shoot at her
and spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the Lord.
15Raise a battle cry against her on every side.
She has surrendered, her pillars have fallen,
her walls are thrown down.
For this is the vengeance of the Lord.
Take vengeance on her;
as she has done, do to her.
16Eliminate from Babylon the one who plants seeds
and the one who uses the sickle at harvest time.
Because of the oppressorfs sword, let each one turn
toward his own people and flee to his own land.h
17gIsrael is a scattered flock, driven out by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria, and then afterward King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gnawed his bones. 18Therefore this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: eLook, Ifm about to judge the king of Babylon and his land, just as Ifve judged the king of Assyria. 19Ifll bring Israel back to his pasture. He will graze on Carmel, on Bashan, on Mt. Ephraim, and on Gilead\his hunger will be satisfied. 20In those days and at that time,f declares the Lord, ethe iniquity of Israel will be searched for, but there will be none; and the sin of Judah, but none will be found, because Ifll pardon those I leave as a remnant.fh
21gGo up against the land of Merathaim
and the inhabitants of Pekod.
Kill them with swords, and completely destroy them,h
declares the Lord,
gand do everything that Ifve commanded you.
22The noise of battle is in the land,
and great destruction.
23How the hammer of all the earth is cut off and broken!
How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!
24Ifll set a trap for you,
and you will be caught, Babylon,
but you donft realize it.
You will be found and also seized,
because you challenged the Lord!
25gThe Lord will open his armory,
and bring out the weapons of his anger.
Indeed, a work of the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies
will be in the land of the Chaldeans.
26Come to her from afar.
Open up her barns.
Pile her up like heaps of grain,
and completely destroy her.
Donft leave any survivors.
27Put all her bulls to the sword,
let them go down to the slaughter.
How terrible for them because their day has come,
the time of their judgment.
28gThe sound of fugitives and refugees
will come from the land of Babylon
to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God,
vengeance for his Temple.
29gSummon many to Babylon,
all those who bend the bow.
Camp all around her,
let no one escape.
Repay her according to her deeds.
Do to her just as she has done.
For she has behaved arrogantly against the Lord,
against the Holy One of Israel.
30Therefore, her warriors will fall in her streets,
and all her soldiers will be silenced on that day,h
declares the Lord.
31gLook, Ifm against you, arrogant one,h
declares the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
gIndeed your day is coming,
the time of your judgment.
32The arrogant one will stumble and fall,
and there will be no one to lift him up.
Ifll set fire to his cities,
and it will devour everything around him.h
33This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gThe people of Israel are oppressed,
along with the people of Judah.
All their captors have held on to them
and refused to let them go.
34Their Redeemer is strong,
the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name.
He will vigorously plead their case
in order to bring rest to the earth,
but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.
35A sword against the Chaldeans,h
declares the Lord,
gand against the inhabitants of Babylon,
against her officials and her wise men.
36A sword against the diviners.
Theyfll be made fools.
A sword against her warriors.
Theyfll be shattered.
37A sword against her horses, against her chariots,
and against all the foreign troops in her midst.
Theyfll become women.
A sword against her treasures.
Theyfll be plundered.
38A drought against her waters.
Theyfll dry up.
For itfs a land of idols,
and they go mad over their terrifying images.
39Therefore the desert creatures
along with hyenas will live there.
Theyfll live in it with ostriches,
but people wonft live in it again.
They wonft inhabit it from generation to generation.
40Just as when God overthrew Sodom,
Gomorrah, and their neighbors,h
declares the Lord,
gso also no one will live there.
No human being will reside in it.
41gLook, people are coming from the north.
A great nation and many kings will be stirred up
from the ends of the earth.
42They grab bow and spear.
Theyfre cruel and show no mercy.
Their sound roars like the sea,
as they ride on horses
deployed like men ready for battle
against you, daughter of Babylon.
43The king of Babylon has heard the news about them,
and his hands hang limp.
Distress has seized him,
like a woman in labor.
44gLook, like a lion comes up from the thicket of the Jordan to a pasture that grows year round, so Ifll drive them away from her in an instant, and Ifll appoint whomever is chosen over her. Indeed, who is like me? Who gives me counsel? Who is the shepherd who will stand against me?h 45Therefore, hear the plan that the Lord has made against Babylon, and the strategy that he devised against the land of the Chaldeans. Surely theyfll drag the little ones of the flock away. Surely their pasture will be desolate because of them. 46At the shout that Babylon has been seized, the earth will be shaken, and the cry will be heard among the nations.
Chapter 51
1This is what the Lord says:
gLook, Ifm going to stir up a destroying wind
against Babylon and the inhabitants of Leb-kamai.
2Ifll send foreigners to Babylon,
and theyfll winnow her,
and devastate her land.
Theyfll come against her from every side
on the day of her disaster.
3Donft let the archer bend the bow;
donft let him rise up in his armor.
Donft spare her young men.
Completely destroy her entire army.
4The slain will fall in the land of Chaldea,
pierced through in her streets.
5Indeed, Israel and Judah havenft been
abandoned by their God,
by the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
although their land is full of guilt
against the Holy One of Israel.h
6Flee from Babylon,
and each of you, escape with your life!
Donft be destroyed because of her guilt,
for itfs time for the Lordfs vengeance.
He is paying back what is due to her.
7Babylon was a golden cup in the Lordfs hand,
making the whole earth drunk.
The nations drank her wine,
therefore the nations have gone mad.
8Suddenly, Babylon fell down and was shattered.
Wail for her!
Bring balm for her wound,
perhaps she will be healed.
9We tried to heal Babylon,
but she wouldnft be healed.
Leave her, and let each of us go to his own country.
For her judgment has reached to the heavens,
and is lifted up to the sky.
10The Lord will vindicate us.
Come! Let us declare the work of the Lord our God in Zion.
11Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers!
The Lord has stirred up the spirit
of the kings of the Medes\
he has decided to destroy Babylon.
Indeed, itfs the Lordfs vengeance,
vengeance for his Temple.
12Lift up the battle standard against Babylonfs walls.
Strengthen the guard;
post watchmen.
Set men in position for an ambush.
For the Lord will both plan and carry out what he has
declared against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13You who live beside many waters,
rich in treasures,
your end has come,
your life thread is cut.
14The Lord of the Heavenly Armies
has sworn by himself:
gIfll surely fill you with soldiers like a swarm of locusts,
and theyfll sing songs of victory over you.h
15He made the earth by his power.
He established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding he spread out the heavens.
16When his voice sounds, there is thunder from
the waters of heaven,
and he makes clouds rise up
from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and brings wind out of his storehouses.
17Everyone is stupid and without knowledge.
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his own idols,
for his images are false,
and there is no life in them.
18Theyfre worthless, a work of mockery,
and when the time of punishment comes,
theyfll perish.
19The Portion of Jacob is not like these.
He made everything,
including the tribe of his inheritance.
The Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name.
20gYou are my war-club and
weapons of war.
Ifll smash nations with you
and destroy kingdoms with you.
21Ifll smash the horse and its rider with you.
Ifll smash the chariot and its rider with you.
22Ifll smash man and woman with you.
Ifll smash old man and young boy with you.
Ifll smash young man and young woman with you.
23Ifll smash the shepherd and his flock with you.
Ifll smash the farmer and his team of oxen with you.
Ifll smash governors and officials with you.
24gBefore your eyes Ifll repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil that they did in Zion,h declares the Lord.
25gLook, Ifm against you, destroying mountain,
who destroys the whole earth,h
declares the Lord.
gIfll stretch out my hand against you
and roll you down from the crags.
And Ifll make you a burned-out mountain.
26They wonft get a cornerstone
or a foundation stone from you,
because you will be a wasteland forever,h
declares the Lord.
27Lift up a battle standard in the land.
Blow a trumpet among the nations.
Consecrate the nations against her.
Summon the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni,
and Ashkenaz against her.
Appoint a commander against her,
bring up horses like bristling locusts.
28Consecrate the nations against her,
the kings of the Medes, their governors, their prefects,
and every land under their domination.
29The land quakes and writhes
because the Lordfs purposes
against Babylon stand firm,
to make the land of Babylon a waste without inhabitants.
30The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting.
They stay in their strongholds;
their strength is dried up;
they have become like women.
Her buildings are set on fire;
the bars of her gates are broken.
31One runner runs to meet another runner,
and one messenger to meet another messenger,
to tell the king of Babylon that his city has been seized
from one end to the other.
32The fords have been captured,
and the marshes burned with fire.
The soldiers are terrified.
33For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
the God of Israel, says:
gThe daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor
at the time when itfs pounded down.
In just a little while, the time of her harvest will come.h
34gKing Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has devoured me
and crushed me.
He set me down
like an empty vessel.
He swallowed me like a monster,
and filled his belly with my delicacies.
Then he washed me away.
35May the violence done to me
and my flesh be on Babylon,h
says the inhabitant of Zion.
gMay my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea,h
says Jerusalem.
36Therefore this is what the Lord says:
gLook, Ifm going to argue your case
and take vengeance for you.
Ifll dry up her sea
and make her fountain dry.
37Babylon will become a heap of ruins,
a refuge for jackals,
a desolate place
and an object of scorn.
38Theyfll roar together like young lions;
theyfll growl like lion cubs.
39When theyfre excited Ifll serve them their banquet,
and make them drunk until theyfre merry.
Theyfll sleep forever and wonft wake up,h
declares the Lord.
40gIfll bring them down like lambs for the slaughter,
like rams with male goats.
41gHow Sheshak will be captured,
and the prince of all the earth seized!
How Babylon will become an object of horror
among the nations!
42The sea will come up against Babylon,
and she will be covered by wave upon wave.
43Her cities will become an object of horror,
a dry land and a desert,
a land in which no one lives,
and through which no human being passes.
44Ifll punish Bel in Babylon,
and Ifll make what he has swallowed
come out of his mouth.
The nations will no longer stream to him.
Even the wall of Babylon will fall.
45gCome out of her, my people,
flee for your lives from the Lordfs anger!
46Do this now, so your heart does not grow faint,
and so you donft become frightened
because of the rumors that are heard in the land\
a rumor comes one year and then after it
another rumor comes the next year
about violence in the land
and one ruler against another ruler.
47Therefore, look, days are coming
when Ifll punish the idols of Babylon.
Her entire land will be put to shame,
and all her slain will fall in her midst.
48Then the heavens and the earth
and all that are in them
will shout for joy about Babylon
because the destroyers will come
out of the north against her,h
declares the Lord.
49gSo Babylon will fall
because of the slain of Israel,
even as the slain of all the earth
have fallen because of Babylon.
50Go, you who escaped the sword!
Donft stand around!
Remember the Lord from far away,
and let Jerusalem come to your mind.
51We have been put to shame
because we have heard insults.
Disgrace has covered our faces because foreigners have
come into the Holy Places of the Lordfs house.
52gTherefore, look, days are coming,h
declares the Lord,
gwhen Ifll punish her idols,
and throughout her land the wounded will groan.
53Though Babylon should reach up to the heavens
and fortify her high fortresses,
from me destroyers will come to her,h
declares the Lord.
54gThe sound of a cry is coming from Babylon,
great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.
55For the Lord is destroying Babylon,
and he will make the loud sounds from her disappear.
Their waves will roar like many waters,
the noise of their voices will sound forth.
56Indeed, the destroyer is coming against her,
against Babylon.
Her warriors are captured,
and her bows are broken.
For the Lord is a God of recompense,
and he will repay in full.
57Ifll make their leaders, their wise men,
their governors, their deputies,
and their warriors drunk so that they sleep forever
and donft wake up,h
declares the King
whose name is the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
58This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
gThe broad wall of Babylon will be completely leveled,
and its high gate set on fire.
and so the peoples toil for nothing,
and the nations weary themselves only for fire.h
59This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet delivered to Neriahfs son Seraiah, the grandson of Mahseiah, when he went with King Zedekiah of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. 60Jeremiah wrote on a single scroll all the disasters that would come on Babylon, all these things that were written about Babylon. 61Jeremiah told Seraiah, gWhen you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62and say, eLord, you have declared about this place that you would destroy it so that there wouldnft be an inhabitant in it, neither human nor animal, because it will be a wasteland forever.f 63When you finish reading this scroll, tie a rock around it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates. 64Then say, eBabylon will sink like this and wonft rise from the disaster that Ifm bringing on her. Her people will be exhausted.fh
This concludes the writings of Jeremiah.
Chapter 52
1Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His motherfs name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2Zedekiah had done evil in the Lordfs sight, just as Jehoiakim had done. 3Because Jerusalem and Judah had angered the Lord, he cast them out of his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon, 4and in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with all his army. He encamped near it and set up siege works all around it. 5The city was under siege until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah. 6By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine became so severe that there was no food for the people of the land. 7The wall of the city was broken through, and all the soldiers fled, leaving the city at night through the gate between the two walls next to the kingfs garden, even though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They went in the direction of the Arabah.
8The Chaldean army went after the king, overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his troops were scattered from him. 9They captured the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where the king of Babylon passed judgment on him. 10The king of Babylon killed Zedekiahfs sons before his eyes, and he also killed all the Judean officials at Riblah. 11He blinded Zedekiah and bound him in bronze shackles. Then the king of Babylon took him to Babylon and put him in prison until he died.
12In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month\it was the nineteenth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon\Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13He burned the Lordfs Temple, the kingfs house, and all the houses in Jerusalem. He also burned every public building with fire. 14All the Chaldean troops who were with the captain of the guard tore down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest of the people, the rest of the people left in the city, the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen. 16But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.
17The Chaldeans broke in pieces the bronze pillars that were in the Lordfs Temple and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the Lordfs Temple, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the pans, and all the bronze utensils that were used in the temple service. 19The captain of the guard took away the bowls, the fire pans, the basins, the pots, the lamp stands, the pans, and the bowls for libations, both those made of gold and those made of silver. 20There was too much bronze to weigh in the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze oxen that were under the sea, and the stands which King Solomon had made for the Lordfs Temple. 21Each of the pillars was eighteen feet high and its circumference eighteen feet. It was hollow and about three inches thick. 22On each pillar was a capital of bronze., ad the height of each capital was seven and a half feet. Latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, were all around the capital. And the second pillar was like this, including the pomegranates. 23There were 96 pomegranates open to view. In all, there were 100 pomegranates all around the latticework.
24The captain of the guard arrested Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the next ranking priest, and the three guards of the gate. 25From the city he arrested one of the officers who had been in charge of the troops, seven men from the kingfs personal advisors who were found in the city, the secretary of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land, and 60 men of the people of the land who were found inside the city. 26Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard arrested them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27The king of Babylon struck them down and killed them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile from the land.
28These are the people Nebuchadnezzar took into exile: in the seventh year, 3,023 Judeans; 29in Nebuchadnezzarfs eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem; 30in Nebuchadnezzarfs twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took 745 people from Judah into exile. All the people taken into exile numbered 4,600.
31In the first year of his reign, King Evil-merodach of Babylon, showed favor to King Jehoiachin of Judah by releasing him from prison on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah. 32He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the other kings who were in Babylon with him. 33Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes and regularly dined with the king as long as he lived. 34As for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him daily by the king of Babylon as long as he lived, until the day of his death.
Lamentations
Chapter 1
1How lonely she lies,
the city that thronged with people!
Like a widow she has become,
this great one among nations!
The princess among provinces
has become a vassal.
2Bitterly she cries in the night,
as tears stream down her cheeks.
No one consoles her
of all her friends.
All her neighbors have betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.
3Judah has gone into exile
to escape affliction and servitude.
She that sat among the nations,
has found no rest.
All her pursuers overtook her
amid narrow passes.
4The roads that lead to Zion are in mourning,
because no one travels to the festivals.
All her gates are desolate;
her priests are moaning.
Her young women are grieving,
and she is bitter.
5Her adversaries dominate her,
her enemies prosper.
For the Lord has made her suffer
because of her many transgressions.
Her children have gone away,
taken into captivity in the presence of the enemy.
6Fled from cherished Zion
are all that were her splendor.
Her princes have become like deer
that cannot find their feeding grounds.
They flee with strength exhausted
from their pursuers.
7Jerusalem remembers
her time of affliction and misery;
all her valued belongings
of days gone by,
when her people fell into enemy hands,
with no one to help her,
and her enemies stared at her,
mocking her downfall.
8Jerusalem sinned greatly,
and she became unclean.
All who honored her now despise her,
because they saw her naked.
She herself groans
and turns her face away.
9Uncleanness has soiled her skirts,
and she gave no thought to what would follow.
She fell in such a startling way,
with no one to comfort her.
Look, Lord, upon my affliction,
because my enemy is boasting.
10The adversary seized in his hands
everything she valued.
She watched the nations
enter her sanctuary;
those you forbade to enter
your place of meeting.
11All her people groaned
as they searched for food.
They traded their valuables in order to eat,
to keep themselves alive.
Look, Lord, and see
how I have become dishonored.
12May it not befall you,
all who pass along the road!
Look and see:
Is there any grief
like my grief
dealt out to me,
by which the Lord afflicted me
in the time of his fierce wrath?
13He sent fire from on high,
making it penetrate my bones.
He stretched out a net at my feet,
forcing me to turn back.
He made me desolate;
Ifm fainting all day long.
14The yoke of my sins was bound on,
fastened together by his hand.
They settled on my neck;
he caused my strength to fail.
The Lord placed me in the power
of those I cannot resist.
15He rejected all the valiant men\
the Lord, in my midst.
He set a time to meet with me
to crush my young warriors.
The Lord has trampled, as in a winepress,
the fair virgin that is Judah.
16Because of all this, I weep;
my eyes stream with tears
because far from me
is the comforter of my soul.
My children are sorrowful,
because the enemy has won.
17Zion spreads out her hands;
no one is there to comfort her.
The Lord has issued an order against Jacob,
that all who are around him are to be his enemies;
Jerusalem has become
unclean among them.
18The Lord is in the right,
but I rebelled against his commands.
Listen, please, all you people,
and look at my pain\
my young men and women
have gone into captivity.
19I called out to my lovers,
but they deceived me.
My priests and my elders
have died within the city
while looking for something to eat
to keep themselves alive.
20Look, Lord, how distressed I am;
all my insides are churning.
My heart is troubled within me,
because I vigorously rebelled.
Outside the sword brings loss of life,
while at home death rules.
21People heard how I groan,
with no one to comfort me.
All my adversaries have heard about my troubles;
they rejoice that you have caused them.
Bring on the day you have promised,
so my adversaries will become like me.
22May all of their wickedness come to your attention,
and deal with them
as you have done with me
because of all my transgressions.
For I am constantly groaning,
and my heart is faint.
Chapter 2
1How the Lord in his wrath
shamed cherished Zion!
He cast down from heaven to earth
the glory of Israel,
He did not remember his footstool
in the time of his anger.
2The Lord swallowed up without pity
all of Jacobfs habitations.
In his wrath he tore down
the strongholds of fair Judah.
He cast to the ground in dishonor
both her kingdom and its rulers.
3In his fierce wrath he cut off
all the strength of Israel.
He withdrew his protection
as the enemy approached.
He burned Jacob like a blazing fire
consumes everything around it.
4He bent his bow against us as would an enemy,
his right hand cocked as would an adversary.
He has killed everyone in whom we took pride;
in the tent of cherished Zion he poured out
his anger like fire.
5The Lord has become like an enemy\
he has devoured Israel.
He has devoured all of her palaces,
destroying her fortresses.
He filled cherished Judah
with mourning and lament.
6He plowed under his Temple like a garden,
spoiling his tent.
The Lord abolished in Zion
both festivals and Sabbaths.
In his fierce wrath he despised
both king and priest.
7The Lord rejected his altar,
disavowing his sanctuary.
He gave up her palace walls
to the control of the enemy.
They shouted in the Lordfs Temple,
as though they were attending a day of celebration.
8The Lord planned to destroy
the walls of cherished Zion.
He measured them with his line.
He did not withhold his hand from destruction.
He made both ramparts and defensive walls mourn;
they languish together.
9Jerusalemfs gates collapsed to the ground;
he destroyed and broke the bars of her gates.
Both king and prince have gone into captivity.
There is no instruction,
and the prophets receive
no vision from the Lord.
10The leaders of cherished Zion
sit silently on the ground;
they throw dust on their heads
and dress in mourning clothes.
The young women of Jerusalem
bow their heads in sorrow.
11My eyes are worn out from crying,
my insides are churning,
My emotions pour out in grief
because my people are destroyed\
Children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.
12They ask their mothers,
gIs there anything to eat or drink?h
They faint in the streets of the city
like wounded men.
Their life ebbs away
while they lie on their motherfs bosom.
13What can be said about you?
To what should you be compared, fair Jerusalem?
To what may I liken you,
so I may comfort you, fair one of Zion?
Indeed, your wound is as deep as the sea\
who can heal you?
14Your prophets look on your behalf;
they see false and deceptive visions.
They did not expose your sins
in order to restore what had been captured.
Instead, they crafted oracles for you
that are false and misleading.
15Everyone who passes by on the road
shake their fists at you.
They hiss and shake their heads
at cherished Jerusalem:
gIs this the city men used to call eThe Perfection of Beauty,f
and eThe Joy of the Entire Earthfh?
16All of your enemies
insult you with gaping mouths.
They hiss and grind their teeth while saying,
gWe have devoured her completely.
Yes, this is the day that we anticipated!
We found it at last; we have seen it!h
17The Lord did what he planned.
He carried out his threat.
Just as he commanded long ago,
he has torn down without pity;
He let the enemy boast about you
and has exalted the power of your enemies.
18Cry out from your heart to the Lord,
wall of fair Zion!
Let your tears run down like a river
day and night.
Allow yourself no rest,
and donft stop crying.
19Get up and cry aloud in the night,
at the beginning of every hour.
Pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord!
Lift up your hands toward him
for the lives of your children,
who are fainting away
at every street corner.
20Look, Lord, and take note:
To whom have you done this?
Should women eat their offspring,
the children they have cuddled?
Should priests and prophets be slain
in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21Young men and the aged
lie on the ground in the streets;
my young women and young men
have fallen by the sword.
You killed them in your anger,
slaughtering them without pity.
22You have invited those who terrorize me to come around,
as if today were a festival.
No one has escaped or survived
the time of the Lordfs anger.
My enemy has finished off
those whom I cuddled and raised.
Chapter 3
1I am a man familiar with affliction\
under the rod of Godfs anger.
2He has led me\brought me
into darkness, not into light.
3He truly turned his hand against me,
again and again, all day long.
4He made my flesh and skin prematurely old;
he broke my bones.
5He laid siege against me,
surrounding me with bitterness and suffering.
6He has forced me to live in darkness,
like those who are long dead.
7He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he placed heavy chains on me.
8Indeed, when I cry out, calling for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9He impeded my way with blocks of stone,
making my paths uneven.
10He is like a bear that lies in wait for me,
a lion in hiding.
11He forced me off my path,
tearing me to pieces and making me desolate.
12He bent his bow,
aiming at me with his arrow.
13He caused his war arrows
to pierce my vital organs.
14I have become a laughingstock to all my people,
the object of their taunts throughout the day.
15He has filled me with bitterness,
making me drink wormwood.
16He broke my teeth on gravel,
covering me with dust.
17You have removed peace from my life;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18So I say, gMy strength is gone
as is my hope in the Lord.h
19Remember my affliction and homelessness\
wormwood and gall!
20My mind keeps reflecting on it,
and I become depressed.
21This is what comes to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22Because of the Lordfs gracious love we are not consumed,
since his compassions never end.
23They are new every morning\
great is your faithfulness!
24gThe Lord is all I have,h says my soul,
gTherefore I will trust in him.h
25The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the person who searches for him.
26It is good to hope and wait patiently
for the Lordfs salvation.
27It is good when a young man carries the yoke
of discipline in his youth.
28He is to sit apart and remain silent,
because the Lord has laid it upon him.
29Let him fall face down in the dust,
so there may yet be hope.
30He will endure being slapped in the face,
bringing him public disgrace.
31Indeed, the Lord will not always
reject us\
32though he causes grief,
his compassion abounds according to his gracious love.
33For he does not deliberately hurt
or grieve human beings.
34When any of the prisoners of the earth
are crushed underfoot,
35when a personfs rights are perverted
in defiance of the Most High.
36When a man is thwarted in his appeal,
does the Lord condone it?
37Who can command, and it happens,
without the Lord having ordered it?
38Do not both good and evil things proceed
from the mouth of the Most High?
39Why should anyone living complain,
any mortal, about being punished for sin?
40Let us examine our lifestyles,
putting them to the test,
and turn back to the Lord.
41Let us lift up our hearts
and our hands
to God in heaven.
42As for us, we have sinned and rebelled;
but you have not pardoned us.
43Clothing yourself with anger, you pursued us.
You killed without pity,
44You covered yourself with a cloud
that prayer cannot pierce.
45You have reduced us to scum and garbage
among the nations.
46All our enemies
jeer at us with gaping mouths.
47Panic and pitfalls beset us,
along with devastation and ruin.
48My eyes run with rivers of tears
over the destruction of my cherished people.
49My tears pour down ceaselessly;
I am far from relief
50until the Lord bends down
to see from heaven.
51What I see grieves my soul
because of all the young women of my city.
52My enemies hunted me like a bird,
viciously and without justification.
53They dumped me alive into a pit,
sealing me in with stone.
54Water closed over my head,
and I said, gIfm a dead man.h
55I called on your name, Lord,
from the depths of the Pit,
56You heard my voice\
donft close your ear to my sighs and cries.
57You drew near when I called out to you.
You said, gStop being afraidh
58Lord, you have defended my cause;
you have redeemed my life.
59Lord, you observed how I have been wronged;
now make your ruling in my case.
60You examined their plans for vengeance,
all of their plots against me.
61Lord, you listened to their insults\
all their plots against me,
62the whisperings of my opponents,
their scheming against me all day long.
63Watch! Whether they sit down or stand up,
they mock me with their songs.
64Pay them back, Lord,
according to their actions.
65Give them an anguished heart;
may your curse be upon them!
66Pursue them in your anger
and destroy them from under the Lordfs heaven.
Chapter 4
1How tarnished the gold has become,
the finest gold debased!
Sacred stones have been scattered
at every street corner.
2Though the precious people of Zion
were like fine gold,
how they are valued like clay vessels,
the handiwork of a potter!
3Even wild animals nurse,
suckling their young;
but the women of my people are cruel,
like ostriches in the wilderness.
4The nursing childfs tongue
cleaves to its palate from thirst.
Young children beg for bread,
but no one gives them any.
5Those who enjoyed delicacies
lie desolate in the streets.
Those who were reared wearing purple
scavenge in piles of trash.
6The guilt of my cherished people surpasses the sin of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment,
without a hand to help her.
7Her princes were purer than snow,
whiter than milk.
Their bodies were more ruddy than rubies,
their beards like the color of precious stones.
8Now their faces are blacker than coal;
they are unrecognized in the streets.
Their skin clings to their bones;
it has become dry like a stick.
9Those who die by the sword are better off
than those who die from starvation,
who slowly waste away like those pierced through
for lack of food from the fields.
10With their own hands, compassionate women
boil their own children\
they become their food\
when my beloved people were destroyed.
11The Lord has exhausted his wrath,
pouring out his fierce anger.
He kindled a fire in Zion,
consuming its foundations.
12None of the kings of the earth would have believed,
nor the worldfs inhabitants,
that the adversary and the enemy
could have breached the gates of Jerusalem.
13Due to the sins committed by her prophets,
and the iniquities of her priests
who shed in her midst,
the blood of the righteous,
14people stagger around in the streets like the blind,
defiled by blood
unclean so that no one is able
to touch their clothing.
15gGo away! Unclean!h
they shouted at them.
gGo away! Go away! Donft touch!h
When they fled away and wandered,
those among the nations decreed,
gThey cannot live here!h
16The Lord himself separated them;
he will do nothing more for them.
They did not respect their own priests;
they did not honor their elders.
17Our eyes failed,
searching in vain for hope;
we kept watching and looking
for a nation that would not help.
18Our steps were closely stalked,
so we couldnft travel on our own streets.
Our end is near,
our days are over;
indeed, our end has come.
19Our pursuers were swifter
than soaring eagles;
they pursued us over the mountains,
lying in wait for us in the wilderness.
20The Lordfs anointed,
the breath of our life,
was captured in their pits.
About him we had said,
gUnder his protection we will survive
among the nations.h
21Celebrate and rejoice, you women of Edom,
who live in the land of Uz.
But to you the cup also will pass\
you will become drunk and stripped naked.
22The punishment for your sin is complete, you women of Zion,
and God will no longer exile you.
He will punish your iniquity, you women of Edom,
and he will expose your sins.
Chapter 5
1Lord, remember what has happened to us.
Pay attention, and look at our shame!
2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
and our homes to foreigners.
3We are now orphans\without fathers\
and our mothers are like widows.
4We pay to drink our own water,
and our own wood is sold to us at high price.
5Our pursuers breathe down our necks;
we are weary, but there is no rest for us.
6We made a deal with the Egyptians and the Assyrians
for the price of food.
7Our ancestors sinned and no longer exist
yet we continue to bear the consequences of their sin.
8Slaves rule over us,
and no one delivers us from their control.
9We risk our lives to obtain our food,
facing death in the desert.
10Our skin blisters as from an oven,
due to ravaging blasts of the famine.
11They have raped women in Zion,
young women in the towns of Judah.
12Princes they have hung by their hands;
elders they have disrespected.
13Our young men must grind grain with a millstone;
our youths stumble under the weight of wood.
14Our elders have ceased ruling at the gate;
our young men have abandoned their music.
15The joy of our hearts has ceased,
and our dancing has turned into dirges.
16The crown has fallen from our head\
woe to us, because we have sinned!
17This is why our hearts faint,
and why our eyes grow dim:
18Because Mount Zion is desolate;
foxes roam around it.
19You, Lord, are forever\
your throne endures from generation to generation.
20So why have you completely forgotten us,
forsaking us for so long?
21Restore us to yourself, Lord,
so that we may return.
Renew our days as before,
22unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us without limit.
Ezekiel
Chapter 1
1On the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year of the exile to Babylon, while I was among the captives on the bank of the Chebar River, heaven opened up and I saw visions from God.
2On the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachinfs imprisonment in exile, 3a message from the Lord came directly to Buzifs son Ezekiel, the priest, by the Chebar River in the land of the Chaldeans. The hand of the Lord rested upon him there.
4I was amazed to see a wind storm blow in from the north, consisting of a massive cloud and fire that was flashing back and forth, surrounded by bright light. From deep within the cloud, something was shining that appeared to have a color like bronze that had been placed in fire until it glowed.
5Deep inside it, the likenesses of four living beings were visible. Their appearances were similar to human forms, 6except that they each had four faces, four pairs of wings, 7and straight legs. Their feet resembled calvesf hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze. 8From under their wings there were human hands on their four sides.
Now as to their four faces and four pairs of wings, 9their pairs of wings overlapped each other. They moved in straight directions without turning their faces around as they moved. 10The form of their faces was human, but each of the four also had the face of a lion to the right, the face of an ox to the left, and the face of an eagle behind them. 11Thatfs what their faces were like. Their wings spread out above and around them, one pair overlapping another, with one pair covering themselves. 12Each moved in straight directions. Wherever they decided to go, they went without turning themselves.
13Now, in the midst of the living beings there was something that appeared to glow like coals kindled by a fire, like torches that moved back and forth between the living beings. The fire was dazzling, and lightning flashed from the fire. 14The living beings moved around, in appearance resembling lightning.
15As I observed the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the earth beside each being\that is, for the four of them. 16Their wheels and their construction details looked like gold-colored beryl. Each wheel was identical in form to the others, and they appeared to have been constructed and designed as if one wheel were within another. 17Whenever the four moved, no matter which of four directions, they moved without turning around.
18Their wheel rims were ornate and terrifying. They were full of eyes that surrounded the four of them. 19Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved, too. Whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 20Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive. 21They moved around whenever they wanted to move around, and they stood still whenever they wanted to stand still; and whenever they rose from the earth, the wheels remained close beside them, because the wheels were also alive.
22There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy, in outward appearance resembling ice, 23and underneath the canopy, their wings spread out straight over their heads toward each other. They each also had two wings with which they covered themselves, one wing covering its body on one side and one wing covering itself on the other side.
24I also heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of roaring water, like the voice of the Almighty, or like a boisterous crowd within an army camp. Whenever they stopped flying, they lowered their wings. 25A sound came from above the canopy that was spread out over their heads. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings. 26From above the canopy that was spread out over their heads, there appeared to be something reminiscent of a throne, resembling sapphire in form.
There was the likeness of the appearance of a human being seated on the likeness of the throne high above. 27I noticed that from what appeared to look like his waist upward there was something that looked like metal that glowed as if it were immersed in fire. Below this there was something resembling fire, with a radiant light surrounding him. 28The appearance of the radiant light resembled that of a rainbow shining in a cloud on a rainy day. This was what the appearance of the form of the glory of the Lord resembled. When I saw all of this, I fell flat on my face. Then I heard a voice speaking.
Chapter 2
1gSon of Man,h the Lord said, gget up on your feet. I want to talk to you.h 2Even while he was speaking to me, the Spirit entered me, set me on my feet, and I listened to the voice that had been speaking to me.
3gSon of Man, Ifm sending you to that rebellious people, the Israelis, who have rebelled against me the same way their ancestors did. And theyfre still rebels to this very day! 4Theyfre stubborn and strong willed. Ifm sending you to them to tell them what the Lord says. 5Whether this rebellious group listens to you or not, at least theyfll realize that a prophet had appeared in their midst!
6gNow as for you, Son of Man, never be afraid of them or of anything they have to say, because being with them will be like settling down to live among briers, thorn bushes, and scorpions! Donft be afraid of anything they have to say, and donft be awed by their appearance, since they are a rebellious group. 7You are to tell them whatever I have to say to them, whether they listen or not, since they are rebellious.h
8gSon of Man, you are to listen to what I tell you. You are never to be rebellious like they are: a rebellious group. Now, open your mouth and eat what Ifm giving youch
9As I watched, all of a sudden there was a hand being stretched out in my direction! And there was a scroll 10being unrolled right in front of me! Written on both sides were lamentations, mourning, and cries of grief.
Chapter 3
1Then he told me, gSon of Man, eat! Eat what you see\this scroll\and then go talk to the house of Israel.h 2So I opened my mouth and he fed me the scroll.
3Then he told me, gSon of Man, fill your stomach and digest this scroll that Ifm giving you.h So I ate it, and it was like sweet honey in my mouth.
4Then he told me, gSon of Man, go to the house of Israel and tell them what I have to say to them, 5because youfre not going to a people whose speech you cannot understand or whose language is difficult to speak. Instead, youfre going to the house of Israel. 6This isnft a large group of people whose speech is unintelligible to you or whose language is difficult for you to comprehend. Frankly, if I had sent you to that kind of people, they would certainly have listened to you! 7But the house of Israel wonft listen to you, since they werenft willing to listen to me. Thatfs because the entire house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. 8So pay attention! Ifm going to make you just as obstinate and unyielding as they are. 9Ifm making you harder than flint\like diamond! So you are not to fear them or be intimidated by how they look at you, since theyfre a rebellious group.h
10Next, he told me, gSon of Man, take to heart every word that Ifm telling you. Listen carefully, 11then go immediately to the exiles; that is, to your peoplefs descendants, and tell them, eThis is what the Lord God sayscf whether they listen or not.h
12Then the Spirit lifted me up and I heard a great earthquake behind me and the glory of the Lord arose from his place, 13accompanied by the sound of the wings of the living creatures gently touching each other and with the sound of the wheels emanating from the front, accompanied by a great earthquake.
14Then the Spirit lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly with an angry attitude as the hand of the Lord rested on me. 15I came to the exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar River and sat down among them for seven days, appalled. 16At the end of the seven days, this message from the Lord came to me: 17gSon of Man,h he said, gIfve appointed you to be a watchman over the house of Israel. Therefore when you hear a message that comes from me, you are to warn them for me.
18gSo when I say to a wicked person, eYoufre about to die,f if you donft warn or instruct that wicked person that his behavior is wicked so he can live, that wicked person will die in his sin, but Ifll hold you responsible for his death. 19If you warn the wicked person, and he doesnft repent of his wickedness or of his wicked behavior, hefll die in his sin, but you will have saved your own life.
20gWhen a righteous man abandons his righteousness to practice unrighteousness, Ifll set a stumbling block before him. Hefll die. If you donft warn him, hefll die in his sin and the righteous deeds that he had practiced wonft be remembered, but youfll be held responsible for his death. 21If you warn the righteous person, so that he doesnft commit sin, then hefll live, since he had been warned. And you will have saved your life.h
22The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he told me, gGet up! Go to the valley, and Ifll speak with you there.h 23So I got up, went to the valley, and there was the glory of the Lord, standing there just like I had seen at the Chebar River. So I fell on my face.
24The Spirit entered me, rested on me, caused me to stand on my feet, and then he spoke to me. This is what he had to say: gGo barricade yourself in your house. 25Now pay attention! Theyfre going to bind you with ropes, tying you up right in their midst, so you wonft be able to circulate freely among them. 26Meanwhile, Ifll make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that youfll be mute and unable to reprove them, since theyfre a rebellious group. 27But when I speak with you, Ifll open your mouth so you can say to them, eThis is what the Lord God says:
gAs for those who will listen,
eLet them listen,f
but as for those who refuse,
eLet them refuse,f
since theyfre a rebellious group.hfh
Chapter 4
1gAnd now Son of Man, you are to take a brick, set it in front of you, and inscribe on it the outline of the city\that is, Jerusalem. 2You are to lay siege against it, build a rampart around it, set a bulwark against it, encircle it with a berm, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it. 3Then you are to take a flat, iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city.
gNext, you are to turn toward it, oppose it, and place it under siege, because you are to lay siege to it. All of this will serve as a sign to the house of Israel.
4gNow as for you, you are to sleep on your left side, symbolically bearing the punishment of the house of Israel while youfre counting the days youfll be sleeping on your left side to bear symbolically the punishment for their sin. 5Ifve assigned you to sleep this way for 390 days, representing the years theyfve been sinning, as you bear symbolically the punishment of the house of Israel. 6When you have completed this, you are to sleep on your right side, symbolically bearing the iniquity of Judah for 40 days. Each day that Ifve assigned to you represents one year. 7After this, you are to turn toward the rampart of Jerusalem and oppose it with your bare arms, because Ifm going to prophesy about it. 8Look! Ifll tie you up so that youfre unable to turn from one side to the other until youfve completed your siege.h
9gFurthermore, you are to take some wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, and mix them together in one container. Then you are to make bread from these grains sufficient to supply you through the time during which youfll be sleeping on your side. You are to eat it for 390 days. 10The food that youfll be eating is to consist of eight ounce portions for each day, consumed at regular intervals. 11You are to measure a pint and a half of water each time you drink it. 12You are to eat it as barley cakes and bake it right in front of them, using dried human dung for cooking fuel.h
13Then the Lord said, gThis is how the Israelis will be eating unclean food among the nations, where Ifll be sending them.h
14gNow, Lord God,h I replied, gIfve never been defiled, ever since I was young until now. I havenft eaten an animal that died on its own or was torn by beasts, and no unclean meat has ever entered my mouth!h
15gOkay,h he responded. gIfll allow you to substitute cowfs dung for human dung. Cook your food over that.h
16He also told me, gSon of Man, look! Ifm about to disrupt the source of bread in Jerusalem. As a result, theyfll ration bread by weight while their terror continues to grow and theyfll ration drinking water while their horror continues to mount! 17Indeed, theyfll need bread and water, but everyone will be panic-stricken as they waste away in their iniquity.h
Chapter 5
1gNow as for you, Son of Man, you are to go find a sharp sword and use it like a barberfs razor. You are to cut your hair and beard. Then you are to take a weighing scale and divide your shaved hair into three parts. 2You are to burn a third of it in the middle of the city when youfve finished your siege. Next, you are to take another third of it and beat it with your sword. Last, you are to scatter the remaining third to the wind, after which Ifll unsheathe my sword and pursue them. 3You are to preserve a few strands of hair and hide them in the folds of your garment. 4Then you are to take a few strands, throw them in the fire, and incinerate them. A fire will proceed to the house of Israel from there.h
5gThis is what the Lord God says, eThis is Jerusalem. I placed her in the center of nations, with many nations surrounding her. 6But she rebelled against my ordinances and my statutes. She practiced more evil than all the nations and territories around her. They rejected my ordinances and didnft live by my statutes.f
7gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: eBecause youfre more disrespectful than the nations that surround you, you didnft follow my statutes or follow my ordinances. You didnft even follow the ordinances of the surrounding nations!f
8gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: eWatch out! I\thatfs right, even I\am against you. Ifll carry out my sentence among you right in front of the nations. 9In fact, Ifm going to do what Ifve never done before and what Ifll never again do, because of all of your loathsome behavior: 10Fathers will eat their children in your midst. After this, your sons will eat their fathers as I carry out my sentence against you and scatter your survivors to the winds!f
11gTherefore, as sure as I live,h declares the Lord God, gbecause youfve defiled my sanctuary with every loathsome thing and every abomination, Ifll restrain myself, and Ifll show neither pity nor compassion. 12A third of you will die by pestilence, starving because of the famine in your midst. Another third will die violently by the violence of war around you. The final third Ifll scatter to the wind as I unsheathe my sword to pursue them.
13gOnly then will I stop being angry\my burning in anger. Then theyfll know that Ifve spoken out in my arduous anger. Only then will my burning anger against them be exhausted. 14Ifm also going to turn you into a waste and an object of insult among the nations that surround you and in front of every person who passes by. 15As a result, Jerusalem will become an insult, an object of taunt, an example of chastisement, and a useless waste to all the nations that surround you when I carry out my sentence against you in my anger, my burning rage, and my burning rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken it. 16Ifll send arrows of severe famine in their direction, meant for destruction, which Ifll shoot, intending to destroy them. Ifll make you have more and more famines that will attack you, and Ifll disrupt your source of food.
17gIfll send famine and wild beasts against you that will rob you of your children. Pestilence and bloodshed will devastate you when Ifll declare war on you. I, the Lord, have spoken.h
Chapter 6
1The Lord continued with his message to me. 2gSon of Man,h he said, gturn your face to oppose the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. 3Tell the mountains of Israel to listen as the Lord God speaks. This is what the Lord God has to say to the mountains, hills, streams, and the valleys: eLook! Ifm about to bring my sword against you. Ifm going to destroy your high places. 4Your altars will become desolate and your sun pillars will be shattered. Ifll throw your slain down right in front of your idols. 5Ifll place the corpses of the Israelis in front of their idols. Ifll scatter your bones around your altar. 6In all the places where you live, the cities will be desolate. The high places will also be desolate so that your altars will be laid waste, bearing the punishment appropriate to them. Your idols will be shattered, your sun pillars will be hewn down, and your works will be obliterated. 7The fatally wounded among you will fall, and at that time youfll know that I am the Lord. 8Ifll leave a remnant among you\those who will escape the sword when Ifll have scattered you throughout the earth. 9Your survivors will remember me among the nations where theyfll be taken captives. Ifve been crushed by their unfaithful hearts that have turned against me. 10Then theyfll know that I am the Lord. I didnft declare this evil thatfs intended for them without a reason.fh
11This is what the Lord God says: gClap your hands and stamp your feet! Say, eOh, no!f Because of all the detestable evil that has come from Israelfs house, theyfll fall by the sword, famine, and pestilence. 12The one who lives far away will die by pestilence and the one who is near will die violently. The survivors and their surveillance details will die by famine as I exhaust my rage against them.
13gYoufll learn that I am the Lord, when the fatally wounded will be among their idols, around their altars, on every hill, on top of the mountains, under every luxuriant tree, and under all the full-grown foliage\every place where theyfve offered fragrant aromas to all their idols. 14Ifll stretch out my hands to strike them and send devastation to the land, from the wilderness of Diblah, throughout all their dwelling places. Then theyfll know that I am the Lord.h
Chapter 7
1This message from the Lord arrived for me: 2gSon of Man, this is what Lord God says to the land of Israel: eItfs over! All four corners of the land are out of time! 3Your time is up! Ifm sending my anger against you to judge you according to how you live your lives, and Ifm going to pay you back with the consequences of all your detestable practices. 4I wonft be showing pity on you and I wonft be showing compassion. Ifm going to turn your own lifestyles against you while your detestable practices remain among you. Then youfll learn that I am the Lord.fh
5gThis is what the Lord God says: eItfs one evil event after another!
geLook out! Itfs coming!
6geThe end is coming!
geThe end is here!
geAnd itfs looking in your direction!
geLook out! Itfs arrived!
7geYour doom has come to you, you who live in the land. The time has arrived, and the day of confusion is near. There will be no shouts of joy on the mountains. 8Very soon now, Ifll pour out my burning anger on you. Ifll complete expressing my anger at you, judge you according to your behavior, and repay you for all your detestable practices. 9I wonft be showing pity or compassion. Ifll repay you according to your behavior while your detestable practices remain among you. And youfll know that I, the Lord, have been attacking you.fh
10gLook out! The day!
gLook out! Itfs coming!
gDoom has blossomed.
gArrogance has sprouted!
11gViolence has matured into a branch that is wicked. No one will survive from that vast crowd, from their wealthy people, or from the famous among them.
12gThe time has come!
gThe day has arrived. Donft let the buyer rejoice, nor the seller lament, because wrath is coming to attack the entire multitude. 13The seller wonft regain what he has sold while the crowd remains alive, because the vision concerning the entire multitude wonft be annulled. No person will be able to survive because of the sin in his life.
14gTheyfve sounded the alarm, and everyone is prepared, but no one is marching for battle, since Ifm angry at the entire multitude. 15The sword lurks outside, but pestilence and famine are on the prowl inside the house. Whoever is in the field will die by violence, while famine and pestilence will devour those in the city. 16Fugitives will escape to the mountains like doves fleeing through the valleys, all of them moaning because of their own iniquity. 17Every hand will be limp. Every knee will glisten with sweat.h
18gTheyfll clothe themselves with sackcloth, terror will overcome them, shame will cover their faces, and baldness will spread over their entire heads. 19Theyfll fling their silver into the streets, and their gold will be cast away as impure. Their silver and gold wonft be able to deliver them during the time of the Lordfs wrath. They wonft be able to satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs, because their iniquity has tripped them up.h
20gAs for his beautiful ornament, he set it up in majesty, but they made detestable images and loathsome idols. Therefore, Ifll give them something loathsome\ 21Ifll give it as plunder into the control of strangers and as the spoils of war to the wicked who will invade the land to profane it. 22Ifll turn my face away from them so that theyfll defile my treasured place. Robbers will enter and profane it!
23gForge a chain, because the land is full of bloody judgment and the city is filled with violence. 24Therefore, Ifm bringing the worst of the nations, who will take possession of their houses. Ifll cause the pride of the mighty to cease, and their sanctuaries will be profaned.
25gWhen destruction comes, theyfll seek peace, but there will be none to be found. 26Disaster upon disaster will come, followed by rumor after rumor. Theyfll seek an oracle from the prophet, but the Law will be gone from the priests, and counsel from the elders.
27gThe king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. Ifll deal with them according to their behavior and I will judge them by how theyfve judged. Then theyfll learn that I am the Lord.h
Chapter 8
1In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I had just sat down in my house, with the elders of Judah seated in front of me. All of a sudden, the hand of the Lord God touched me 2and I saw a likeness comparable to the appearance of a man. From his thighs downward there was the appearance of fire, and from his waist upward, there was the appearance of brightness that looked like brass.
3The form of a hand reached out and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and sky, brought me toward Jerusalem, and in visions that came from God took me through the doors of the inner gate that faced north, where an image that provoked Godfs jealous anger had been erected.
4All of a sudden, the glory of the God of Israel was there! It looked like what I had seen back in the valley. 5Then he told me, gSon of Man, look up toward the north.h
So I looked off toward the north. Suddenly, off toward the north, facing the gate that led to the altar, the image that provoked Godfs jealousy was standing near the entrance.
6Then the Spirit told me, gSon of Man, donft you see what theyfre doing? The house of Israel practices awful, detestable things here, so Ifm going far away from my sanctuary. But youfre about to see things even more detestable than these.h
7Then the Spirit brought me to the entrance of the court. As I watched, all of a sudden, there was a hole in the wall! 8Then he told me, gSon of Man, dig through the wall!h So I dug into the wall. Thatfs when I uncovered an entrance!
9Then he told me, gGo on through that entrance, so you may see the wicked, detestable things that theyfre committing here.h
10So I entered, looked around, and there was every form of crawling thing, loathsome animals, and all kinds of idols from the house of Israel carved all around the wall. 11I saw 70 men from the elders of the house of Israel standing among them, including Shaphanfs son Jaazaniah. Each man held a censer in his hand. As the scent of the cloud of incense ascended, 12the Spirit asked me, gDo you see, Son of Man, what the elders of Israelfs house are doing in secret, each in the chamber of his own carved idol? They keep saying, eGod doesnft see us. The Lord has abandoned the land.fh
13Then the Spirit told me, gYoufre about to see even more detestable practices that theyfre doing!h
14Then he brought me to the entrance of the gate to the Lordfs Temple, which faced the north. Thatfs where I saw women seated, weeping for Tammuz. 15Then he asked me, gDo you see this, Son of Man? Youfre about to see even more detestable practices than these. g
16Then he brought me to the inner court of the Lordfs Temple. There, at the entrance to the Lordfs Temple, between the porch and the altar, were 25 men, with their backs toward the Lordfs Temple and facing the east, prostrating themselves to the sun.
17gDo you see this, Son of Man?h he asked me. gIs it an insignificant thing for Judahfs house to commit the detestable things that theyfre doing here? Theyfve filled the land with violence and turned away from me, causing me to become angry again. Look how theyfre sniffing with their noses! 18Ifm going to deal with them in rage and anger. Ifll show neither pity nor compassion. Theyfll cry loudly directly in my ears, but I wonft listen to them.h
Chapter 9
1Then the Spirit shouted right in my ears with a loud voice! gCome forward,h he said, gyou executioners of the city, and bring your weapon of destruction in your hand!h
2All of a sudden, I noticed six men approaching from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north. Each of them held a destructive weapon in his hand. Among them there was one man, clothed in linen, who was equipped with a writing set at his side. They went in and presented themselves beside the bronze altar. 3Then the glory that is Israelfs God arose from the cherubim on which he had been seated and settled on the threshold of the Temple. He called out to the man dressed in linen who wore the writing case at his side.
4The Lord told him, gGo throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of everyone who sighs and moans over all of the loathsome things that are happening in it.h
5As I continued to listen, he also told the others, gFollow him through the city and start killing. Donft spare anyone you see, and donft show pity of any kind. 6You are to execute old men, young men, young women, little children, and women. But donft touch anyone who has been marked. Begin at my Holy Place!h And so they started with the elders who were in standing in front of the Temple.
7gDesecrate my Temple,h he told them, gand fill its courtyard with the dead!h So they went out and began striking down people throughout the city.
8While they were out carrying out the executions, I was left alone. So I fell on my face and cried out, gO Lord God, are you going to destroy all of the survivors of Israel when you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?h
9gThe house of Israel and Judah is guilty\and theirs is a stubborn guilt, at that!h he replied to me. gThe land is filled with blood, and the city overflows with injustice, because they keep saying, eThe Lord has abandoned the land,f and eThe Lord isnft watching.f 10So as for me, Ifm not going to show pity, and I wonft look in their direction with mercy. Ifm repaying them for what they have done.h
11Then I noticed the man dressed in linen who wore the writing case by his side as he brought back this message: gIfve done as you have commanded me.h
Chapter 10
1As I continued to watch, there on the expanse above the heads of the cherubim was a massive sapphire stone that resembled a throne in form and appearance. 2The Lord spoke to the man who was clothed in white linen, telling him, gGo between the whirling wheels, under the cherubim, and fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim. Then scatter them over the city.h So he entered as I watched.
3Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the entrance to the Temple, when the man entered and a cloud filled the inner court. 4The glory of the Lord rose above the cherub and moved to the threshold of the Temple. A cloud filled the Temple and the court was filled with the brilliance of the Lordfs glory. 5The sound of the wings of the cherubim, reminiscent of the voice of the Sovereign God when he speaks, could be heard as far as the outer court.
6He issued this order to the man who was clothed in white linen: gTake fire from within the whirling wheels, among the cherubim.h So he went and stood beside the wheels.
7Then a cherub stretched out his hand to the fire, which was among the cherubim, took some of the fire, and placed it in the hands of the one clothed in white linen, who took it and left. 8There appeared to be human hands under the wings of the cherubim.
9As I continued to watch, I observed four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. The wheels resembled beryl stone. 10In appearance, the four wheels looked like they consisted of a wheel within a wheel. 11Whenever they moved, they proceeded without turning around as they moved, but they followed in the direction where their head was facing, without looking around as they moved.
12Their entire bodies, backs, hands, and wings were filled with eyes around, including each of their four wheels. 13The wheels whose sound I was hearing were called gthe whirling wheelsh. 14Each had four faces. The first one was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15The cherubim arose. These were the same beings that I had seen at the Chebar River. 16When the cherubim moved, the wheels went alongside them. But when the cherubim started to ascend, beating their wings to rise above the earth, the wheels beside them didnft turn. 17When they stood still, the wheels stood still. When they rose up, the wheels rose up, too, because they were alive.
18Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the Temple and stood over the cherubim. 19The cherubim lifted their wings and rose above the earth while I watched. They went out, along with their wheels, and stood at the entrance to the east gate of the Lordfs Temple as the glory of Israelfs God remained above, covering them.
20These were the living beings that I had seen under the God of Israel on the bank of the Chebar River. I knew that they were cherubim. 21Each one had four faces. Each one had four wings, and the form of human hands could be seen under their wings. 22As to the likeness of their faces, they were like what I had seen on the bank of the Chebar River. They each moved straight ahead.
Chapter 11
1The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east facing gate of the Lordfs Temple. At the entrance of the gate I saw 25 men. Included among them were Azzurfs son Jaazaniah and Benaiahfs son Pelatiah, who were princes of the people.
2Then he told me, gSon of Man, these men are plotting evil and are giving wicked advice in this city. 3They keep saying, eThe right time to build families hasnft yet arrived. The city is the pot and we are the meat.f 4Therefore you are to prophesy against them. Prophesy, Son of Man!h
5Just then the Spirit of the Lord took control of me and told me, gYou are to say, eThis is what the Lord says: gYoufve said, O house of Israel, that I know what goes through your mind. 6Youfve increased the number of fatally wounded in this city and youfve filled your streets with the dead.h
7eTherefore this is what the Lord God says, gThe corpses that youfve laid out in your midst are the meat, and this city is the cooking pot. But youfll be taken out from the middle of it. 8Youfve feared the sword, but Ifm bringing violent death in your direction,h declares the Lord God. 9gIfm bringing you out from the middle of it and Ifm going to deliver you into the hands of strangers, because Ifm going to carry out my sentence against you. 10Youfre going to die violently, and Ifll judge you as far as the borders of Israel. Then youfll learn that I am the Lord. 11This city wonft be your cooking pot and neither will you be the meat in it, because Ifm going to judge you as far as the borders of Israel. 12Then youfll learn that I am the Lord, because you didnft live by my statues or obey my ordinances. Instead, you obeyed the ordinances of the nations around you.hfh
13While I was prophesying, Benaiahfs son Pelatiah died, so I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice. gAh, Lord God,h I said, gare you going to put an end to the survivors within Israel?h
14Then this message came to me from the Lord: 15gSon of Man, your brothers, your other relatives, your fellow exiles, and the entire house of Israel are the people to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, eTheyfve abandoned the Lord. This land was given to us for an inheritance.fh
16gTherefore you are to say, eThis is what the Lord God says, gAlthough Ifve removed them far away to live among the nations, and although Ifve scattered them throughout the earth, yet Ifve continued to be their sanctuary, even for the short time that they will be living in the lands to which theyfve gone.hf
17gTherefore you are to say, eThis is what the Lord God says, gIfm going to gather you from among the nations, assembling you from the lands among which you have been dispersed. Ifll give you the land of Israel. 18When they return from there and cast away all of their loathsome things and detestable practices, 19then Ifll give them a united heart, placing a new spirit within them. Ifll remove their stubborn heart and give them a heart thatfs sensitive to me. 20When they live by my statutes and keep my ordinances by observing them, then theyfll be my people and I will be their God. 21But to those whose hearts delight in loathsome things and detestable practices, Ifll bring the consequences of their behavior crashing down on their own heads,h declares the Lord God.fh
22Then the cherubim arose, with their wheels alongside, and the glory of Israelfs God remained above and over them. 23The glory of the Lord went up from the middle of the city and stood on the mountain, east of the city. 24Then in a vision from the Spirit of God, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Chaldea. At that point, the vision that I had been observing ended. 25Later, I spoke to the exiles concerning everything the Lord had spoken that I had witnessed.
Chapter 12
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, you live in a rebellious house that has eyes to see, but they canft see, and ears to hear, but they canft hear, since theyfre a rebellious house.
3gSo now, Son of Man, you are to prepare your luggage for a trip into exile, and then you are to leave during the daytime so they see you leaving. Leave from your place to another while theyfre watching. Then perhaps theyfll realize that theyfre a rebellious house.
4gBring out your luggage, like youfre packing to go into exile, and do this during the daytime while theyfre watching you. Later that evening, leave while theyfre watching you like someone heading into exile. 5While they continue to watch, dig a hole for yourself in the wall and enter through it.
6gWhile theyfre watching, carry your luggage on your shoulder and go out in total darkness. Cover your face so that you wonft see the land, because Ifm using you as a sign to Israelfs house.h
7I did just as I was commanded. I brought out the luggage as if it were luggage for exile. I did this during the day. Then in the evening I dug a hole in the wall with my hand and brought the luggage out in total darkness and carried it out on my shoulder while they were watching.
8The next morning, this message came to me from the Lord: 9gSon of Man, didnft the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you, eWhat are you doing?f 10Answer them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gThis oracle concerns the prince of Jerusalem and the whole of Israelfs house that is in their midst. 11Tell them, eIfm a sign for you. Just as I enacted it, itfs going to happen to them. Theyfll go into exile and captivity. 12Then the prince, who will be one of them, will carry his luggage on his shoulder in the dark and will go out. Theyfll dig a hole in the wall for him to go through. His face will be covered so that he wonft be able to see the land with his eyes. 13But Ifll throw my net over him. As a result, hefll be captured with my net, and with it Ifll bring him to Babel, the land of the Chaldeans. He wonft see it, though hefll die there. 14Ifll scatter every attendant who surrounds him, along with his entire army, to every wind. When I unsheathe my sword to pursue them, 15theyfll learn that I am the Lord, when Ifve dispersed them among the nations and scattered them throughout the earth.hfh
16gBut Ifll preserve a few people out of the violent death, famine, and pestilence, so they can recount their detestable practices among the nations when theyfll go there. Then theyfll know that I am the Lord.h
17This message came to me from the Lord: 18gSon of Man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. 19Then tell the people of the land, eThis is what the Lord says to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to Israelfs land: gTheyfll eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in trepidation, because their land will be desolate in its entirety due to all the violence committed by all who live in it. 20The towns that are inhabited will lie in ruins, because the land will be devastated. Then theyfll learn that I am the Lord.hfh
21Later, this message came to me from the Lord: 22gSon of Man, whatfs this proverb you have concerning Israelfs land that says, eThe days pass slowly and every vision ends in nothing.f? 23Therefore you are to tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gIfm about to put an end to use of this proverb in Israel. It will never be used again as a proverb in Israel. Instead, tell them that the days are drawing near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24There will no longer be worthless visions and flattering divinations in the midst of Israelfs house. 25Because I am the Lord, Ifll speak and the message that I communicate will be accomplished without delay. While you continue to be a rebellious house, Ifll speak the message and then fulfill it,h declares the Lord God.fh
26Later, this message came to me from the Lord: 27gSon of Man, pay attention! The house of Israel keeps on saying, eThe vision that hefs talking about concerns the distant future. Hefs prophesying concerning times that are far in the future!f 28Therefore tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gNone of my messages will be delayed any longer. Any message that I speak will be fulfilled,h declares the Lord God.fh
Chapter 13
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who even now are prophesying, and tell those prophets that keep on prophesying according to what they wish would happen, eListen to what the Lord says.fh
3gThis is what the Lord God says, eHow terrible it will be for the false prophets who walk according to their own wrong inclinations and see nothing. 4Israel, your prophets have become like foxes among ruins. 5You didnft go up to repair the breaches in the walls and you didnft build the walls so Israelfs house would be able to endure battle on the Day of the Lord. 6Instead, they crafted false prophecies and divination.
geThey say, gcdeclares the Lord,h even though the Lord didnft send them. And they hope for the fulfillment of their message. 7Youfve crafted a false prophesy and spoken deceptive divination, havenft you? But then you say, gcdeclares the Lord,h although I havenft spoken a single word.
8geTherefore this is what the Lord God says, gBecause youfve spoken falsehood and deceptions, I am therefore opposing you,h declares the Lord God. 9My hand will oppose the prophets who see false visions and speak deceptive divinations. They wonft be included with the council of my people, nor will they be entered into the registry of Israelfs house or enter Israelfs land. Then youfll know that I am the Lord God, 10because theyfve truly caused my people to stray saying, gPeace,h but therefs no peace.fh
gWhen someone builds a wall, they coat it with whitewash. 11Tell those who coat it with whitewash that it will fall. It will be washed off by the rain. Great hailstones will fall and a stormy wind will strip it off. 12Look! When the wall collapses, wonft it be said of you, eWherefs the coat of paint that you spread all over the wall?f
13gTherefore this is what the Lord God says, eIn my burning anger, Ifll rip it open with a windstorm. In my anger, Ifll rinse it off with rain, and put an end to it with a hailstorm in my destructive rage. 14Ifll tear down the wall that youfve smeared with whitewash, level it to the ground, and tear out its foundation. Then it will collapse\and youfll perish with it! Then youfll know that I am the Lord.
15geThatfs how Ifll vent my anger on the wall and on the ones who coated it with whitewash. And Ifll say to you, gThe wall is gone and so are those who coated it.h 16The prophets of Israel prophesied about Jerusalem and saw visions of peace concerning her, yet therefs no peace,fh declares the Lord God.
17gAnd now, Son of Man, turn toward and oppose the women of your people who prophesy according to their own wrong inclinations and prophesy against them. 18Tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gHow terrible it will be for those women who sew magical bracelets on all their wrists and make one-size-fits all headbands, in order to entrap their souls. Will you hunt for the souls of my people and remain alive? 19Youfve profaned me among my people for a handful of barley and a morsel of bread. Youfre causing people to die who shouldnft have to die, and youfre causing people to live who shouldnft survive, when you deceive my people who tend to listen to lies.h
20geTherefore, this is what the Lord God says, gWatch out! Ifm opposing your amulets with which you hunt souls as one would swat at a flying insect. Ifll tear them off your arms and then deliver those people, whom youfve hunted like birds. 21Ifll also tear off your headbands and deliver my people from your grip so that they wonft be under your control anymore. Then youfll know that I am the Lord.
22gegBecause youfve dismayed the heart of the righteous\whom I never intended to dismay\with lies, and because youfve encouraged the wicked so that he wouldnft abandon his evil behavior and by doing so live, 23youfll no longer see false visions or again practice divination, because Ifm going to deliver my people from your power. Then youfll know that I am the Lord.hfh
Chapter 14
1Later, some men from the elders of Israel came to visit me. After they had sat down in my presence, 2this message came to me from the Lord.
3gSon of Man, these men have taken idols into their hearts. Theyfve placed the stumbling block that is their own iniquity right in front of their faces. Should I be consulted by them at all? 4Therefore, speak up and tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gEvery person from Israelfs house who follows his idols and sets the stumbling block that is his own sin in front of his face, and then consults a prophet, I the Lord will answer him according to how many idols he embraces. 5Ifll do this in order to capture the hearts of Israelfs house who have become alienated from me due to all of their idols.hfh
6gTherefore you are to tell Israelfs house, eThis is what the Lord God says, gTurn away! Turn away from your idols, and abandon your detestable practices! 7For when a native Israeli or a resident alien abandons me to set up idols in his heart behind my back, and then places the stumbling block of his iniquity right in front of his own face, then approaches a prophet to inquire of me on behalf of his own self-interest, I, the Lord will answer him myself. 8Ifm determined to oppose that person and make him an example. Proverbs will be written about him when I eliminate him from my people. Then youfll know that I am the Lord.hfh
9gNow as to the prophet, if through deceit he delivers a message, I the Lord have deceived that prophet! Ifll reach out in opposition to him and exterminate him from among my people Israel. 10Theyfll bear the consequences of their guilt, and the prophet will be just as guilty as the one who seeks that prophetfs guidance. 11Then Israelfs house wonft wander away from me again, nor will they defile themselves again with all their transgressions. Theyfll become my people and Ifll be their God,h declares the Lord God.
12This message came to me from the Lord: 13gSon of Man, when a nation sins against me by a treacherous act, Ifll reach out to oppose it, destroying its source of food, by sending famine against it, and by destroying both people and beast within it. 14Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job lived in that land, they would only save their own lives on account of their righteousness,h declares the Lord God.
15gIf I were to make wild animals pass throughout the land, so that they kill its residents and it were to become desolate because no one will travel through it due to those wild animals, 16then even though these three men were in it, as I live,h says the Lord God, gthey wouldnft be able to deliver even their sons or daughters. They would only save themselves, but the land would become desolate.
17gOr if I were to bring war to that land and say, eHey, sword! Pass throughout the land so I can destroy both man and beasts in it,f 18though these three men lived there, as I live,h declares the Lord God, gthey couldnft deliver their own sons and daughters. They would only save themselves.
19gOr if I were to send a pestilence against that land and pour out my anger in it with bloodshed, destroying both man and beast in it, 20even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were among them, as I liveh says the Lord God, gthey couldnft save their own sons or daughters. They would only save their own souls due to their own righteousness.h
21This is what the Lord God says, gIfm sending four of my most destructive judgments\military invasion, famine, wild animals, and pestilence\into Jerusalem to destroy both human beings and livestock in it. 22But look! There will be a remnant who escapes, a few sons and daughters to be brought out. Look! Theyfll come out to you and youfll see how theyfve lived and what theyfve done, and youfll be comforted concerning the catastrophe that I brought on Jerusalem, including everything that I brought against her. 23Theyfll comfort you when you see how theyfve lived and what theyfve done, because youfll know for certain that I havenft done anything that Ifve done against them without any reason,h declares the Lord God.
Chapter 15
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, how does wood from a vine compare to a branch taken from any of the trees in the forest? 3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything practical? Can it even be made into a peg to hang something on? 4After all, itfs useful only for kindling a fire, isnft it? And once youfve burnt up the ends and charred through the middle of it, is it useful for anything else? 5If it was useless before it was burned, now that itfs been burned and charred through, itfs even more useless!
6Therefore this is what the Lord God says: gJust as the wood from a grape vine is removed from the forest and used for kindling fires, Ifm giving the inhabitants of Jerusalem over 7to punishment. They may have escaped one fire, but the coming fire will burn them up completely, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I set myself in opposition to them 8and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief,h declares the Lord God.
Chapter 16
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, make known to Israel her detestable practices. 3You are to declare, eThis is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: gYour birth place was the territory that belonged to the Canaanites. Your father was an Ammonite and your mother was a Hittite. 4Now as to your birth, on the day you were born your umbilical cord wasnft cut. You werenft washed with water to clean you, and nobody rubbed you with salt. And itfs certain that you werenft wrapped in strips of cloth. 5Nobody pitied you to do any of these things for you, and nobody showed you any compassion. You were tossed outside on the ground, because you were detested from the day you were born.
6gegWhen I passed by you, I saw you kicking around, covered in your own blood. Thatfs when I told you, eLive!f\while you were wallowing in your blood. I commanded you to live, even as you lay there in your own blood. 7I made you increase like sprouting grain in the field. As a result, you multiplied greatly. Eventually, you reached the age when young women start wearing jewelry. Your breasts were formed, your hair had grown, but you were still bare and naked.hfh
8gWhen I passed by you again, I looked at you, and noticed that it was your proper time for love. I spread my cloak over you to cover your nakedness. I made a solemn promise to you and entered into a covenant with you,h declares the Lord God. gYou belong to me. 9I bathed you with water, rinsed your own blood from you, and anointed you with oil. 10Then I covered you with embroidered clothing, clothed your feet with leather sandals, wrapped you with fine linen, and dressed you in silk. 11I adorned you with jewels, placing bracelets on your hand and necklaces on your neck. 12I put a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a crown encrusted with jewels on your head. 13You were adorned with gold, silver, clothing of fine linen, silk, and embroidery. You ate food made from the finest flour, honey, and olive oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, attaining royal status. 14Your fame spread throughout the nations because of your beauty. You were perfectly beautiful due to my splendor with which I endowed you,h declares the Lord God.
15gBut you trusted in your beauty. You did what whores do, as a result of your fame. You passed out your sexual favors to anyone who passed by, giving yourself to anyone. 16You took some of your clothes and made gaily-colored high places and prostituted yourself all around them\something which had never happened before nor will ever happen again.
17gYou also took your fine jewelry\including my gold and my silver that I had given you. Then you made for yourself male images and had sex with them! 18You took your embroidered gowns and made clothes to cover them. Then you offered my olive oil and incense to them.
19gNot only that, you took the food I gave you\my fine flour, olive oil, and honey with which I fed you, and you offered them to those gods in order to appease them. Thatfs exactly what happened,h says the Lord God. 20gThen you took your sons and daughters whom you bore for me and sacrificed them for your idols to eat. As though your prostitutions were an insignificant thing, 21you also slaughtered my sons and offered them to idols, incinerating them in fire. 22Throughout all of your detestable practices and immorality, you never did remember your earlier life when you were bare, naked, and wallowing in your own blood.h
23gHow terrible! How terrible it will be for all of your wickedness!h declares the Lord God. 24gYou built raised mounds and high places for yourself on every plaza. 25At every street corner you made your beauty abhorrent when you made yourself available for sex to anyone who was passing by. By doing this, you kept on committing more and more immorality. 26Then you committed immorality with your neighbors, the Egyptians, with perverted lust, and by doing so you fornicated even more, provoking me to anger.
27gTherefore, look out! Ifve reached out to oppose you. I withdrew your rations and delivered you to those Philistine women who hate you. Even they were embarrassed at your wicked ways! 28You committed immorality with the Assyrians, because you still werenft satisfied. You committed immorality with them, but you still werenft satisfied. 29You committed even more immorality with that land of the merchants, the Chaldeans. But you werenft satisfied even with these!
30gHow weak is your heart,h declares the Lord God, gwhen you committed all of these deeds, the acts of an imperious whore! 31When you built your mound on every street corner and constructed your high place at every plaza, you werenft like a common prostitute, in that youfve insulted the wages of a prostitute 32who commits adultery, preferring a stranger over her husband!
33gAll prostitutes receive gifts, but you give your gifts to all your lovers, then you bribe them to come to you from everywhere to get your sexual favors! 34Youfre different from other women when you commit immorality\no one can match you in that! After all, you pay fees, but no fee is given to you. Youfre certainly different!h
35gTherefore listen to this message from the Lord, you whore! 36This is what the Lord God says: eBecause your lust has been poured out and your nakedness has been uncovered by your acts of fornication with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols and the blood of your sons, whom you offered to them, 37therefore, watch out! Ifm about to gather all your lovers from whom youfve received your pleasure, everyone whom youfve loved, and those whom youfve hated. Ifll gather them together to oppose you from every side, and theyfll uncover your nakedness in their presence. Then theyfll see you completely naked. 38Ifll judge you with the same standards by which I issue verdicts against a woman who commits adultery and murder. Ifll avenge the blood youfve shed with impassioned wrath.
39gIfll also deliver you into their control, and theyfll break down your mounds, tear down your high places, strip off your clothes, remove your fine jewels, and then theyfll leave you stark naked! 40Theyfll bring a mob against you to stone you to death and cut you into pieces with their swords. 41Then theyfll burn your houses and carry out my sentence against you in the sight of many women.
gThatfs how Ifll make you stop your prostitution so you wonft pay any prostitutefs fees anymore. 42Ifll stop being angry with you, and Ifll cease being jealous. Ifll be calm and not be indignant anymore. 43Because you didnft remember the time when you were young, but instead you provoked me to anger because of all these things, watch out! Ifm going to bring your behavior back to haunt you!h declares the Lord God. gDidnft you do this wicked thing, in addition to all your other detestable practices?h
44gNow, everyone who likes proverbs will quote this proverb about you, eLike mother, like daughter.f 45Youfre the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. Youfre the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children.
gYour mother was a Hittite and your father was an Amorite. 46Your elder sister was Samaria. She and her daughters lived in the north, while your younger sister who lived in the south with her daughters was Sodom. 47It wasnft just that you lived like they did and committed their detestable practices, but in just a little while your behavior led you to become more corrupt than they were!h
48gAs I live,h declares the Lord God, gyour sister Sodom and her daughters didnft do what you and your daughters have done. 49Look! This was the sin of your sister Sodom and her daughters: Pride, too much food, undisturbed peace, and failure to help the poor and needy. 50In their arrogance, they committed detestable practices in my presence, so when I saw it, I removed them. 51Samaria didnft commit half of your sins\you practiced more detestable deeds than they did! Youfve caused your sister to be more righteous than you, because of the detestable practices that youfve committed. 52So now, bear your own shame as you mediate for your sisters. The sins that youfve committed are more detestable than theirs. That makes them more righteous than you. Indeed, be ashamed and bear your reproach, because youfve made your sisters to be more righteous than you.h
53gIfll bring them back from their captivity\that is, from the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, along with the captivity of Samaria and her daughters and the captivity of your captives among them. 54But youfll continue to bear your own reproach and be humiliated for everything that youfve done. Youfll be a comfort to them. 55Your sister Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status. Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status. Then you and your daughters will be restored to your former status.
56gWhen you were being so arrogant, you never once mentioned your sister Sodom 57before your wickedness was revealed. Now youfve become an object of derision to the inhabitants of Aram and its neighbors, including the Philistines\all those around you who despise you. 58You are to bear the punishment of your wickedness and detestable practices,h declares the Lord, 59gsince the Lord God says, eIfll deal with you according to what youfve done, when you despised your oath by breaking the covenant.
60geMeanwhile, as for me, Ifll remember my covenant with you from when you were young, because Ifll establish an eternal covenant with you. 61Then youfll remember your behavior and be ashamed when you greet your sisters\your elder sister and your younger sister. Ifll give them to you as daughters, but not on account of my covenant with you. 62Ifll establish my covenant with you, and then youfll know that I am the Lord. 63Then you will remember, be ashamed, and you wonft open your mouth anymore due to humiliation when I will have made atonement for you for everything that youfve done,f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 17
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, compose a riddle and relate a parable to Israelfs house. 3Tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gA massive eagle with gigantic wings, long pinions, and full, multi-colored plumage came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. 4He plucked off the top of its shoot, brought it to a land of merchants, and set it down in a city full of traders. 5Then the eagle took a seed from the land and planted it in fertile ground. He planted it like a willow tree next to abundant waters. 6It flourished and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots spread under him to become a vine that put out shoots and spread out its branches.
7gegAll of a sudden, there was another eagle with gigantic wings and thick plumage. The vine stretched its roots hungrily toward him and spread its branches out to him in order to be watered on the terraces where it was planted. 8It was transplanted into good soil near abundant water, and it produced branches and bore fruit, becoming a magnificent vine.hf
9gTell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gWill it prosper? Wonft he pull up its roots, and strip it bare so all its fresh foliage dries up? It wonft be by great strength or by a great army that it will be uprooted. 10Look! Because itfs a transplanted vine, wonft it wither when the east wind hits it? It will surely wither in the terraces where it had started to sprout.hfh
11This message came to me from the Lord: 12gTell my rebellious house, eDonft you know what these things mean? Look! The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, captured her king and princes, and took them with him to Babylon. 13Then he took one of the royal descendants, made a covenant with him, and put him under an oath of loyalty, taking the leaders of the land captive 14in order to humiliate the kingdom so it wouldnft be able to return to power, but would still be able to continue as long as he keeps his covenant. 15But he rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his messengers to Egypt to obtain horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Or will the one who did this escape? Will he break the covenant, but still be delivered?fh
16gAs long as I live,h declares the Lord God, gin Babylon, that place where the king has enthroned him, whose oath he despised so as to break his covenant, hefll die with him. 17Pharaoh, with his massive army and large battalions wonft protect him when mounds and siege walls are built to destroy many people. 18He despised the oath he had made and broke the covenant. Look! Because he willingly submitted, yet he has done all these things, he wonft escape.
19Therefore, this is what the Lord God says, gAs long as I live, because he despised my oath and broke my covenant, hefs going to suffer the consequences. 20Ifll spread my net over him so that hefll be caught in my snare. Ifll bring him to Babylon and carry out my sentence there because of his treachery toward me. 21The fugitives of his troops will die by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the four winds. Then youfll know that I, the Lord, have spoken.h
22This is what the Lord God says, gIfm also going to take a shoot from the top of a cedar and plant it. Ifll pluck off its delicate twigs and transplant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23Ifll transplant it on Israelfs land, and it will grow branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. All sorts of birds will rest under it, and theyfll settle down in the shade of its branches. 24Then all the trees of the fields will know that I, the Lord, bring down the lofty tree and exalt the lowly tree. I dry up the green tree and cause the dry tree to bud. I the Lord have spoken this, and I will fulfill it.h
Chapter 18
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gWhy do you cite this proverb when you talk about Israelfs land: eThe fathers eat sour grapes but itfs their childrenfs teeth that have become numb.f 3As long as I live,h declares the Lord, gyou wonft use this proverb about Israel anymore. 4Look! Every living soul belongs to me\the fatherfs as well as the sonfs. So pay attention! The person who keeps on sinning is going to die.h
5gIf a person is righteous, and practices whatfs lawful and right, 6if he doesnft eat at mountain shrines, and doesnft look to the idols that have been erected in Israelfs house, if he doesnft defile his neighborfs wife or approach a woman during her time of menstrual separation, 7if he doesnft oppress anyone, but instead returns the debtorfs security for his debt, if he doesnft rob anyone, but instead shares his food with the hungry and gives clothes to those who are naked, 8if he doesnft lend with usury or exact interest, but instead refuses to participate in what is unjust, if he administers true justice between people, 9if he lives his life consistent with my statutes and keeps my ordinances by practicing whatfs true, then hefs righteous and will certainly live,h declares the Lord God.
10gNow suppose that person produces a son whofs violent, a murderer, and practices any of these things, 11even though the father hasnft done any of these things. The son who eats at mountain shrines, defiles his neighborfs wife, 12oppresses the afflicted and the poor, robs others, doesnft return security for a debt, looks to idols, does detestable things, 13loans with usury, and exacts interest; will he live? He certainly will not! He has done all these detestable practices. He will certainly die, and his guilt will be his own fault.h
14gNow suppose that he produced a son who practiced all of his fatherfs sins, but then that son began to fear me and stopped doing all of these things. 15That is, suppose he doesnft eat at the mountain shrines, doesnft look to the idols of Israelfs house, doesnft defile his neighborfs wife, 16doesnft oppress anyone, doesnft take possession of a debtorfs pledge, or doesnft steal, but instead shares his food with the hungry, gives clothes to those who are naked, 17doesnft refuse to help the afflicted, or refuses to loan with usury or exact interest, but instead follows my ordinances and lives his life consistent with my statutes. He wonft die because of his fatherfs sin, will he? No! Hefll certainly live. 18As for his father, watch out! If he wrongfully oppressed or robbed his brother and did what wasnft good among his people, hefll die because of his own sin.h
19gYet you keep asking, eWhy wouldnft the son bear the punishment of his fatherfs sin?f Because the son has done what was lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes and obeyed them, hefs certainly going to live. 20The soul who sins dies. The son wonft bear the punishment of his fatherfs sin and the father wonft bear the punishment of his sonfs sin. The righteous deeds of that righteous person will be attributed to him, while the wicked deeds of the wicked person will be charged against him. 21But if the wicked person turns from all his sins, which he did and keeps my statutes, then hefll live. He wonft die. 22None of the transgressions that he had committed will be held against him. Because of the righteous deeds that he had done, hefll live.
23gI donft take delight in the death of the wicked, do I?h asks the Lord God. gShouldnft I rather delight when he turns from his wicked ways and lives? 24But when the righteous person abandons his righteous deeds and commits evil, detestable practices, as wicked people do, he wonft live, will he? None of the righteous acts that he had done will be remembered. Hefll die in his treacherous unfaithfulness and sins that he had committed.h
25gYet you keep saying, eThe Lord isnft being consistent with his standards.f Pay attention, you house of Israel: Is my behavior really inconsistent with my standards? Isnft it your behavior that isnft just?
26gWhen a righteous person turns from his righteous deeds and does evil, hefll die because of that evil. Hefll die because of his unrighteous acts that he committed. 27When a wicked person quits his wicked behavior and does whatfs just and right, hefll be enabled to live. 28Because he reconsidered his transgression and turned away from everything that he had been doing, hefll certainly live and not die. 29Yet Israelfs house keeps saying, eThe Lord isnft being consistent with his standards.f Is it my behavior thatfs inconsistent with my standards? Is it not your behavior thatfs inconsistent with my standards?h
30gTherefore, Israel, Ifm going to judge you according to the behavior of each and every one of you,h declares the Lord God. gSo repent and turn from all your sins so that sin wonft keep on being a stumbling block for you. 31Stop your transgressing\the deeds by which youfve rebelled\and then make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, you house of Israel? 32I donft take pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,h declares the Lord. gSo repent, so you may live!h
Chapter 19
1gNow as for you, publish this mourning psalm about Israelfs leaders. 2Tell them:
eWhat a lioness your mother was among lions!
She reared her cubs in the midst of fierce young males.
3She raised one cub in particular,
teaching that fierce lion to become a hunter-prowler\
to eat human beings.
4The nations heard about him.
He had become caught in their trap.
They brought him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5When she learned that her plans had been frustrated
and that her hopes were dashed,
she took another of her cubs
and turned him into a fierce lion.
6He prowled around among the lions,
became a strong, young lion,
and learned to become a hunter-prowler\
to eat human beings.
7He raped the women,
devastating their towns.
The land was made desolate,
and all the while the land was filled
with the sound of his roaring.
8The surrounding nations attacked.
They tossed their net over him,
and he was caught in their trap.
9They imprisoned him in a cage with hooks
and brought him to the king of Babel.
Then they placed him in their dungeon
where his voice would no longer be heard
on the mountains of Israel.
10eYour mother was like a vine
entwining a pomegranate,
planted by water, full of fruit,
and full of branches
because it had been watered generously.
11Strong were its boughs,
suitable for use in the scepter of a ruler.
It reached to the clouds,
noticeable because of its height
and its abundant branches.
12Yet in anger it was uprooted
and cast down to the earth.
An east wind desiccated its fruit;
its strong branches broke off and withered,
and a fire consumed them.
13Now it is planted in the desert,
in a dry and thirsty land!
14Fire had burned through its branches,
consuming its shoots and fruits.
No strong branches remain in it,
and there is no scepter to rule!f
gThis is a lamentation, and it is to be used in mourning.h
Chapter 20
1On the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, men came from the elders of Israel to seek the Lord. They sat down in front of me.
2gSon of Man,h the Lord told me, 3gTell the elders of Israel, eThis is what the Lord God asks, gDid you come to inquire of me? As long as I live, I wonft let myself be sought by you,h declares the Lord God.f
4gWill you judge them? Son of Man, will you indeed judge them? Teach them about the detestable things that their ancestors did. 5Tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says, gThe day I chose Israel, when I made my commitment to the descendants of Jacobfs house, I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt and I made my promise to them with the words, eI am the Lord your God.f 6That day I promised to bring them out of the land of Egypt to the land that I had explored for them\a land flowing with milk and honey. Itfs the most beautiful of all lands. 7Then I told them, eEach of you are to abandon your detestable practices. You are not to defile yourselves with Egyptfs idols. I am the Lord your God.fhfh
8gBut they rebelled against me and werenft willing to obey me. None of them abandoned their detestable practices or their Egyptian idols. So I said, eIfll pour out my anger on them, extending my fury in the middle of the land of Egypt.f 9I did this so my reputation might not be tarnished among the nations where they were living, among whom I made myself known in their presence when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. 10I brought them out of the land of Egypt to bring them to the wilderness 11where I gave them my statutes and revealed my ordinances to them, which if a person observes, hefll live by them. 12Also, I instituted my Sabbath for them as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the Lord, who has set them apart.h
13gBut the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didnft live by my statutes. They despised my ordinances, which if a person observes, hefll live by them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my anger on them and bring them to an end in the wilderness. 14I did this so my reputation wouldnft be tarnished among the nations in whose presence I had brought them out.
15gMoreover, I solemnly swore to them in the wilderness that I wouldnft bring them to the land that I had given them\a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands\16because they kept on rejecting my ordinances. They didnft live life consistent with my statutes, they profaned my Sabbaths, and their hearts followed their idols. 17Even then, I looked on them with compassion and didnft completely destroy them in the wilderness. 18I told their children in the wilderness, eYou are not to follow the statutes of your ancestors, observe their ordinances, or be defiled by their idols. 19I am the Lord your God. You are to follow my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. 20You are to make my Sabbaths holy, and you are to let them serve as a sign between you and me, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.fh
21gBut they rebelled against me. They didnft live according to my statutes, observe my ordinances, or practice them, by which a person will live. They also kept profaning my Sabbaths. So I said that I was going to pour out my anger on them and in my anger Ifm going to bring about a complete end to them in the wilderness. 22But I withdrew my decision so my reputation wouldnft be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out.
23gFuthermore, I solemnly swore in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and scatter them to other lands 24because they didnft observe my ordinances. Instead, they rejected my statutes, profaned my Sabbaths, and worshipped their ancestorsf idols. 25So I gave them statutes that werenft good and ordinances by which they could not live. 26I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then theyfll know that I am the Lord.h
27gTherefore, Son of Man, you are to speak to the children of Israel and tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says: gYour ancestors also blasphemed me in their treacherous behavior against me. 28I brought them to the land that I had promised to give them. But whenever they saw any high hill and or any leafy tree, they slaughtered their sacrifices there and presented their offerings that provoked my anger. There they presented their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offering. 29So I asked them, eWhat is the high place to which youfre going?f Thatfs why the name of the place has been called Bamah to this day.hf
30gTherefore you are to say to Israelfs house, eThis is what the Lord God says: gWill you defile yourselves like your ancestors did by acting as a prostitute, consistent with their horrible deeds? 31When you present your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with your idols to this day. Should I be inquired of by you, you house of Israel? As I live,h declares the Lord, gI certainly wonft be inquired of by you.h 32The thing that youfre imagining is never going to happen, since youfre thinking, gWefll be like the nations, like the clans of other lands who serve gods made from wood and stone.hfh
33gAs I live,h declares the Lord God, gwith my powerful hand and outstretched arm, along with my wrath poured out, Ifll reign as king over you. 34Ifll bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered. With a powerful hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, 35Ifll bring you into the wilderness of the nations. Ifll judge you right there, face to face. 36Just as I judged your ancestors in the wilderness in the land of Egypt, so Ifll judge you,h declares the Lord. 37gIfll cause you to pass under the rod until I will have brought you into the bond of the covenant. 38Ifll eliminate the rebels among you, along with those who are transgressing against me. Ifll bring them out of the land where youfve lived, but they wonft be able to enter the land of Israel. Then youfll know that I am the Lord.h
39And now, you house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says, gGo ahead and serve your idols, both now and later, but later youfll listen to me, and you wonft profane my sacred name again by your offerings and idols. 40For on my holy mountain, on Israelfs high mountains,h declares the Lord God, gthe whole of Israelfs house\all of it\will serve me there in the land. Ifll accept them there. And there Ifll demand your offerings, the first fruits of your portions of all your sacred things.
41gWhen I will have brought you from among the people and have gathered you from the lands where you were scattered, Ifll accept you as a pleasing aroma. Ifll reveal my holiness among you, and the entire world will see it. 42Then youfll know that I, the Lord, brought you to the land of Israel, to the land that I promised to give to your ancestors. 43Youfll remember all your practices and evil actions by which youfve become defiled. Youfll loathe yourselves because of all the evil things youfve done. 44Then youfll know that I am the Lord, when I will have dealt with you for the benefit of my own reputation and not according to your evil attitudes or corrupt practices, you house of Israel,h declares the Lord God.
45This message came to me from the Lord: 46gSon of Man, turn to the south and oppose it, talking toward the south. 47Prophesy against the forest of the Negev, eListen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: gLook out! Ifm about to ignite a fire and set it against you. It will devour every tree\whether green or dry\that lives in you. This powerful flame will not be extinguishable, and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. 48Then everyone will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, because it wonft be extinguished.hfh
49Then I said, gO Lord God! Theyfre saying about me, eIsnft he one to propound parables?fh
Chapter 21
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, look toward Jerusalem, preach against its sanctuaries, and prophesy against Israelfs land. 3Declare to Israel, eThis is what the Lord says: gWatch out! Ifm against you! Ifm going to unsheathe my sword to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you. 4Since Ifm going to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you, Ifll be unsheathing my sword against everyone from south to north. 5Then everyone will know that I am the Lord, who unsheathed my sword, and who wonft have to unsheathe it again.hf
6gAnd now, Son of Man, you are to start groaning until youfre sick to your stomach. You are to groan bitterly right in front of them. 7When theyfll ask you, eWhy are you groaning?f you are to say, eBecause of the news that just arrived. Every heart will melt with fear, every hand will grow limp, every spirit will grow faint, and every knee will glisten with sweat.f Look! It has come and it will be fulfilled,h declares the Lord God.
8This message came to me from the Lord: 9gSon of Man, prophesy and say, eThis is what the Lord God says:
eA sword!
A sword is being sharpened.
Itfs also being polished.
10Itfs being sharpened for slaughter,
and being polished to gleam like lightning.f
gWe shouldnft be rejoicing, should we,
while my Sonfs scepter, the sword,
is despising every tree?
11Itfs intended to be polished
so it can be grasped in the hand.
The sword is sharpened.
Itfs polished for placement
into the hand of the executioner.h
12eCry and wail, you Son of Man!
Itfs headed against my people.
Itfs also against all the princes of Israel,
who have been tossed to the sword,
along with my people.
So itfs time to grieve like you mean it,
13because testing is sure to come.
eIn putting the sword to the test along with the scepter, it wonft keep on rejecting, will it?f declares the Lord God.h
14gNow, Son of Man, prophesy
as you strike your hands together.
Let the sword that fatally wounds be doubled and tripled.
That great, slaughtering sword closes in on them.
Ifve set in place a slaughtering sword
at the entrance to all their gates,
15so that their hearts melt
and the number of those who stumble increase.
Ifve set in place a slaughtering sword
at the entrance to all their gates.
Oh, no! Itfs made like lightning.
Itfs drawn to slaughter.
16Be sharp!
Attack on the right,
or parry to your left,
wherever you point your sword.
17I will also clap my hands;
then my anger will subside.
I, the Lord have spoken it.h
18This message came to me from the Lord: 19gNow, Son of Man, demarcate two pathways by which the sword of Babylonfs king will arrive in the land. Both pathways will lead from a single land.
gMake a sign, carving it out and installing it at the junction on the way to the city. 20Set it to point one way for bringing the sword against Rabbah, the descendants of Ammon, and the other way against Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
21gMeanwhile, Babylonfs king is standing at the fork of the road, where he can head in either of two directions, and thatfs where he is practicing divination. Shaking his arrows, hefs asking questions of his teraphim while he examines livers. 22On his right hand he is divining against Jerusalem, preparing to set up battering rams, preparing for the slaughter, getting ready to sound the alarm for battle, setting the battering rams in place at the gates, building siege mounds, and erecting a siege wall. 23In their view, it will seem to be a false prophecy, but because they swore allegiance, hefll make them remember their guilt as he takes them captive.h
24Therefore this is what the Lord God says: gBecause you remembered your sins when your transgressions were uncovered, your sins are visibly evident in everything youfve done. And since youfve remembered them, youfll be taken captive.
25gSo now, you dishonored and wicked prince of Israel,
whose day has come
in this time of final punishment,
26This is what the Lord God says:
eRemove your turban!
Take off your crown!
Things arenft going to remain
as they used to be.
What is lowly will be exalted,
and what is lofty will be brought low.
27A ruin! A ruin!
Ifm bringing about ruin!f
But this also will not happen
until he who has authority over it arrives,
because Ifll give it to him.h
28And now Son of Man, prophesy to the Ammonites that this is what the Lord God says to the Ammonites about their approaching humiliation:
gA sword! A sword is being drawn for slaughter.
Itfs polished to flash like lightning.
29When they see empty visions about you
while theyfre divining lies for you,
 to lay you on the necks of the wicked,
who are fatally wounded,
whose days have come,
their time for punishment.
30Return it to its scabbard.
gAt the place where you were formed,
in the land of your origin,
there is where Ifll judge you.
31Ifm going to pour out my indignation all over you.
Ifll blow my fierce wrath against you
and deliver you into the control of brutal men
who are skilled at destruction.
32Youfll be fuel for the conflagration.
Your blood will be spilled throughout the land.
You wonft be remembered anymore,
now that I, the Lord, have spoken.h
Chapter 22
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gNow, Son of Man, will you truly judge that blood-stained city? Then make her aware of all of her detestable practices.
3gYou are to say, eThis is what the Lord God says: gThe city keeps on shedding blood within her, hastening her time to be judged. She crafts idols that defile her.
4gegYoufre guilty because of the blood that youfve shed. You were defiled by the idols that youfve made. Youfve caused your judgment day to draw near and have even come to the end of your life. Therefore, Ifve made you an object of derision among the nations and to other lands. 5Those who are both near and far away from you will scoff at you, because your reputation will be infamous and full of turmoil.
6gegWatch out! Each of the princes of Israel has misused his authority to shed blood. 7Theyfve treated mothers and fathers among you with contempt. Theyfve oppressed the foreigner among you. Theyfve maltreated the orphan and the widow among you.
8gegYou have despised my sacred things and profaned my Sabbaths. 9Slanderous men live among you, intent on shedding blood. Theyfve eaten at the top of mountain shrines. Theyfve crafted plans to do evil things among you. 10Theyfve revealed the nakedness of their father in your midst. Theyfve humiliated those among you who were unclean due to their impurity. 11One of you commits detestable practices with his neighborfs wife. Another sexually defiles his daughter-in-law. Another humiliates his sister, his own fatherfs daughter. 12They take bribes among you to shed blood. Youfve taken usury and exacted interest. Youfve gained control over your neighbor through extortion. And youfve forgotten me,h declares the Lord God.
13gWatch out! Ifm vehemently angry about the unjust gains that youfve earned, and about the blood that has been shed among you. 14Can your heart stand up to this? Can your hands remain strong when I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken and will fulfill this. 15Ifm going to disperse you among the nations and scatter you to other lands. Ifm going to put an end to your uncleanness. 16When youfve been defiled in the sight of the nations, then youfll know that I am the Lord.hfh
17This message came to me from the Lord: 18gSon of Man, Israel has become like dross to me. All of them are like remnants of bronze, tin, iron, and lead in a furnace\the dross left over from smelting silver. 19Therefore this is what the Lord God says, eBecause all of you have become dross, watch out! Ifm going to gather all of you at the center of Jerusalem, 20just like a smelter gathers all the silver, bronze, lead, and tin to the center of a furnace and injects fire in order to melt it, Ifm going to gather you in my anger and rage, make you settle down\and then Ifm going to melt you down. 21Indeed, Ifm going to gather you together and exhale the fire of my fury, and then youfll be melted from the inside out 22like melting silver at the center of a furnace. When youfve been melted from the center out, then youfll know that I am the Lord. Ifll pour out my anger on you.fh
23This message came to me from the Lord: 24gSon of Man, tell her, eYoufre a land that hasnft been purified, one that hasnft been rained on in the day of indignation. 25Therefs a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, theyfve devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. Theyfve added to the population of widows within her. 26Her priests have violated my Law and profaned my sacred things. They didnft differentiate between whatfs sacred and whatfs common. They didnft instruct others to discern clean from unclean things. They refused to keep my Sabbaths.
geIfm constantly being profaned among them. 27Her princes within her are like wolves tearing their prey apart. They shed blood, destroying souls, and make unjust gain.
28geHer prophets whitewashed all of these things through false visions and lying divinations. They kept on saying, gThis is what the Lord God saysch, when the Lord has not spoken. 29The people of the land were vigorously oppressive and took possession of plunder by violence. Theyfve afflicted the poor and the needy and unjustly treated the foreigner. 30I sought for a man among them to build the wall and stand in the breach in my presence on behalf of the land so that it wonft be destroyed, but I found no one, 31so I poured my indignation over them. With my fierce anger, Ifve consumed them. I brought the consequences of their behavior upon them,f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 23
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, here are two sisters who are daughters from the same mother. 3They committed sexual immorality in Egypt. They did this in their youth. There, their breasts were caressed. Their virgin breasts were fondled. 4The older one was named Oholah and her sister was named Oholibah. They belonged to me and gave birth to sons and daughters. Now as to their real identities, Oholah refers to Samaria and Oholibah to Jerusalem.h
5gOholah committed sexual immorality while she belonged to me. She lusted for Assyriafs warriors, 6who were clothed in blue\including governors and commanders. All of them were desirable young men\horsemen mounted on horses. 7She bestowed her sexual favors on them\all of them, the best of the Assyrians\and with whomever she lusted for.
gShe defiled herself with all their idols. 8She never abandoned the immorality that she practiced in Egypt during her youth, where they laid down with her and fondled her virgin breasts, lavishing her with all kinds of favors. 9Therefore, I turned her over to the control of her lovers, that is, into the control of the Assyrians for whom she lusted. 10They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters, and executed her with a sword. She became an object of ridicule among other nations when they punished her.h
11gHer sister Oholibah saw this, but she was more corrupt in her lust and sexual immorality than her sister had been in her own sexual immorality. 12She lusted after the Assyrians\governors, commanders, warriors clothed in gorgeous attire, cavalry mounted on their horses\all of them desirable young men. 13I saw that she was defiled, because the two of them both were on the same path.
14gShe became even more sexually immoral when she saw the images of the Chaldean men who had been carved in red on their walls. 15Girded with waistbands around their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looked like chariot officers, similar to the Babylonians from Chaldea, where they had been born.
16gShe lusted after them when she saw them, so she sent messengers to summon them from Chaldea. 17The Babylonians came to her love nest and defiled her with their sexual immorality. As a result, she was defiled by them. Even so, she turned away from them in disgust. 18She displayed her immorality publicly and stripped herself naked, so I turned away in disgust from her, just as I had turned away in disgust from her sister.
19gNevertheless, she became even more sexually immoral, even reminiscing about when she was young, when she kept on practicing sexual immorality in the land of Egypt. 20She lusted after her paramours, whose genitals are like those of donkeys, and whose emissions are like those of horses. 21Think about the wickedness that you practiced when you were young, when the Egyptians fondled your breasts, the breasts of your youth.h
22gTherefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord God says: eLook! Ifm about to stir up your lovers against you, the ones from whom youfve turned away in disgust. Ifm going to bring them against you from every direction\23the Babylonians, all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all of the Assyrians with them. Theyfre all desirable young men, governors, commanders, chariot officers, and famous men, all of them mounted on horses.
24geTheyfll invade you with weapons, chariots, wagons, and a vast army. Theyfll set themselves in place to attack you from every direction with large shields, small shields, and helmets. Ifll turn over judgment to them, and theyfll punish you according to their own standards. 25Ifll expend my jealousy on you so theyfll deal with you in anger. Theyfll cut off your noses and your ears. Your survivors will die violently. Theyfll take your sons and daughters away from you, but your survivors will be incinerated. 26Theyfll strip off your clothes and confiscate your jewelry. 27Thatfs how Ifll put an end to your obscene conduct and sexual immorality that you kept on practicing since the day you left the land of Egypt so that you wonft look in Egyptfs direction or even remember it anymore.f
28gThis is what the Lord God says, eIfm about to turn you over to the control of those you hate, to the control of those from whom you turned away in disgust. 29Theyfll deal with you with hatred. Theyfll take away your productivity, leaving you naked and defenseless, so that the nakedness of your sexual immorality will be uncovered\your licentious sexual immorality. 30These things will happen to you because of your sexual immorality that was patterned after what the nations do. Youfve been defiled by their idols. 31You took the path of your sister, so Ifll place her cup in your hand.f
32gThis is what the Lord God says: eYoufll drink from your sisterfs cup, which is both large and deep. Youfll become a laughing stock and an object of derision, since the cup is so full! 33Youfll be filled with drunkenness and grief. The cup that belongs to your sister Samaria is filled with horror and devastation, 34but youfll drink from it and drain it completely. As for the vessel, youfll break it to pieces and youfll tear at your breasts, for Ifve spoken,f declares the Lord God.
35gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: eBecause you abandoned me and threw me behind your back, you will bear the consequences of your obscene conduct and sexual immorality.fh
36Then the Lord spoke to me. gSon of Man, speak out in judgment of both Oholah and Oholibah. Make their detestable practices widely known, 37because theyfve committed adultery, and blood covers their hands. Theyfve also committed adultery with their idols, making their sons born to me to pass through the fire as an offering to them.
38gTheyfve also done this to me: They defiled my sanctuary and profaned my Sabbaths, all at the same time! 39When they killed their sons as offerings to their idols, they brought them to my sanctuary and defiled it. Look what theyfve done with my Temple!
40gIn addition, they sent messengers for men to come from afar. When they arrived, you bathed yourself for them, painted your eyes, adorned yourself with jewelry, 41then sat down on an elegant bed. A table was arranged in front of it, on which you set out my incense and oil. 42The sound of a carefree multitude accompanied her. Men from a multitude of peoples were coming\including Sabeans from the wilderness, adorned with bracelets on their hands and beautiful crowns on their heads.
43gAfter she had worn herself out by her adulterous behavior, I asked her, eWill they continue with their sexual immorality and with their prostitution?f 44Theyfve gone to her, like men do, to have sex with a prostitute. They had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, those licentious women. 45Righteous men will judge them with punishments fit for adulterers and for those who shed blood, because theyfre adulterers with blood on their hands.h
46This is what the Lord God says: gBring an army against them and deliver them over to terror and plunder. 47Then the army will stone them with stones and cut them to pieces with their swords. Theyfll kill their sons and daughters and incinerate their houses. 48Ifll cause obscene conduct to stop throughout the land, because all the women will be admonished not to practice their obscene conduct. 49Youfll receive the consequences for your obscene conduct and bear the punishment for your sins of idolatry. Then youfll know that I am the Lord God.h
Chapter 24
1In the ninth year, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, this message came to me from the Lord:
2gSon of Man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem on this very day. 3So compose a parable for the rebellious house. Tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says:
gPrepare your pot for boiling!
Set it in place.
Fill it up with water, too.
4Gather together the best pieces of meat on it\
including the thighs and the shoulders\
and fill it with the choicest bones.
5Take the best bones from the flock,
pile wood under the pot for the bones,
bring it to a boil,
and then cook the bones in it.hfh
6gThis is what the Lord God says:
eHow terrible it is for that blood-filled city,
to the pot whose rust remains in it,
whose rust wonft come off.
Empty it one piece at a time.
Donft let a lot fall on it.
7Her blood was in it.
She poured it out onto bare rock.
She didnft pour it out on the ground,
intending to cover it with dirt.
8In order to stir up my anger
and in order to take vengeance,
I set the blood on a bare rock
so that it cannot be covered.f
9gTherefore this is what the Lord God says:
eHow terrible it is for that blood-filled city\
Ifm also going to add to my pile of kindling.
10Pile up the wood!
Make the fire burn hot.
Boil the meat!
Mix the seasonings.
Burn those bones to a crisp!
11Make the pot stand empty on the coals
until its bronze glows red,
its rust can be scoured off,
and its dross completely removed.
12The pot wearies me,
but its thick rust wonft come off,
even with fire.
13There is wickedness in your obscene conduct.
Even though Ifve cleansed you,
you uncleanness cannot be washed away.
You cannot be cleansed again
until my rage against you has subsided.f
14geI, the Lord have spoken. It will happen, because Ifm going to do it. I wonft hold back, have compassion, or change my mind. Theyfll judge you according to your ways and deeds,f declares the Lord God.h
15This message came to me from the Lord: 16gSon of Man, pay attention! Ifm about to take away your most precious treasure with a single, fatal stroke, but you are not to mourn, weep, nor even let tears well up in your eyes. 17You are to weep in silence, but you are not to participate in mourning rituals. You are to keep your turban on your head and your sandals on your feet. You are not to cover your mouth or eat what your comforters bring to you.h
18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died that evening. The next morning, I did as I had been commanded.
19Then the people told me, gAre you going to explain what these things that youfre doing should mean to us?h
20So I responded, gThis message came to me from the Lord: 21eTell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: gLook! Ifm about to profane my sanctuary, the source of your proud strength, the desire of your eyes, and the object of your affection. Your sons and daughters, whom youfve left behind, will die by the sword. 22Thatfs why you will soon be doing what Ifve just done. You are not to cover your mouth or eat what your comforters bring to you. 23Your turbans will be on your heads and your sandals will be on your feet. You wonft mourn or weep. Instead, youfll waste away in your sins. Every one of you will groan to his relative. 24Thatfs how Ezekiel will be an example for you. Youfll be doing exactly what he has done. When it happens, then youfll know that I am the Lord God.hf
25gAnd now, Son of Man, on the day that I take their strength, joy, and glory from them, those whom they love to watch, the focus of their affection\their sons and daughters\ 26at that time, a fugitive will come to you and will bring you the news. 27Your mouth will freely speak to the fugitive. You wonft be silent any longer. Youfll be a sign to them. Then theyfll know that I am the Lord.h
Chapter 25
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, turn your attention to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke them. 3Tell the Ammonites: eListen to a message from the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: gBecause you have said, eAha!f about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it became desolate, and about the households of Judah when they went into exile, 4therefore youfd better look out! Ifm going to turn you over to men from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. They will set up military encampments and permanent places in which to live among you, and then theyfll eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and Ammon will become a resting place for flocks of sheep. Thatfs how theyfll learn that I am the Lord.hfh
6gThis is what the Lord God says: eBecause youfve applauded, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all sorts of malice in your heart against the land of Israel, 7therefore youfd better watch out! Ifm raising a clenched fist in your direction! Ifm about to feed you to the surrounding nations as war plunder. Ifm going to eliminate you as a nation and kill off those of you who survive to live in other countries. Ifm going to destroy you, and thatfs how youfll learn that I am the Lord.fh
8gThis is what the Lord God says: eBecause Moab and Seir are claiming, gJudahfs citizens are just like every other nation,h 9therefore youfd better watch out! Ifm going to tear open Moabfs flanks, starting with its frontier cities\the very glory of the nation!\including Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. 10Ifm going to turn these cities over to men from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. As a result, Ammon will be forgotten as a nation. 11Ifm also going to punish Moab, and thatfs how theyfll learn that I am the Lord.fh
12gThis is what the Lord God says: eBecause Edom has made it their practice to seek extraordinary vengeance against Judahfs citizens, and by doing so has incurred extraordinary guilt by taking revenge against them,f 13therefore this is what the Lord God says: eIfm going to raise my clenched fist in Edomfs direction and eliminate every single human being and animal from Edom! Ifm going to turn everything into a wasteland, starting with Teman, and Dedan will fall by violence! 14Ifm going to inundate Edom with my retribution, using my people Israel to carry it out! Theyfll deliver my anger, acting as an agent of my fury. Edom will come to know my vengeance,f declares the Lord God.fh
15gThis is what the Lord God says: eBecause Philistia has made it their practice to carry out retribution, accompanied by extraordinary malice in their personal vendettas\vendettas that spring from their everlasting hostility\ 16this is what the Lord God says: gLook out! Ifm raising my clenched fist in Philistiafs direction. Ifm going to execute the Cherethites and destroy whatfs left of the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. 17Ifll take vengeance on them, punishing them severely in my anger. Theyfll know that I am the Lord when I take my vengeance on them.hfh
Chapter 26
1During the eleventh year, on the first day of the month of our captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, because Tyre has been saying about Jerusalem,
eThe international gateway is broken down!
Itfs wide open to me!
I will be replenished,
now that it lies in ruins!f
3gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: eWatch out! Ifm coming to get you, Tyre! Ifm about to bring many nations to attack you. Theyfll come in wave after wave, like the advancing tide, 4and will destroy the city walls of Tyre. After they break down her fortified towers, Ifll scrape away the cityfs debris, right down to the bare bedrock, 5and it will become a place where nets will be spread out right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Because I have declared this to happen,f declares the Lord God, eTyre will be treated as the spoils of war by the invading nations. 6Furthermore, her citizens who live on the mainland will be executed with swords. Thatfs how theyfll learn that I am the Lord.fh
7gThis is what the Lord God says: eWatch out! Ifm about to bring from the north King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that king of kings. Hefll come with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast army. 8Hefll execute your citizens who live on the mainland with swords. Hefll build siege engines to attack you. Then hefll construct siege ramps against you and build huge shields to protect themselves against you.
9geHefll direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and will breach your fortified towers with axes. 10There will be so many horses that the dust raised by them will cover you completely. The walls of your city will tremble from the noise of Nebuchadnezzarfs cavalry, wagons, and chariots when they enter through the gates of your city, as men enter a city that has been breached.
11geTheir horses will trample all the public places as he executes your inhabitants with swords. The most fortified of your pillars will be torn to the ground. 12They will plunder your riches and loot your businesses. Theyfll tear down your walls and demolish your luxurious homes. Theyfll grab the stones, wood, and rubble from the destruction and dump it all into the Mediterranean Sea.
13geIfll silence the noise of your songs and the music of your harps wonft be heard anymore. 14Ifll turn you into bare rock, and your city will become a place to spread nets. You will never be built again, because I the Lord have decreed this,f declares the Lord God.h
15gThis is what the Lord God says to Tyre: eWhen your wounded citizens groan while the slaughter takes place among you, the people who live in the coastlands will tremble in terror as they hear about your fall, will they not? 16Thatfs when all the kings of the seafaring nations will abandon their thrones, strip off their fancy clothes, and collapse trembling on the ground. Theyfll be so frightened as they observe what has happened to you that theyfll be unable to stop trembling. They will be utterly appalled at you! 17Theyfll sing this mourning song for you:
gHow lost you are,
you inhabited city,
that was built in the middle of the sea!
How famous you were!
How strong on the sea!
She and her inhabitants
inflicted terror to everyone
who lived within her.h
18eNow the coastland inhabitants
will tremble on the day that you fall.
The coastland inhabitants,
who make their living from the sea,
will be terrified when you pass away!f
19gThis is what the Lord God says: eWhen I turn your city into a ghost town, when I flood you with deep water that covers you completely, 20Ifll make sure that you go straight to the Pit, into the lowest part of the earth, where youfll be with people who lived in ancient times. Youfll keep company there with the dead, who have gone into the Pit. As a result, your city wonft be inhabited. Meanwhile, I will display my glory in the land of the living. 21Ifm going to send terrifying calamity in your direction, and you wonft exist any longer. You might be sought after, but youfll never be found again,f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 27
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, compose a mourning song for Tyre. 3Tell Tyre, who lives at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, who serves as the international merchant to many coastal districts: eThis is what the Lord God says:
gTyre, youfve been claiming,
gI am beauty perfected.f
4Youfve set your national boundary in international waters.
Your builders made you downright beautiful!hfh
5eThey brought in a ship
made with pine planking from Senir,
configured with a mast carved from a cedar from Lebanon,
6equipped with oars
made from oaks from Bashan,
with ivory-inlaid cypress wood decking
imported from the coastlands of Cypress,
7with sails made with embroidered Egyptian linen,
festooned with blue banners,
and with your sun shades made
with purple cloth from Cypress.
8Your sailors were conscripted
from Sidon and Arvad,
and your officers served aboard
as pilots.
9The wise men and elders from Gebal accompanied you,
serving as shipfs carpenters.
All the maritime navies and their seaman also accompanied you
to assist you in doing business internationally.h
10gSoldiers from Persia, Lud, and Libya,
served in your army.
They were your mighty soldiers.
Their helmets and shields adorned your barracks walls,
and they won battle decorations for you.
11Mercenaries from Arvad and Helech
stood guard duty on your walls,
while brave men manned your towers.
They hung their shields all around your walls\
just the right touch to perfect your interior decorating!h
12eTarshish was your business partner because of your phenomenal wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13Greece, Tubal, and Meshech bartered with you, exchanging slaves and bronze vessels for your wares. 14Beth-togarmah traded horses, war horses, and mules in exchange for what you had to sell. 15Men from the low country south of Edom and many of the coastlands were your markets for ivory tusks and ebony that they brought to trade with you.
16gAram was one of your customers because you had so much merchandise. They paid by trading turquoise, purple yarn, embroidered goods, Egyptian linen, coral, and rubies. 17The territories of Judah and Israel were your clients, too. They traded wheat from their distribution centers, baked goods, honey, oil, and ointments for your merchandise.
18gBecause you have so much to sell and are so rich, Damascus has been your trading partner, exchanging wine from Helbon, unbleached wool, 19and casks of wine from Izal for your wrought iron, cassia wood, and aromatic reeds.
20gDedan traded with you, exchanging riding blankets. 21Arabia, including all the princes of Kedar, came to you, shopping for lambs, rams, and goats. 22Traders from Sheba and Raamah paid for the best of what you had to offer with all types of spices, precious stones, and gold. 23Haran, Canneh, Eden, merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad did business with you, 24trading garments made into the finest blue and embroidered mantels, and also multi-colored carpets, ropes, and other merchandise. 25Ocean-going fleets carried your merchandise.h
gHow filled you were!
How glorious you were,
at home in the heart of the sea!
26But your rowers have brought you
into dangerous waters.
The east wind has broken you
in the heart of the ocean!
27Your wealth, your products, your merchandise
your sailors, your pilots,
your tailors, your salesmen,
all your mercenaries with you\
your entire company with you\
will fall into the midst of the sea
on the day when youfre overthrown!
28When your shipsf captains cry out,
the pasturelands along the coast will cry out!
29Everyone who handles an oar will abandon ship,
theyfll head straight for dry land,
30and they will cry so loud
you wonft be able to make yourself heard!
How bitterly theyfll cry!
Theyfll throw dust on their heads
and wallow in ashes.
31Theyfll shave their heads bald because of you.
Theyfll dress themselves in sackcloth
and weep for you with deep bitterness of heart,
with the most pitiful of mourning.
32In the depth of their despair
theyfll compose a lament for you.
This is what theyfll say:
eWho is like Tyre?
Who is so silent in the midst of the sea?f
33Your merchandise went out over the oceans
to satisfy many nations;
with the abundance of your wealth
you enriched the kings of the earth.
34gBut now itfs your time to be wrecked
at the bottom of the sea!
Your products and your workers have sunk,
and so have you!
35Everyone who lives by the sea
is appalled at your destruction.
Their leaders are terrified\
their faces reflect their fears!
36Traders circulate among the people, hissing at you.
What a horror youfve become!
Now you will cease to exist
forever and ever!h
Chapter 28
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, tell Tyrefs Commander-in-Chief, eThis is what the Lord God says:
gBecause your heart is arrogant,
and because you keep saying,
eI have taken my seat,
I am a god,
seated in Godfs seat right in the middle of the sea,f
and because youfre a man,
and not a god,
even though you pretend
that you have a god-like heartc
3Look! Youfre wiser than Daniel, arenft you?
No secret is too mysterious for you!
4Your wisdom and understanding
brought you phenomenal wealth.
Youfve brought gold and silver
into your treasuries.
5By your great wisdom,
by your skills in trading
you have amassed wealth for yourself
and your heart has become arrogant
because of your wealth.h
6Therefore this is what the Lord God says:
gBecause youfve made your heart
like that of God
7Therefore, look!
Ifm bringing foreigners in your direction,
the most terrifying of nations!
They will direct their violence
against the grandeur
that youfve created by your wisdom.
8Theyfll send you down to the Pit,
and youfll die defiled in the depths of the sea.
9Is that when youfll say, eIfm Godf
to the face of those who will be killing you?
After all, youfre a man,
and have never been a god,
especially when youfre under the control of those
who will defile you!
10You will die a death fit for the uncircumcised
at the hand of foreigners.h
efor I have said it will be so,f
declares the Lord.h
11Another message came to me from the Lord, and this is what it said: 12gSon of Man, start singing this lamentation for the king of Tyre. Tell him, eThis is what the Lord God says:
gYou served as my model,
my example of complete wisdom
and perfect beauty.
13You used to be in Eden\
Godfs paradise!
You wore precious stones for clothing:
ruby, topaz, diamond,
beryl, onyx, jasper,
sapphire, turquoise, and carbuncle.
Your settings were crafted in gold,
along with your engravings.
On the day of your creation
they had been prepared!
14 gYou were the anointed cherub;
having been set in place
on the holy mountain of God,
you walked in the midst of fiery stones.
15You were blameless in your behavior
from the day you were created
until wickedness was discovered in you.
16Since your vast business dealings
filled you with violent intent
from top to bottom,
you sinned,
so I cast you away as defiled
from the mountain of God.
I destroyed you,
you guardian cherub,
from the midst of the fiery stones.
17Your heart grew arrogant because of your beauty;
you annihilated your own wisdom
because of your splendor.
Then I threw you to the ground
in the presence of kings,
giving them a good look at you!
18By all of your iniquity
and unrighteous businesses
you defiled your sanctuaries,
so Ifm going to bring out fire from within you
and burn you to ashes on the earth
before the whole watching world!
19Everyone who knows you
throughout all the nations
will be appalled at your calamity
and you will no longer exist forever.hfh
20Another message came to me from the Lord, who had this to say:
21gSon of Man, turn your attention to Sidon and prophesy against her. 22Tell her:
ePay attention to me, Sidon!
Ifm against you,
and Ifm going to glorify myself right in your midst.f
Theyfll learn that I am the Lord
when I carry out these punishments
and manifest my holiness in her midst.
23Ifm going to send disease into that city
and blood into her streets.
People will drop dead in her midst
from the violence done to her from every side.
Then theyfll learn that I am the Lord God.h
24gThe house of Israel will never again suffer from painful briers and sharp thorn bushes that surround them on every side, and they will learn that I am the Lord. 25This is what the Lord God says:
eWhen I gather the house of Israel from the nations to which Ifve scattered them, I will show them my holiness before the watching world, and they will live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob. 26They will live in safety in the land, building houses and planting vineyards. Theyfll live in safety while I judge everyone who maligns them among those who surround them. At that time theyfll learn that I am the Lord their God.fh
Chapter 29
1In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, a message came to me from the Lord, who had this to say:
2gSon of Man, turn your attention to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and the entire nation of Egypt. 3Tell him that this is what the Lord God says:
eWatch out! Ifm coming to get you,
Pharaoh, king of Egypt!
You big monster!
You lay in wait in the middle of your waterways and say,
gMy waterways belong to me!
I made them for myself!h
4eSo Ifm going to plant a hook in your jaw
and make the fish in your waterways grab hold of your scales.
Ifll bring you up out of the middle of your waterways,
along with all of the fish from your waterways that cling to your scales,
5Then Ifll fling you out into the desert,
you and all those fish in your waterways.
Youfll fall out in the open fields;
youfll never be reunited.
Ifm giving you to the wild beasts of the earth
and to the birds of the sky,
and they will dine on you!
6eThen everyone living in Egypt
will know that I am the Lord,
because they have been an unreliable ally
to the house of Israel.
7When they reached out to you for support,
you tore their hands
and dislocated all of their shoulders.
When they tried to lean on you,
they couldnft control their own bowels.f
8gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: eLook out! Ifm bringing violent death in your direction! Ifm going to kill every person and animal, 9and the land of Egypt will be turned into a desolate ruin. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Because Egypt said, gThe Nile is mine. I made it!h 10therefore watch out! Ifm coming to get you! Ifm going to attack your waterways, and then Ifm going to make the land of Egypt a total wasteland from the Aswan fortress to the border of Ethiopia! 11Neither man nor beast will walk through that area. It wonft even be inhabited for 40 years. 12Ifll see to it that Egypt becomes a devastated land in the midst of devastated lands. Her cities deep inside her territories will be laid waste and desolate for 40 years. I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them throughout the land.fh
13gBecause this is what the Lord says: eAt the end of 40 years Ifll gather the Egyptians from the people among whom they have been scattered. 14Ifll restore the economy of Egypt and return them to the land of Pathros, from which they originated, and there they will remain an insignificant kingdom, 15the least significant of kingdoms. It will never again dominate other nations. I will make them so small that they will never again rule any nation. 16Egypt will never again be a source of confidence to the nation of Israel. Instead, Egypt will serve as a reminder of when they sinned by turning to Egypt for help. Then theyfll know that I am the Lord God.fh
17On the first day of the first month of the twenty-seventh year of our captivity, a message came to me from the Lord, who had this to say:
18gSon of Man, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his army work very hard to attack Tyre. They tore their hair out and rubbed their shoulders raw! Despite all of that work trying to capture Tyre, neither he nor his army got paid from Tyre for all that! 19Therefore this is what the Lord God says: eIfm going to give the land of Egypt to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Hefs going to carry off her wealth, confiscate her war implements, and use it all to pay wages for his army! 20Ifve given him the land of Egypt as a reward for attacking Tyre for me,f declares the Lord God. 21eWhen that day comes about, Ifll strengthen Israelfs military might, and I will give you an audience in their midst. Then they will know that I am the Lord.fh
Chapter 30
1Another message came to me from the Lord, who had this to say:
2gSon of Man, herefs what you are to prophesy and announce,
eThis is what the Lord God says:
gWail out loud!
Oh no! The day!
3For comes now the day\
comes now the Day of the Lord,
the day of clouds!
The time of the gentiles is fulfilled!
4War will come to Egypt,
and Ethiopia will be in anguish
when the slain fall in Egypt,
when her wealth is carried off,
and her foundations are demolished.
5gEthiopia, Libya, descendants of Lud, all those who have mixed themselves, and Libya\along with everyone in the land of Israel who is in league with them\will die violently.hfh
6gThis is what the Lord says:
eThose who are supporting Egypt will fall;
her majestic strength that she brought from the Aswan fortress will collapse
by the sword that invades her,f
declares the Lord God.
7Theyfll remain desolate among desolate lands,
their cities will be named among those that are ruined.
8They will know that I am the Lord
when I kindle my fire in Egypt
and all who help her are crushed.
9eWhen that happens, couriers will go out in ships to terrify Ethiopia in its complacency. Anguish will visit them as it will visit Egypt. Watch out! Itfs coming!fh
10gThis is what the Lord says:
eIfm putting an end to that gang from Egypt,
and Ifm going to use King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to do it!
11He and his ruthless army with him will be brought
to destroy the land.
Theyfll draw their swords and attack Egypt,
filling the land with the dead!
12Ifll dry up their waterways,
and evil men will sell off the land.
Ifm going to make that land desolate,
along with everything thatfs in it,
and Ifm going to use foreigners to do it.
I, the Lord have spoken!fh
13gThis is what the Lord God says:
eI will destroy the idols
and put an end to the images that come from Memphis.
There will no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt,
and I will terrify the land of Egypt.
14Ifm going to turn Pathros into a desolation,
set fire to Zoan,
and judge Thebes.
15Ifll pour out my anger on Sin,
Egyptfs strong fortress,
and Ifll eliminate the gangs in Thebes.
16Ifll set fire to Egypt,
and Aswan will writhe in agony.
Thebes will be demolished,
and Memphis will face daily distress.
17The young men of On and Pi-beseth will die violently,
and their cities will be taken captive.
18It will be a dark day for Tahpanhes
when I break the yokes of Egypt.
Thatfs when her arrogant power will come to an end.
Shefll be covered by a cloud,
and her citizens will go into captivity.
19I will judge Egypt,
and they will learn that I am the Lord.fh
20On the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year of our captivity, a message came to me from the Lord. It had this to say: 21gSon of Man, Ifve broken the arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Look! It hasnft been set in a splint for healing or wrapped with a bandage so it could be strong enough to hold a sword! 22Therefore this is what the Lord God says:
eIfm coming to attack Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and Ifm going to break both of his arms, the strong one and the wounded one. That will make him drop his sword. 23Ifm going to scatter Egypt throughout the surrounding nations and disperse them throughout the world. 24Ifm going to strengthen the military might of the king of Babylon, put my own sword in his hand, and break Pharaohfs strength. Then Pharaoh will groan like a dying man right in front of the king of Babylon. 25When I strengthen the military might of Babylon, the military might of Pharaoh will fail, and then they will learn that I am the Lord when I place my own sword in the hand of the king of Babylon. He will attack the land of Egypt. 26When I scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the world, they will learn that I am the Lord.fh
Chapter 31
1On the first day of the third month of the eleventh year of our captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, tell this to Pharaoh, king of Egypt and his gangs:
eWho do you think you are?
What makes you so great?
3Think about Assyria,
that cedar of Lebanon,
beautiful with its branches,
like a shady forest,
with an awesome height,
its summit touches the clouds.
4Abundant water made it great,
Subterranean rivers made it grow.
Rivers surrounded the area where it had been planted,
and water channels nourished all the trees in the fields.
5Thatfs why it grew taller than any of the trees in the fields.
Its boughs flourished.
Its branches grew luxurious
because all the water made it spread out well.
6The birds in the sky made nests in its boughs;
all the beasts of the field gave birth under its branches.
All the great nations rested in its shade.
7eBeautiful because it was so great,
with its long branches,
it was rooted in many bodies of water.
8The cedars in Godfs garden could not compare to it;
Fir trees could not match its boughs.
The plane tree never grew branches like it,
and no tree in Godfs garden compares to its beauty.
9I made it beautiful,
including all of its branches;
all the trees in Godfs garden of Eden envied it!fh
10gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: eBecause of its towering height, with its summit reaching into the clouds, and because it was haughty in its position, 11I turned it over to the leader of those nations, who dealt with it thoroughly. I have driven it away because of its wickedness. 12Foreign dictators have trimmed it down to size and abandoned it. Its branches have fallen off on mountains and in all the valleys. Its boughs have broken off in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth have moved out of its shade and abandoned it. 13All the birds in the sky will live among its ruins, and the wild animals will forage among its branches. 14As a result, none of its watered trees will grow tall, their tops will never reach to the clouds, and theyfll never grow so high again, because all of them have been appointed to death in the world beneath where human beings go, that is, down to the Pit.fh
15gThis is what the Lord God says: eOn the day that it descended into Sheol, I shut down its water supplies, covered over its deep water, and shut down its rivers. As a result its abundant water sources dried up, and I caused Lebanon to mourn for it. All the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16I made the nations tremble when they heard that Assyria was falling, descending into Sheol to join those who go down into the Pit. Then all of the trees of Eden in the world below were comforted, including the choicest and best of Lebanon, all of whom were well-watered. 17They also went down with it into Sheol, to those who had been killed violently and to those who had trusted in its strength by living in its shadow among the nations. 18So tell me now, which of the trees of Eden compares to you in glory or greatness? Nevertheless, youfll be brought down, along with those trees of Eden, to the earth below. Youfll lie in the middle of the uncircumcised, with those who have been killed in war. Pharaoh and all his gang will be just like this!f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 32
1On the first day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of our captivity, a message came to me from the Lord, who had this to say:
2gSon of Man, start singing this lamentation about Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him,
eYou may have called yourself a lion among nations,
but youfre a monster at sea.
You thrash about in your rivers,
muddy the water with your feet,
and relieve yourself in the rivers.f
3gThis is what the Lord God says:
eIfm coming fishing for you!
Right in the sight of many nations
theyfll haul you up in my dragnet.
4Ifll fling you up onto the land;
Ifll haul you into the field,
Ifll make every carrion-eating bird come to dine on you,
and Ifll make all the scavenging animals gorge themselves on you.
5Ifll cover the mountains with your flesh
and fill their valleys with your rotting carcass.
6Ifll drench the land with your blood,
right up to the mountains,
and the ravines will overflow
with blood that comes from you!
7When I extinguish your lights,
Ifll cover the heavens
and darken their stars.
Ifll cover the sun with a cloud
and the moon wonft reflect its light.
8Ifll darken the bright lights in the sky above you
and bring darkness to your territory,f
declares the Lord God.
9geIfll bring distress to the hearts of many nations when I destroy you among nations whose territories you have not known. 10Ifll make many nations be appalled at you, and their kings will be terrified because of you when I brandish my sword right in their face. They will all tremble from fear for their own safety on the day that you fall!f
11gThis is what the Lord God says: eThe army of the king of Babylon will attack you. 12Ifm going to make your gangs die using the weapons of valiant warriors, all of whom are ruthless people.
eThey will devastate the majesty of Egypt,
destroying all of its hordes.
13Ifm going to destroy all of its livestock
along its many riverbanks.
Human feet wonft muddy the rivers anymore,
nor will the hooves of livestock stir up the water.
14Thatfs when Ifll make their waterways flow smoothly,
and their rivers flow like olive oil,f
declares the Lord God.h
15eWhen I turn the land of Egypt into a desolation,
and the land is emptied of everything that used to fill it,
when I strike everyone who lives there,
they will learn that I am the Lord.f
16gThis has been a lamentation. They will chant it, and the citizens of the nations will chant it, too. Theyfll chant it about Egypt and about all of its hordes.h
17On the fifteenth day of the first month of the twelfth year of our captivity, a message from the Lord came to me, and this is what it said: 18gSon of Man, mourn about the hordes of Egypt. Bring them down\that is, her and the citizens of those majestic nations\whose destiny is the deep part of the Pit.
19gSo whofs more beautiful than you?
Youfll be buried with the uncircumcised.
20gTheyfll die along with others who are killed violently. Egypt has been given over to violence, which will carry off both it and its hordes.h
21gMighty leaders will address them and those who assist them right out of the middle of Sheol: eTheyfve come down and will lie still, these uncircumcised people who have died violently.f 22Assyria will be there, along with all of those who keep company with her, all of them killed violently. 23Her grave will be set in the remotest part of the Pit, surrounded by those who accompanied her. All of them will have been killed, executed violently, who spread terror throughout the land of the living.
24gElam will be there. Its hordes will surround Elamfs grave. All of them have been killed. They died violently, and they have descended uncircumcised into the world below after having spread terror throughout the land of the living. They will bear the shame of those who descend to the Pit. 25They have prepared a bed for her and for her hordes that surround her graves. All of them are uncircumcised, having been killed violently, because they had spread terror throughout the land of the living. They will bear the shame of those who descend to the Pit and will take their place among the dead.
26gMeshech and Tubal will be there, along with all of the hordes that surround her grave. Every one of them is uncircumcised, killed violently, because they spread terror throughout the land of the living. 27They wonft be buried with dead warriors from ancient times, who went straight to Sheol, buried with their war weapons, with their swords placed under their heads and their shields laid on top of their bones, since they spread terror throughout the land of the living. 28Youfll be broken, and youfll lie down with the uncircumcised who died violently.
29gEdom will be there, along with its kings and princes who despite all their power have been killed violently. They, too, are lying dead, along with the uncircumcised; that is, with those who descend into the Pit.
30gAll of the princes from the North are there, along with the Sidonians, who have gone down in shame to join those who have been killed because of all the terror they caused by their military might. They lie dead, uncircumcised, with those who have been killed violently. They will bear their shame, along with those who descend into the Pit.
31gWhen Pharaoh sees them, he will take comfort in his hordes. Pharaoh and all his army will die violently,h says the Lord God, 32gbecause he spread terror throughout the land of the living. Therefore hefll be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, who have been killed violently; that is, Pharaoh and all of his hordes,h declares the Lord God.
Chapter 33
1This message came to me from the Lord: 2gSon of Man, speak to your nationfs children and tell them: eIf I bring war to a land, and the people of that land appoint one of their conscripted men to serve as a sentinel, 3and if he notices that violence is approaching and sounds an alarm to warn the people, 4then if anyone who hears the sound of the alarm does not heed the warning, when the sword arrives and destroys him, his shed blood will remain his own responsibility. 5After all, he heard the alarm sounding, but did not heed the warning, so his shed blood will remain his own responsibility. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved himself. 6If that sentinel notices that violence is approaching, but does not sound an alarm, then because the nation does not take warning and the sword arrives and destroys their lives because of their guilt, Ifll seek retribution for their shed blood from the one who was acting as sentinel.fh
7gNow as for you, Son of Man, Ifve established you as a sentinel for the house of Israel. So whenever you hear a message from me, you are to warn the people from me. 8If I should say to a certain wicked person, eYou wicked man, youfre certainly about to die,f but you donft warn him to turn from his wicked behavior, hefll die in his guilt, but Ifll seek retribution for his bloodshed from you. 9However, if you warn the wicked to turn from his behavior and he does not do so, he will die in his guilt, and you will have saved yourself.h
10geNow, Son of Man, tell this to the house of Israel:
eYou keep saying, gOur crimes and sins burden us so much that wefre rotting away, so how can we keep on living?hf
11gTell them, eAs certainly as Ifm alive and living,f declares the Lord God, eI receive no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Instead, my pleasure is that the wicked repent from their behavior and live. Turn back! Turn back, all of you, from your wicked behavior! Why do you have to die, you house of Israel?fh
12gAnd now, Son of Man, say this to your people: eThe righteousness of the righteous wonft save them when they keep on committing crimes against me, the wickedness of the wicked wonft keep them from remaining away when theyfre turning from their wickedness, and no righteous person will keep on living by their righteousness when they sin.f
13gIf I tell the righteous person that he will certainly live, if he trusts in his own righteousness and commits evil, none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the wrong that he commits.
14gIf I tell the wicked person that he will certainly die, if he turns from his sin and acts with justice and righteousness, 15returning what has been placed as collateral for a loan, paying back what he has taken, following the regulations that promote life, and committing no iniquity, he will certainly live, and not die. 16None of the sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. Since he did what is just and right, he will certainly live.
17gNevertheless, your peoplefs children keep saying, eLiving life the Lordfs way isnft right,f when all the while it is their way of living that isnft right. 18When a righteous man forsakes his own righteousness and commits evil acts, he will die because of those acts, 19and when the wicked turn away from their wickedness and do what is just and right, he will certainly live because of that. 20gAnd yet you keep saying, eLiving life the Lordfs way isnft right,f But I will judge every one of you according to the way you live, you house of Israel!h
21On the fifth day of the tenth month of the twelfth year of our captivity, a fugitive who had escaped from Jerusalem came and informed me, gThe city has been destroyed.h
22Now the hand of the Lord had been touching me the evening before that fugitive arrived, so the Lord had given me something to say by the time the messenger arrived the next morning. He opened my mouth and I no longer had nothing to say to him. 23As a result, this message came to me from the Lord:
24gSon of Man, those who are living among these ruins of the land of Israel keep saying, eAbraham was only one man, but he was able to possess the land! As for us, wefre a multitude, and the land has been given to us as an inheritance.f 25So tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says: gYou keep eating flesh along with its blood, you keep looking to your idols, and you keep shedding blood, and youfre going to take possession of the land? 26You keep trusting in your weapons, you continue to commit loathsome deeds, men keep defiling their neighborsf wives, and youfre going to take possession of the land?f
27gTell them this: eThis is what the Lord God says: gAs certainly as Ifm alive and living, those who live in the wastelands are certain to die violently, Ifll give those who die in the open fields to the wild animals for food, and whoever takes refuge in caves and fortified places will die of diseases. 28Then Ifll turn the land into a desolate ruin and her arrogant strength will come to an abrupt end. The mountains of Israel will become so desolate that no one will be able to travel over them.h 29eThen theyfll learn that I am the Lord, when Ifve turned their land into a desolate wasteland because of all of the loathsome deeds that theyfve committed.fh
30gNow as for you, Son of Man, your nationfs children keep gathering together to talk about you beside the walls and at the doorway to their houses. Everyone tells one another, ePlease come! Letfs go hear what the Lord has to say!f 31Then they come to you as a group, sit down right in front of you as if they were my people, hear your words\and then they donft do what you say\ because theyfre seeking only their own desires, they pursue ill-gotten profits, and they keep following their own self-interests. 32As far as they are concerned, you sing romantic songs with a beautiful voice and play a musical instrument well. Theyfll listen to what you have to say, but they wonft put it into practice! 33When all of this comes about\and you can be sure that it will!\theyfll learn that a prophet has been in their midst.h
Chapter 34
1A message came from the Lord for me, and it had this to say: 2gSon of Man, prophesy against Israelfs shepherds. Tell those shepherds, eThis is what the Lord God says:
gWoe to you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves and not the sheep. Shouldnft shepherds feed the sheep? 3Youfre eating the best parts, clothing yourselves with the wool, and slaughtering the home-grown sheep without having fed the sheep! 4You havenft strengthened the weak, treated the sick, set broken bones, regathered the scattered, or looked for the lost. Instead, youfve dominated them with brutal force and ruthlessness.
5gSince they have no shepherd, they have been scattered around and have become prey for all sorts of wild animals. How scattered they are! 6My sheep have gone wandering on all of the mountains, on all of the hills, and throughout every high place in the whole world, with no one to look for them or go out in search of them.
7gTherefore listen to what the Lord says, you shepherds: 8eAs certainly as Ifm alive and living, my sheep have truly become victims, food for all of the wild animals because there are no shepherds. My shepherds did not go searching for my flock. Instead, the shepherds fed themselves, and my flock they would not feed!f
9gTherefore, you shepherds, listen to what the Lord says: 10eThis is what the Lord God says: gWatch out, Ifm coming after you shepherds! Ifm going to demand my sheep back from them and fire them as shepherds. The shepherds wonft be shepherds anymore when I snatch my flock right out of their mouths so they canft be eaten by them anymore.hfh
11gThis is what the Lord says: eWatch me! Ifm going to search for my flock. Ifll watch over them myself. 12Just as a shepherd looks after his flock during the day time while he is with them, so also Ifm going to watch over my sheep, delivering them from every place where theyfve been scattered during the times of gloom and doom. 13Ifm going to bring them out from foreign nations and from foreign lands. Then Ifll bring them to their own land and feed them in Israel\on the mountains, in their valleys, and in all of their settlements throughout the land. 14Ifll feed them in excellent pastures, and even the very heights of Israelfs mountains will serve as verdant pastures for them in which theyfll rest and feed\yes, even on the fertile mountains of Israel! 15I will feed my sheep and give them rest,f declares the Lord God. 16eIfm going to seek both the lost as well as the scattered, and bring them both back so their broken bones can be set and the sick can be healed. But in righteousness Ifll exterminate the fat and the stiff-necked.fh
17gNow as for you, my flock, this is what the Lord God says: eWatch out! Ifm going to judge between one sheep and another, and between the rams and the goats. 18Is it such an insignificant thing to you that youfre feeding in good pastures but trampling down the other pastures with your feet? Or that as youfre drinking from the clear streams youfre muddying the rest with your feet? 19My flock is grazing on what youfve been treading down with your feet and theyfre drinking what youfve been making muddy with your feet!f
20gTherefore this is what the Lord God says to them: eWatch me! Ifm going to judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep, 21since youfve been bumping aside all the weaker sheep with your backsides and shoulders, butting them with your horns until theyfre scattered around outside. 22Thatfs how Ifll save my sheep so they wonft be plundered any longer. Ifm going to judge between one sheep and another.fh
23geThen Ifll install one shepherd for them\my servant David\and he will feed them, will be there for them, and will serve as their shepherd. 24I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will rule among them as Prince.f I, the Lord, have spoken this.
25gIfm going to enter into a covenant with them, one of peace, and Ifll eliminate wild beasts from the land so they can live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests. 26Ifm going to make them and everything that surrounds my hill a blessing. Ifll send down the rain! At the appropriate time there will be a rainstorm of blessing! 27Ifll bring fruit to the trees in the orchards, the land will yield its produce, they will live securely on their land, and they will learn that I am the Lord, when I break the bar that has been their yoke and deliver them from the control of those who have enslaved them. 28They will no longer be plundered by the nations, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will settle down confidently, with nothing to frighten them. 29Ifm going to prepare for them the best of gardening spots. They will no longer live as victims in a land of starvation, nor will they have to bear the insults of the international community. 30Thatfs when theyfll learn that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people,f declares the Lord God. 31eAnd as for you, my sheep, the flock that Ifm pasturing, you are mankind, and I am your God,f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 35
1A message came to me from the Lord and it went like this: 2gSon of Man, turn your attention toward Mount Seir and begin to prophesy against it. 3Tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says:
gWatch out! Ifm coming to get you, Mount Seir!
Ifm stretching out my hand to strike you,
and Ifm going to turn you into a desolate wasteland.
4Ifm going to turn your cities into ghost towns,
and you will become a ruin.
Then you will learn
that I am the Lord.
5gBecause of your undying hatred, you kept on making the Israelis experience abuse during the time of their calamity, even when they were in their final stages of punishment, 6therefore as Ifm alive and living,h declares the Lord God, gIfm turning you over to bloodshed, and bloodshed will certainly overtake you, since you never have hated shedding blood. Thatfs why bloodshed will certainly pursue you. 7Ifm turning Mount Seir over to ruin and desolation. Ifm going to eliminate everyone who comes and goes, 8and Ifll fill that mountain with the dead. Those who die by violence will cover your hills, and fill your valleys and all your ravines! 9I will turn you into an everlasting wasteland, and your cities will never be inhabited. Then youfll learn that I am the Lord!
10gBecause you have claimed, eThese two nations and these two lands are going to belong to me, and we will take possession of them, even though the Lord is there,f 11therefore as Ifm alive and livingh declares the Lord God, gIfm going to deal with you as your anger deserves. When I judge you, Ifll treat you like you did the Israelis\that is, with the same kind of envy that motivated your constant hatred of them. 12Thatfs how youfll know that I, the Lord, have heard every loathsome, reviling thing that youfve had to say against the mountains of Israel, such as, eTheyfre desolate, and wefll eat them for dinner!f 13Not only that, youfve arrogantly reviled me many times over, and Ifve heard every word! 
14gSo this is what the Lord God says: eJust as the earth rejoices, Ifm going to turn you into a desolate wasteland. 15Just as you rejoiced when Israelfs inheritance became desolate, Ifm going to do the same thing to you. Mount Seir, you and Edom\all of you\will become a desolate wasteland.f Then they will learn that I am the Lord.h
Chapter 36
1gNow as for you, Son of Man, prophesy to Israelfs mountains and tell them, eListen to this message from the Lord, you mountains of Israel: 2gThis is what the Lord God says: eThe enemy has been saying about you, gGood! The ancient heights are back in our possession!hfhf
3gTherefore this is what you are to prophesy: eHerefs what the Lord God says, gYoufve been turned into a desolate wasteland and crushed by everyone who surrounds you for a very, very good reason. Youfve become the property of all the other nations and youfve become the object of gossip and whispering campaigns of the nations.hfh
4gTherefore listen to what the Lord God has to say, you mountains of Israel: eThis is what the Lord God says to the mountains, to the hills, to the waterways, to the valleys, to the desolate wastelands, and to the abandoned cities that have become an object of derision to the mountains that surround you: 5geBecause this is what the Lord God says: gMotivated by my burning zealousness, I have spoken against the rest of the surrounding nations, including Edom, who confiscated my land, taking possession of it with joyful enthusiasm and with animal-like malice, in order to plunder Israelfs pastures.f 6gTherefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and speak to its mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys. Tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says: gPay attention! In my zealous anger Ifm speaking because youfve had to endure the mockery of the worldfs nations.hfh
7gTherefore this is what the Lord God says: gI hereby raise my hand to swear this oath: the nations that surround you will have their own mockery to endure! 8But you mountains of Israel are going to sprout branches and bear fruit for my people Israel, because theyfll be coming soon.fh
9gWatch me! Ifm on your side! Ifll be turning in your direction, and you mountains will be plowed and planted. 10Ifm going to make the entire house of Israel grow\every single member\and their cities will be inhabited with all the ruins rebuilt. 11Ifll make both the population and the livestock increase throughout your territories. Theyfll increase and be fruitful. Ifll make your territories to be settled like you were in the past, and you will be treated better than you ever were before. At that time you will know that I am the Lord.
12gIfll lead my people, my nation of Israel, across you mountains, and they will take possession of you again, and youfll be their inheritance once more. Never again will you leave them robbed of children.
13gThis is what the Lord God says: eBecause some have been saying to you, gYou mountains have been devouring human beings and leaving people childless,h 14therefore you will no longer devour human beings or leave their nation childless,f declares the Lord God. 15eI wonft let you hear other people mock you, and no nation will ever make you childless again,f declares the Lord God.h
16This message came to me from the Lord: 17gSon of Man, when the house of Israel was living on their own land, they defiled it with their lifestyles and behavior; they were as disqualified to be with me as a menstruating woman is to you. 18So I poured out my anger on them because of all the bloodshed throughout the land and because they had defiled it with their idolatry. 19Then I scattered them among the nations, dispersing them to other lands, just as their lifestyles and behavior deserved. Thatfs how I judged them. 20Nevertheless, when they arrived in those nations, they continued to profane my holy name. It was said about them, eThese are the Lordfs people, even though theyfve left his land.f 21Ifve been concerned about my holy reputation, which the house of Israel has been defiling throughout all of the nations where theyfve gone.h
22gTherefore tell the house of Israel, eThis is what the Lord God says: gIfm not about to act for your sake, you house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy reputation, which you have been defiling throughout all of the nations where youfve gone. 23Ifm going to affirm my great reputation that has been defiled among the nations (that is, that you have defiled in their midst), and those people will learn that I am the Lord,h declares the Lord God, gwhen I affirm my holiness in front of their very eyes. 24Ifm going to remove you from the nations, gather you from all of the territories, and bring you all back to your own land. 25Ifll sprinkle pure water on you all, and youfll be cleansed from your impurity and from all of your idols.h
26gegIfm going to give you a new heart, and Ifm going to give you a new spirit within all of your deepest parts. Ifll remove that rock-hard heart of yours and replace it with one thatfs sensitive to me. 27Ifll place my spirit within you, empowering you to live according to my regulations and to keep my just decrees. 28Youfll live in the land that I gave to your ancestors, youfll be my people, and I will be your God. 29In addition, Ifll deliver you from everything that makes you unclean. Ifll call out to the grain you plant, ordering it to produce abundant yields, and I will never bring famine in your direction. 30Ifll increase the yields of your fruit trees and crops so that youfll never again experience the disgrace of famine that occurs in other nations. 31Then youfll remember your lifestyles and practices that were not good. Youfll hate yourselves as you look at your own iniquities and loathsome practices. 32I wonft be doing any of this for your sake,h declares the Lord God, gso keep that in mind. Be ashamed and frustrated because of your behavior, you house of Israel!hfh
33gThis is what the Lord God says: eAt the same time that I cleanse you from all of your guilt, Ifll make your cities become inhabited again and the desolate wastelands will be rebuilt. 34The desolate fields will be cultivated, replacing the former wasteland that everyone who passed by in times past had noticed. 35They will say, gThis wasteland has become like the garden of Eden, and what used to be desolate ruins are now fortified and inhabited.h 36Then the surviving people that live around you will learn that I, the Lord, have rebuilt these ruins and have cultivated these pastures that used to be desolate wastelands. I, the Lord, have spoken this, and Ifm going to bring it about!f
37gThis is what the Lord God has to say: eIfm going to allow the house of Israel to ask anything they want from me, including this: Ifm going to increase their population as a shepherd increases his flock. 38The desolate cities will be filled with flocks of human beings, just like Jerusalem used to be filled with flocks of sheep during the times of the appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am the Lord.fh
Chapter 37
1The Lord laid his hand on me and brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord to the middle of a valley that was filled with bones. 2He led me here and there throughout the valley, and I was amazed to see that the surface of the entire valley was covered with myriads of very dry bones! 3The Lord asked me, gSon of Man, will these bones ever live?h
gLord God,h I replied, gyou know the answer to that!h
4Then the Lord told me, gProphesy to these bones. Tell them: eYou dry bones, listen to the message from the Lord: g 5This is what the Lord God says to you dry bones! ePay attention! Ifm bringing my Spirit into you right now, and youfre going to live! 6Ifm going to grow tendons on you, regenerate your flesh, cover you with skin, and make you breathe again so that you can come back to life and learn that I am the Lord.fhfh
7So I prophesied, just as I had been ordered to do so. Immediately there was a noise and a rattling\and then all of a sudden the bones came together by themselves! Each bone came together, all of them attached together! 8As I continued to watch, I saw tendons growing on the bones, and muscles growing and covering them, and then skin covered the flesh from above. But the bodies werenft breathing. 9Then he ordered me, gProphesy to the Spirit, Son of Man. Tell the Spirit, eThis is what the Lord God says: gCome from the four winds, you Spirit, and breathe into these people who have been killed, so they will live.hfh 10So I prophesied as I had been ordered, breath entered them, and they began to live. They stood on their own feet as a vast, united army.
11gThese bones represent the entire house of Israel,h the Lord explained to me. gLook how they keep saying, eOur bones are dried up, and our future is lost. Wefve been completely eliminated!f 12gTherefore prophesy to them, and tell them, eWatch me! Ifm going to open your graves, lift you out of those graves, and bring my people back into the land of Israel. 13Then youfll learn that I am the Lord, when Ifve opened your graves and caused you to come up out of them, my people. 14Ifm going to place my Spirit in you all, and you will live. Ifll place you all into your land, and youfll learn that I, the Lord, have been speaking and doing this,f declares the Lord.fh
15A message came to me from the Lord, and this is what it was: 16gNow as for you, Son of Man, grab a stick of wood for yourself and write on it these words:
eFor Judah and the Israelis, his companionsf
gThen grab another stick and write on it:
eFor Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel, his companionsf
17gThen join them together end-to-end so that they become a single baton in your hand. 18When the descendants of your people ask you, eWould you please explain to us what you mean by this?f 19you are to tell them, eThis is what the Lord says: gWatch me! Ifm taking the baton that represents Joseph, which Ephraim is holding in his hand, along with his companions the tribes of Israel, and Ifm going to join them with the baton that represents Judah. Ifm making them a single baton, that is, a complete baton in my hand.h
20gThe batons on which you engrave your writing are to remain right in front of them in your hand. 21Then tell them, eThis is what the Lord God says: gWatch me take the Israelis out of the nations where theyfve gone and return them from every direction. Ifm going to bring them back into their own land. 22Ifm going to make them a united people in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and Ifll set a single king to rule over them. Theyfll never again be two separate people. Theyfll never again be divided into two kingdoms. 23They will never again defile themselves with their idols, with other loathsome things, or with any of their sins. Instead, I will deliver them from all of the places where they have sinned, and then Ifll cleanse them. They will be my people and I will be their God.hfh
24gegMy servant King David will be there for them, and one shepherd will be appointed for them. They will live according to my decrees, keep my regulations, and practice them. 25They will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob and on which your ancestors lived. They will live in that land, along with their children and grandchildren, forever. David my servant will be their everlasting leader. 26Ifll make a secure covenant with them, one that will last forever. I will establish them, make them increase in population, and will place my sanctuary in their midst forever. 27I will pitch my tent among them and will be their God. They will be my people, 28and the nations will learn that I, the Lord, am the sanctifier of Israel when I place my sanctuary in their midst forever.hfh
Chapter 38
1This message from the Lord came to me: 2gSon of Man, turn your attention toward Gog, from the land of Magog, leader of the head of Meshech, and of Tubal. Prophesy this against him: 3eThis is what the Lord God says: gWatch out! Ifm coming after you, Gog, leader of the head of Meshech, and of Tubal. 4Ifm going to turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out\you and your whole army\along with your horses and cavalry riders, all of them richly attired, a magnificent company replete with buckler and shield, and all of them wielding battle swords. 5Persia, Cush, and Libya will be accompanying them, all of them equipped with shields and helmets. 6Gomer with all its troops, and the household of Togarmah from the remotest parts of the north with all its troops\many people will accompany you. 7Be prepared. Yes, prepare yourself\you and all of your many battalions that have gathered together around you to protect you.
8gegMany days from now\in the latter years\you will be summoned to a land that has been restored from violence. You will be gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which formerly had been a continual waste, but which will be populated with people who have been brought back from the nations. All of them will be living there securely. 9Youfll arise suddenly, like a tornado, coming like a windstorm to cover the land, you and all your soldiers with you, along with many nations.hfh
10gThis is what the Lord God says: eThis is whatfs going to happen on the very day that you begin your invasion: Youfll be thinking, making evil plans, 11and boasting, gIfm going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors. 12Ifm going to confiscate anything I can put my hands on. Ifll attack the restored ruins and the people who have been gathered together from the nations, who are acquiring livestock and other goods, and who live at the center of the worldfs attention.h 13eBusinessmen based in Sheba, Dedan, Tarshish, and all of its growling lions will ask you, gAre you coming for war spoils? Have you assembled your armies to carry off silver and gold, and to gather lots of war booty?hfh
14gTherefore, Son of Man, prophesy to Gog and tell him, eThis is what the Lord God says: gWhen the day comes when my people are living securely, wonft you be aware of it? 15Youfll come in from your home in the remotest parts of the north. Youfll come with many nations, all of them riding along on horses. Youfll be a huge, combined army. 16Youfll come up to invade my people Israel like a storm cloud to cover the land. In the last days, Gog, Ifll bring you up to invade my land so that the world will learn to know me when I show them how holy I am before their very eyes.hfh
17gThis is what the Lord God says: eSurely youfre the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings of my servants, Israelfs prophets, arenft you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didnft they? 18So it will be that on that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel,f declares the Lord God, emy zeal will ignite my anger. 19Because of my zeal and burning anger, at that time there will be a massive earthquake throughout the land of Israel. 20Ifm going to shake the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the wild beasts, all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and every single human being who lives on the surface of the earth. Mountains will collapse, as will their mountain passages, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21Then Ifll call for war against Gog on top of every mountain,f declares the Lord God, eand every weapon of war will be turned against their fellow soldier. 22Ifll judge them with disease and bloodshed. Ifll shower him, his soldiers, and the vast army that accompanies him with a torrential flood, hailstones, fire, and sulfur. 23I will exalt myself and demonstrate my holiness, making myself known to many people, who will learn that I am the Lord.fh
Chapter 39
1gNow as for you, Son of Man, prophesy against Gog and tell him, eThis is what the Lord God has to say: gWatch out, Gog, you leader of the head of Meshech and of Tubal! 2Ifm going to turn you around, drag you along to your destruction, and bring you up from the farthest parts of the north, and carry you to the mountains of Israel. 3There I will strike your bow from your left hand and your arrows from your right, causing your fall. 4You will collapse on the mountains of Israel, along with all of your soldiers and the nations that have accompanied you. There the raptors, vultures, and wild animals will feed on you. 5You will fall dead in the open fields, because I have ordered this to happen,f declares the Lord God. 6eIfm also going to incinerate Magog, along with those who are settled down and at home in the islands. Thatfs when theyfll learn that I am the Lord. 7Ifll make my holiness and reputation known in the midst of my people Israel, and I wonft let my holiness be profaned anymore. The nations will learn that I, the Lord, am holy in the midst of Israel. 8Pay attention! Itfs coming and will certainly happen,f declares the Lord God. eThis will be the day about which Ifve spoken!fhfh
9gAfter all this happens, the people who live in the cities of Israel will be kindling fires for seven years, using small shields, large shields, bows, arrows, clubs, personal weapons, and spears to do so. 10They wonft need to cut down trees from the fields nor gather firewood from the forests, because they will light fires with the weapons as they plunder the plunderers and loot the looters!h declares the Lord God. 11gWhen all of this happens, Ifm going to set aside a grave site for Gog in Israelfs Travelerfs Valley, near the approach to the Dead Sea. She will block off everyone who tries to bypass it. There they will bury Gog, and rename the area eValley of Gogfs Gangf. 12The house of Israel will be burying them for seven months in order to purify the land. 13Everyone in the land will be involved in the burials, and this will serve as a reminder for them that I have glorified myself,h declares the Lord God. 14gMen will be assigned to travel continuously throughout the land, exploring for seven full months as they go about burying the bodies that remain from the battle on the surface of the ground, so that the land may be sterilized. 15As scouts go searching throughout the land, whenever they see someonefs bones, they will place a sign beside the remains until the remains have been buried in the Valley of Gogfs Gang. 16Theyfll also name the city that is there eHamonah,f as they purify the land.h
17gNow as for you, Son of Man, this is what the Lord God has to say: eTell all of the birds and wild beasts, gCome! Gather together and participate in the sacrifice that Ifm going to make for you. This great sacrifice will take place on the mountains of Israel, where youfll be eating flesh and drinking blood. 18Youfll eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the worldfs princes, drinking the blood of these rams, lambs, goats, bulls, all of them fattened as if theyfre from Bashan, fit for slaughter! 19Youfll eat until youfre fat and satiated. Youfll drink blood until youfre drunk from the sacrifice that Ifm going to make for all of you. 20Youfll be fully satiated at my table, dining on horse flesh, horsemen, elite soldiers, and every kind of warrior,h declares the Lord God. 21eIfm going to display my glory among the people, and every nation will see the judgment that I administer by my own hand among them. 22The house of Israel will learn that I am the Lord their God from that day forward! 23The nations will also learn that because of Israelfs sin the house of Israel went into captivity, since they were unfaithful in their behavior toward me. As a result, I hid my presence from them, turned them over to the control of their enemies, and they died by violence. 24It was because of their defilement and transgression that I treated them this way by hiding my presence from them.fh
25gTherefore this is what the Lord God has to say: eIfm going to restore the resources of Jacob and show mercy to the entire house of Israel. Ifll be zealous for my own reputation and for my holiness. 26Theyfll forget their shame and all of their unfaithfulness by which they behaved so unfaithfully toward me. They will live on their land in confidence, not in fear. 27When I bring them back from the nations and gather them together from the lands that belong to their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them right in front of the eyes of the world, 28and they will learn that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into exile and who gathered them back to their land. I will not leave any of them remaining in exile. 29Ifll no longer hide my presence from them again when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel,f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 40
1At the beginning of year 25 of our captivity, on the tenth day of the fourteenth year after the destruction of Jerusalem\on that very day\the Lord grabbed me in his hand and took me there. 2God brought me in a series of visions to the land of Israel and placed me on top of a very high mountain, where to the south there was something that looked like the outline of a city. 3Thatfs where he took me. All of a sudden, there was a man whose appearance resembled glowing bronze! He had a measuring rod and line in his hand as he stood in the city gate. 4This is what the man told me: gSon of Man, watch carefully, listen closely, and remember everything Ifm going to be showing you, because youfve been brought here to be shown what youfre about to see. Be sure that you tell the house of Israel everything that you observe.h
5All of a sudden, we were at the exterior wall that completely surrounded the Temple. The man whom I had observed held a measuring rod that was ten and a half feet long as measured in cubits that were a cubit and a handbreadth long. As he measured the thickness of the wall, he measured out one rod. Its height was also one rod. 6Then he went over to the gate that faced toward the east, ascended its steps, and measured its thresholds. One threshold measured one rod and the other one measured one rod. 7Each guardhouse measured one rod long and one rod wide, and the distance between each guardhouse was five cubits. The threshold of the gate near the vestibule facing away from the Temple entrance measured one rod.
8Next, he measured the vestibule of the gate facing away from the Temple entrance at one rod. 9He measured the vestibule of the gate inside at eight cubits and the doorjambs at two cubits. (The vestibule at the gate faced away from the Temple.) 10Gate guardhouses stood facing east, numbering three on each side, each of them of equal size to the door jamb; that is, having the same measurement on each side. 11He measured the width of the gateway at ten cubits, and the length of the gate at thirteen cubits.
12The retaining wall in front of the guardhouses measured one cubit wide. It stood one cubit from the wall to the guardhouses, which were six cubits square. 13He measured the gate from the roof of the guardhouses to the roof of another at 25 cubits from doorway to opposite doorway. 14Then he measured the open air porch at 60 cubits from the doorjamb of the courtyard that encompassed the gate. 15The distance from the front entrance gate to the vestibule of the inner gate measured 50 cubits. 16Latticed windows faced the guardhouses, their side pillars within the gate all around, and also for the porches. Windows were placed all around inside, and the side pillars were engraved with palm trees.
17Next, he brought me into the outer court, where chambers and a paved area had been constructed all around the courtyard, with 30 chambers facing the pavement. 18The pavement to the side of the gates corresponded to the length of the gates. 19He also measured the width from the front lower gate to the front of the exterior inner court at 100 cubits to the east and to the north.
20Next, he measured the length and width of the outer north-facing gate to the courtyard. 21It was equipped with three guardhouses on each side. Its side pillars and porches had measurements identical to the first gate: 50 cubits long and 25 cubits wide. 22Its windows, porches, and palm tree ornaments had measurements identical to the east-facing gate. Reached by seven ascending steps, its porch lay to the front of the steps. 23From a gate that stood opposite the northern gate he measured 100 cubits, as well as from the eastern gate.
24Then he led me toward the south, where there was a gate with side pillar and porch measurements identical to the others. 25The gate and its porches contained windows all around, identical to the other windows. The length of the porch was 50 cubits and its width was 25 cubits. 26Seven steps led up to it, with a porch in front of them. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars, one on each side. 27The inner court contained a south-facing gate measuring 100 cubits from gate to gate toward the south.
28Next, he brought me to the inner courtyard by way of the south-facing gate. He measured the south-facing gate as having measurements identical to the others. 29The measurements of its guardhouses, its side pillars, and its porches were identical to the others. The gate and its porches contained windows all around. The length of the porch was 50 cubits and its width was 25 cubits. 30Porches lay all around, measuring 25 cubits long and five cubits wide, 31leading to the outer courtyard. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars. The stairway leading to it contained eight steps.
32Then he brought me into the inner east-facing courtyard, where he measured the gate, identical to the others. 33The measurement of its guardhouses, side pillars, and porches was identical to the others. The gate and its porches contained windows all around. The length of the porch was 50 cubits and its width was 25 cubits, 34leading to the outer courtyard. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars. The stairway leading to it contained eight steps.
35Next, he brought me to the north-facing gate, where he measured the gate, identical to the others. 36The measurement of its guardhouses, side pillars, and porches was identical to the others. The gate and its porches contained windows all around. The length of the porch was 50 cubits and its width was 25 cubits, 37leading to the outer courtyard. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars. The stairway leading to it contained eight steps. 38There was a chamber with a doorway by the side pillars next to the gate where they prepare the burnt offerings.
39In the porch leading in front of the gate there were two tables on either side for slaughtering burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, 40and on the outer side, approaching the northern gateway, there were two tables, as well as two tables on the opposite side of the porch in front of the gate. 41In that way, there were four tables on each side in front of the gate, for a total of eight tables for use in slaughtering the offerings.
42There were four tables carved from stone for the burnt offering, each one and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one cubit high, on which the instruments are laid for slaughtering burnt offerings and sacrifices. 43Double hooks, a single handbreadth in length, were installed all around in this portion of the temple area.
44From outside leading into the inner gate there were chambers for the choir. One was beside the north gate facing the south, and another was at the south gate facing the north. 45The angel told me, gThis south-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the Temple, 46and the north-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the altar. These are Zadokfs descendants, who, as descendants of Levi approach the Lord to minister directly to him.h 47He measured the court in the form of a square at 100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide. The altar stood in front of the Temple.
48Next, he brought me to the Temple porch and measured the side pillars at five cubits on each side. The width of the gate measured three cubits on each side. 49The porch was 20 cubits long and eleven cubits wide. The stairway by which it was ascended was equipped with columns attached to its side pillars, one on each side.
Chapter 41
1Next he brought me to the Temple and measured its door jambs at six cubits wide on each side of the structure. 2The entrance was ten cubits wide and its door jambs were five cubits wide on each side. He measured the length of the nave at 40 cubits and its width at 20 cubits.
3Then he went inside and measured the door jambs at two cubits wide and the doorway at six cubits high. The doorway was seven cubits wide. 4He measured its length at 20 cubits, its width at 20 cubits in front of the structure, and then he told me, gThis is the most holy area.h
5Next, he measured the Temple walls at six cubits high and the width of the side chambers at four cubits around all four sides of the Temple. 6The side chambers consisted of three stories, each above the other, with 30 chambers in each story. The side chambers extended out from the wall that faced the inside of the chambers where the chambers were fastened together, but the chamber walls were not fastened directly into the Temple walls themselves. 7The side chambers surrounding the Temple were wider at each successive story, because the surrounding structure ascended by proportional increments as it rose, ascending to the highest story by going up successively from the lowest.
8I observed a raised platform that surrounded the Temple, and the foundations of the side chambers were a full six cubits deep. 9The outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits thick, and there was an empty space between the Templefs side chambers 10and its outer chambers 20 cubits in width, surrounding the Temple on each side. 11The side chamber doorway facing the free space contained a single north-facing doorway and a second south-facing doorway. The width of the free space was five cubits all around the perimeter. 12The building that faced the west side of the courtyard was 70 cubits wide, and the buildingfs wall was five cubits thick all around. It was 90 cubits long.
13Then he measured the Temple. It was 100 cubits long, and the courtyard, its building, and its walls were 100 cubits long. 14The front of the Temple and its east-facing courtyard were each 100 cubits long. 15Next, he measured 100 cubits as the length of the structure toward the front of the courtyard that stood behind it, where it housed a gallery on each side of it. Then he measured the Temple and the inner porticos of the courtyard, 16the thresholds, the shielded windows, and the surrounding three-storied galleries that stood opposite. From the ground to the shielded windows, they were paneled with wood all around, 17including up to the doorway, up to the Temple (both within and without) and all around both sides of the inner wall, according to his measurement. 18There were carved cherubim and palm trees, alternating with a palm tree between a cherub, and each cherub had two faces, 19with a human face looking toward the palm tree on one side and a young lionfs face looking toward the palm tree on the other side. These carvings extended all the way around the Temple, 20from the ground to above the doorway, as well as on the walls of the main sanctuary.
21The door posts of the main sanctuary were square. Each door post was identical in appearance to the others. 22The altar was made of wood, three cubits high and two cubits long. Its corners, base, and sides were of wood. He told me, gThis table stands in the Lordfs presence.h
23The nave and the sanctuary each were equipped with double doors. 24Each door had two sections mounted on hinges, for a total of two sections for one door and two sections for the other. 25The doors of the nave had carvings engraved on them, consisting of cherubim and palm trees identical to those on the walls. The front of the exterior porch was equipped with a wooden threshold. 26Shielded windows and palm trees were visible on both sides; that is, on the sides of the porch, the side chambers of the Temple, and on its thresholds.
Chapter 42
1Then he brought me to the outer, north-facing courtyard into the chamber that stood opposite the structure that was facing north. 2It stood 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide, with a door in the middle. 3Opposite the 20 cubits wide inner court, and opposite the paved area that comprised the outer court, there were three stories of galleries that faced each other. 4In front of the chambers there was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and 100 cubits wide, the openings to which were on the north. 5The upper chambers were narrower, since the galleries required more space than did the lower and middle portions of the building. 6The three part structure had no columns, unlike the courts, which is why the upper chambers were offset from the ground upward, more so than the lower and middle chambers.
7The outer wall by the side of the chambers toward the outer court and facing the chambers was 50 cubits long. 8While the chambers in the outer court were 50 cubits in length, the chambers facing the Temple were 100 cubits long. 9Below these chambers, as one might enter from the outer court, was the east side entrance. 10There were chambers built into the thick part of the wall of the court facing the east; that is, facing the separate area toward the front of the building, 11with a passageway in front of them, similar in appearance to the chambers that were on the north, proportional to their length and width, with all of their exits according to their arrangements and doorways. 12Corresponding to the chamber doorways facing the south was an opening at the beginning of the passage; that is, the passage in front of the corresponding part of the wall facing east as one might enter.
13Then he told me, gThe north and south chamber, which are opposite the courtyard, are consecrated areas where the priests who approach the Lord will eat consecrated offerings and lay the consecrated grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, because the area is holy. 14When the priest enters, they will not enter the outer court from the sanctuary without having removed their garments worn during their time of ministry, because they are holy. They will put on different clothes, and then they will approach the area reserved for the people.h
15After he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the east-facing gate and measured it all around. 16He measured the east side at 500 reeds, according to the length of the measuring stick, 17the north side at 500 reeds, according to the length of the measuring stick, 18the south side at 500 reeds, according to the length of the measuring stick, 19and the west side at 500 reeds, according to the length of the measuring stick. 20He measured a wall that encompassed all four sides, 500 hundred long and 500 wide, dividing between the sacred and common areas.
Chapter 43
1Next, he brought me to the east-facing gate, 2and the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. His voice sounded like roaring water, and the land shimmered from his glory. 3His appearance in the vision that I was having was similar to what I observed in the vision where he had come to destroy the city, and also like the visions that I saw by the Chebar River. I fell flat on my face 4while the glory of the Lord entered the Temple through the east-facing gate. 5Just then, the Spirit lifted me up and carried me into the inner courtyard, where the glory of the Lord was filling the Temple! 6I heard someone speaking to me from the Temple, and a man appeared, standing beside me!
7gSon of Man,h the Lord God told me, gThis is where my throne is, where I place the soles of my feet, and where I will live among the Israelis forever. The house of Israel will no longer defile my holy name\neither they nor their kings\by their unfaithfulness, by the lifeless idols of their kings on their funeral mounds, 8by their setting up their threshold too close to my threshold and their door post too close to my door post, with a wall between me and them. After all, they have defiled my holy name by the loathsome things that they did, so I devoured them in my anger. 9But now let them send their unfaithfulness\that is, the lifeless idols of their kings\far away from me, and I will live among them forever.h
10gAnd now, Son of Man, describe the Temple to the house of Israel. They will be ashamed because of their sin. They will measure its pattern. 11If they are ashamed of everything that theyfve done, you are to reveal to them the design of the Temple, its structure, its exits and entrances, its plans, its ordinances, and all of its regulations. Write it down where they can see it and remember all of its designs and regulations, so they will implement them. 12This is to be the regulation for the Temple: the entire area on top of the mountain is to be considered wholly consecrated. This is to be the law of the Temple.h
13gHere are the measurements of the altar in cubits that were a cubit and a handbreadth long: its base is a cubit long and a cubit wide, and its border around the edge at one handbreadth is to be the height of the altar. 14From the base on the ground to its lower edge is to be two cubits, with its width to be one cubit. From the lesser ledge to the larger edge is to be four cubits. Its width is to be one cubit. 15The hearth is to be four cubits high, and four horns are to extend upwards from the hearth. 16The hearth is to be twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide; that is, it will be a four-sided square. 17It is to have a ledge fourteen cubits long by fourteen cubits wide around the four sides. Its border is to be half a cubit and its base is to be a cubit all around, with its steps facing east.h
18Then he told me, gThis is what the Lord God says: eThese are the regulations for the altar, starting the day that it is constructed for presenting burnt offerings and sprinkling blood. 19You are to present to the Levitical priests, Zadokfs descendants, who will approach me to serve me, a young bull for a sin offering,f declares the Lord God. 20You are to take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of its ledge, and on the border that surrounds it, thus cleansing it and making an atonement for it. 21You are also to present a bull for a sin offering, incinerating it in the appointed place at the Temple, outside the sanctuary.
22eThe second day following commencement of offerings, you are to offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering to cleanse the altar the same way they cleansed it with the bull. 23After youfve finished the cleansing, you are to present a young bull without defect and a ram from the flock without defect. 24You are to present them in the Lordfs presence, and the priests are to throw salt on them and then present them as a burnt offering to the Lord.
25eEvery day for a week, you are to prepare a goat for a sin offering, a young bull, and a ram from the flock, each without defect. 26For a seven day period they are to make atonement for the altar, purifying it and consecrating it. 27When they will have completed this period, starting the next day, the priests are to offer your burnt offerings on the altar, along with your peace offerings, and I will accept you,f declares the Lord God.h
Chapter 44
1Then the Lord God brought me back through the east-facing outer gate of the sanctuary. But it was shut. 2The Lord told me, gThis gate is to remain shut. It will not be opened. No man is to enter through it, because the Lord God of Israel entered through it, so it is to remain shut. 3The Regent Prince will be seated there, as Regent Prince, and will dine in the Lordfs presence, entering through the portico of the gate and exiting through it also.h
4Then he brought me through the north-facing gate to the front of the Temple. As I looked, the glory of the Lord filled the Lordfs Temple, and I fell flat on my face! 5Then the Lord told me, gSon of Man, watch carefully, listen closely, and remember everything Ifm going to be telling you about all the statutes pertaining to the Lordfs Temple and all of its laws. Pay careful attention to the entrance to the Temple, along with all of the exits to the sanctuary.h
6gYou are to tell the Resistance\that is, the house of Israel, eThis is what the Lord God says: gIfve had enough of all of your loathsome behavior, you house of Israel! 7You kept on bringing in foreigners, those who were uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to profane my sanctuary by being inside my Temple, and by doing so youfve emptied my covenant, all the while offering my food\the fat and the blood\in addition to all of the other loathsome things youfve done. 8Furthermore, you havenft paid attention to the requirements for my holy things. Instead, you placed foreigners in charge of my sanctuary.hf
9gThis is what the Lord God says, eNo foreigner who is both uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the Israelis is to enter my sanctuary. 10But the descendants of Levi, who went far away from me when Israel abandoned me, who left me to follow their idols, are to bear the punishment of their iniquity. 11Nevertheless, they are to serve in my sanctuary, overseeing the gates of the Temple, taking care of the Temple, slaughtering the burnt offerings and the sacrifices presented for the people, standing in the presence of the people, and ministering to them. 12Because they kept serving them in the presence of their idols, becoming a sin-filled stumbling block to the house of Israel,f declares the Lord God.
geI have sworn to them that they are to bear the consequences of their iniquity. 13They are not to come near me to serve me as a priest, nor approach any of my holy things, including the most holy things. Instead, they are to bear the shame of the loathsome things that they have done. 14Nevertheless, I will appoint them to take care of my Temple, including all of its service and everything that is to be done inside of it.fh
15gThe descendants of Zadok, Levitical priests who took care of my sanctuary when the Israelis wandered away from me, are to come near me to minister to me. They are to stand before me to offer the fat and the blood to me,h declares the Lord God. 16gThey are to enter my sanctuary, approach my table to minister to me, and carry out my requirements. 17Whenever they enter at the gates of the inner court, they are to be clothed with linen garments. They are not to wear wool when they are ministering within the gates of the inner courtyard or in the Temple. 18Linen turbans are to be on their heads, and they are to wear linen undergarments. Also, they are not to clothe themselves with anything that makes them perspire.
19gWhen they enter the outer courtyard, that is, the outer courtyard where the people are, they are to take off their garments in which they were ministering, lay them in the consecrated chambers, and put on different garments so they will not transfer holiness to the people through their garments. 20Also, they are not to shave their heads nor let their hair grow long. Instead, they are certainly to trim the hair on their heads. 21None of the priests are to drink wine after entering the inner courtyard. 22They are not to marry a widow or a divorced woman. Instead, they are to marry virgins from the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.h
23gThey are to teach my people how to discern what is holy in contrast to what is common, showing them how to discern between what is unclean and clean. 24When disputes arise, they are to serve as a judge, adjudicating matters according to my ordinances. They are to enforce my laws, my statutes, all of my appointed festivals, and they are to sanctify my Sabbaths. 25They are not to come in contact with a dead body, so they donft defile themselves, except in the case of their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or for an unmarried sister, on whose behalf they may defile themselves. 26After he is cleansed from that contact, he is to not to minister for seven days. 27On the day that he returns to the sanctuaryfs inner court to minister, he is to offer his own sin offering,h declares the Lord God.
28gNow with respect to the priestsf inheritances, I am to be their inheritance, and you are to give them no possession in Israel, since I am their possession. 29They are to eat the grain offerings, sin offering, and guilt offering. Everything consecrated in Israel is to belong to them. 30The first portion of all the first fruits of every kind and every offering of any kind is to be for the priests. You are to give the priest the first portion of your grain. As a result a blessing will rest on your household. 31However, the priests are not to eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or that has been torn apart.h
Chapter 45
1gWhen you divide the land for an inheritance, you are to present a Terumah to the Lord, a consecrated portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. Everything within this area is to be treated as holy. 2A Holy Place is to be dedicated from this area in the form of a square measuring 500 by 500 cubits, with a 50 cubit buffer zone surrounding it. 3From this area a measure is to be made 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide, which is to contain the sanctuary, the holiest of holy objects. 4It is to be a holy portion of the land, set aside for the priests who serve the sanctuary, who approach the Lord to serve him. It is to be a place for their houses, as well as the Holy Place of the sanctuary. 5An area 25,000 cubits long by 10,000 cubits wide is to be set aside for use by the Levite servants of the Temple, 20 parcels for their residential properties. 6The land allocation for the city is to be set at 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, adjacent to the sanctuary district, reserved for the entire house of Israel.h
7gThe Regent Prince is to have a portion on both sides of the consecrated allotment for the sanctuary and the cityfs land allotment, adjacent to both on the west and the east sides, comparable in length to one of the portions from the west border to the east border. 8This property in Israel is to belong to the Regent Prince, so my regent princes will no longer mistreat my nation. The remaining portion of the land is to be allotted to the house of Israel, that is, to its tribes.h
9gThis is what the Lord God says, eEnough of you, you regent princes of Israel! Abandon your violence and destruction. Practice what is just and right instead! Stop confiscating property from my people!f declares the Lord God. 10eYoufre to use an honest scale, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure! 11The ephah and the bath are to be of equal volume; that is, the bath is to contain one tenth of a homer and the ephah one tenth of a homer. The homer is to be the standard on which their volume measurement is to be based. 12The shekel is to weigh 20 gerahs. The mina is to be comprised of three coins weighing 20, 25, and fifteen shekels, respectively.fh
13gHere are the standards for presenting offerings: a sixth of an ephah that is based on the standard homer of wheat, and a sixth of an ephah based on the standard homer of barley. 14The olive oil quota is to be based on the bath, measured at ten baths to each homer, which is equal to one kor. 15The sheep quota is to be one from each flock of 200 taken from the pastures of Israel. From all of these you are to present grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement for them,h declares the Lord God.
16gThe entire nation living in the land is to present this offering to the Regent Prince in Israel. 17The Regent Prince is to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings at the festivals, on the New Moons and Sabbaths, and at all of the prescribed festivals of the house of Israel. He is to provide the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings in order to make atonement for the house of Israel.h
18gThis is what the Lord God says, eOn the first day of the first month, you are to present a young bull without defect in order to cleanse the sanctuary. 19The priest is to place some of the blood from the sin offering on the door posts of the Temple, on the four corners of the ledge around the altar, and on the posts of the gate leading to the inner court. 20You are also to do this on the seventh day of the month, to make atonement for any person who wanders away or who sins through ignorance in order to make atonement for the Temple.
21geOn the fourteenth day of the first month, you are to observe the Passover as a festival for seven days. Unleavened bread is to be eaten. 22On that day, the Regent Prince is to provide, both for himself and for all the people who live in the land, a bull for a sin offering. 23Each day during the seven days of the festival, he is to provide a burnt offering to the Lord, consisting of seven bulls and seven rams without defect, offered each day throughout the seven days, along with a male goat offered each day as a sin offering.
24geThe Regent Prince is also to present a grain offering consisting of an ephah with each bull and an ephah with each ram, along with a hin of olive oil mixed with an ephah of grain. 25On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, during a seven day festival, the Regent Prince is to present these as daily sin offerings, burnt offerings, and grain offerings mixed with oil.fh
Chapter 46
1gThis is what the Lord God says: eThe inner, east-facing courtyard is to remain shut during the six working days of the week, but on the Sabbath day it is to be opened, as well as on the day of the New Moon. 2The Regent Prince is to enter through the portico of the gate from outside and is to stand at the doorframe of the gate where the priests are to present the Regent Princefs burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the Regent Prince is to worship at the threshold of the gate and go out. The gate is not to be closed until evening. 3The people who live in the land are to worship at the doorway of the gate on the Sabbaths and New Moons in the Lordfs presence.fh
4geThe burnt offering that the Regent Prince is to present to the Lord on the Sabbath day is to consist of six lambs without defect, a ram without defect, 5a grain offering with the ram consisting of an ephah, a grain offering with the lambs consisting of whatever amount he brings with him, and a hin of oil with each ephah of grain. 6Furthermore, each New Moon there is to be a young bull presented without defect, six male lambs, and a ram without defect. 7The Regent Prince is to present an ephah of grain along with the bull, an ephah of grain along with the ram, a grain offering\consisting of as much as he is able to give\and a hin of olive oil with each ephah of grain.
8geThe Regent Prince is to enter through the portico of the gate and is to leave the same way he came in. 9When the people who live in the land come into the Lordfs presence during the festivals, whoever enters through the northern gate is to leave through the southern gate, and whoever enters through the southern gate is to leave through the northern gate. No one is to leave by the same route that he enters, but instead is to go straight out. 10The Regent Prince is to enter when they are coming in, and he is to leave when they go out.fh
11geThe grain offering for the festivals and appointed festivals is to include an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and as much grain with the lambs as the Regent Prince brings with him, along with a hin of oil with each ephah. 12Whenever the Regent Prince presents a voluntary offering, burnt offering, or peace offering, he is to present it voluntarily to the Lord, and the east-facing gate is to be opened for him. He is to provide his burnt offering and peace offering as he does on the Sabbath. When he leaves, the gate is to be shut behind him. 13He is to present a one year old lamb without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord in the morning every day. 14In addition, he is to present a grain offering with it every morning, consisting of a sixth of an ephah mixed with one third of a hin of oil. This grain offering is to be offered to the Lord as a permanent ordinance. 15They are to present the lamb offering, the grain offering, and the oil every morning as an ongoing burnt offering.fh
16gThis is what the Lord God says: eIf the Regent Prince gives a gift to someone, it is to remain with the manfs descendants as their own inheritance. 17But if he gives a gift to any of his servants, it is to belong to the servant until the Year of Release, at which time it is to be returned to the Regent Prince. His inheritance is to belong only to his sons. 18The Regent Prince is not to appropriate the nationfs inheritance nor take advantage of them by taking their property from them. Instead, he is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own possessions so that my people will not be separated from their possessions.fh
19Then the angel brought me in through an entrance beside the gate into the north-facing chambers dedicated to the priests. As I looked toward the rear of the far western end, I saw a place 20about which he said, gThis is where the priests will be boiling the guilt and sin offerings and baking the grain offerings so they donft bring them through the outer courtyard, thus diminishing the peoplefs holiness.h 21Then he brought me out to the exterior courtyard and led me across to each of the four corners of the courtyard. There in each corner was an enclosed area set aside, 22all of them the same size; that is, each was 40 cubits long and 30 cubits wide. 23A low wall built of masonry surrounded each courtyard, with boiling places set in rows in the wall. 24He told me, gThis is where the ministers of the Temple will be preparing the sacrifices that will be presented by the people.
Chapter 47
1After this, he brought me back to the doorway to the Temple. To my amazement, there was water flowing out toward the east from beneath the threshold of the Temple! (The Temple faced eastward.) The water flowed down from beneath the right side of the Temple, that is, from the south-facing side where the altar was located. 2Then he brought me out through the north gateway and around to the one outside that faces toward the east. To my amazement, water was trickling out from that part of the south side, too!
3As the man went out toward the east, he carried a measuring line in his hand. He measured out 1,500 feet as he led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4Then he measured out another 1,500 feet, where he led me through water that was knee-deep. And then he measured out another 1,500 feet, where the water was waist-deep. 5When he had measured out another 1,500 feet, the water had become deep enough that I wasnft able to ford it. Instead, I would have had to swim through it.
6Then, as he was bringing me back along the river bank, he asked me, gSon of Man, did you see all of this?h 7As we were coming back, I was amazed to see that there were many, many trees lining both banks of the river. 8He told me, gThis river flows toward the eastern territories all the way down into the Arabah, and from there its water flows toward the Dead Sea, where the sea water turns fresh. 9It will support all kinds of living creatures that will thrive abundantly wherever the river flows. There will be a great many fish, because this water will flow there and turn the salt water fresh. As a result, everything will live wherever the river flows. 10A day will come when fishermen will line its banks\from En-gedi to En-eglaim there will be plenty of room to spread out nets. There will be all sorts of species of fish, as abundant as the fish that live in the Mediterranean Sea. There will be lots of them!
11gThe river delta will consist of swamps and marshes that will remain a salt water wetland preserve. 12Lining each side of the river banks, all sorts of species of fruit trees will be growing. Their leaves will never wither and their fruit will never fail. They will bear fruit every month, because the water that nourishes them will be flowing from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves will contain substances that promote healing.h
13This is what the Lord God says: gThis is to be the territorial border by which you apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph double-portioned. 14Apportion it for their inheritances, distributing everything equally as if you were distributing things to your own brother, which is how I promised to give it to your ancestors. This way, the land will fall to you as an inheritance.
15gThis is to be the border for the land: on the north side, from the Mediterranean Sea by the Hethlon Road to the entrance of Zedad, 16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17The border is to proceed from the Mediterranean Sea to Hazer-enan (a border of Damascus), and on the north facing north is to be the border of Hamath. This is to be the north side.
18gThe eastern extremity is to proceed from between Hauran and Damascus, then between Gilead, and then through the land of Israel\the Jordan River. You are to measure from the northern border to the Dead Sea. This is to be the eastern perimeter.
19gYou are to determine the southern extremity running from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then from there proceeding to the Wadi, and then to the Mediterranean Sea. This is to be the southern perimeter.
20gThe western perimeter is to be the Mediterranean Sea, from the southernmost border to a location opposite the entrance to Hamath. This is to be the western perimeter.
21gYou are to apportion this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel, 22dividing it by lottery among yourselves and among the foreigners who live among you and bear children among you. You are to treat them like native-born Israelis. Among you they, too, are to be allotted an inheritance with the tribes of Israel. 23Furthermore, you are to provide the foreignerfs inheritance there in the tribe within which he remains,h declares the Lord God.
Chapter 48
1gThese are the names of the tribes from the northernmost extremity westward along the road from Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar-enan (a border of Damascus) northward to the coast of Hamath. The perimeter is to run east-to-west; the tribe of Dan with one portion; 2running along the border of the tribe of Dan from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Asher with one portion; 3running along the border of the tribe of Asher from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Naphtali with one portion; 4running along the border of the tribe of Naphtali from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Manasseh with one portion; 5running along the border of the tribe of Manasseh from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Ephraim with one portion; 6running along the border of the tribe of Ephraim from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Reuben with one portion; 7and running along the border of the tribe of Reuben from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Judah with one portion.h
8gRunning along the border of the tribe of Judah from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter you are to set apart the Terumah, 25,000 units wide, with its east-west length equal to one of the other apportionments, from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, with the Temple in the middle of it. 9The Terumah that you are to give to the Lord is to be 25,000 units wide.h
10gThe holy Terumah is to be reserved for these, the priests: Toward the north, 25,000 units in length; toward the west, 10,000 units in width; toward the east, 10,000 units in width; and toward the south, 25,000 units in length. The Lordfs sanctuary is to be in its midst. 11It is to be for use by priests from the descendants of Zadok, who have observed the things with which I charged them and who did not wander astray when the Israelis went astray, just as the descendants of Levi wandered astray. 12It is to be a Terumah for them from the allotment of the land, a Most Holy Place, adjoining the border of the descendants of Levi.h
13gAlongside the border of the priests, the descendants of Levi are to be allotted 25,000 units in length and 10,000 units in width. The entire length is to be 25,000 units and its width 10,000 units. 14Furthermore, they are not to sell or exchange any part of it, nor transfer these first fruits of the land, because it is holy to the Lord.
15gThe rest, 5,000 units wide and 25,000 units along its front, will serve as a common portion for use by the city for housing and open spaces, since the city is to be in its midst. 16These are to be its dimensions: the north side, 4,500 units; the south side, 4,500 units; the east side, 4,500 units; and the west side 4,500 units. 17The city is to have urban areas set aside: on the north 250 units; on the south, 250 units, on the east, 250 units; and on the west, 250 units.
18gThe remainder of the length that borders the holy Terumah is to be 10,000 units long eastward and 10,000 units westward. It is to lie adjacent to the holy Terumah. Its harvest will produce food for those who work in the city. 19The city workers who cultivate it are to come from all the tribes of Israel. 20The entire Terumah is to be 25,000 units by 25,000 units\you are to reserve it as a holy Terumah in the form of a square within the city limits.h
21gNow the remainder of the allotment on either side of the holy Terumah is to be for the Regent Prince and for city property\adjoining the 25,000 units along the eastern border and adjoining the 25,000 units along the western border, and parallel to the allotments. These are to be for the Regent Prince. The holy Terumah and the sanctuary of the Temple is to stand in the middle of it. 22Except for what belongs to the descendants of Levi and the city property, which will stand in the middle of what belongs to the Regent Prince, whatever is between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin is to belong to the Regent Prince.h
23gNow as to the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin is to retain one portion. 24Adjacent to the border of Benjamin running from east to west, Simeon is to retain one portion. 25Adjacent to the border of Simeon running from east to west, Issachar is to retain one portion. 26Adjacent to the border of Issachar running from east to west, Zebulun is to retain one portion. 27Adjacent to the border of Zebulun running from east to west, Gad is to retain one portion. 28Adjacent to the border of Gad to the south and extending toward the south, the border is to proceed from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then to the Wadi of Egypt, and from there to the Mediterranean Sea. 29This is the land that you are to allocate by lottery to the tribes of Israel as their inheritance, and these are their respective divisions,h declares the Lord God.
30gThese are the exits to the city: On the north side, 4,500 units by measurement, 31are to be the gates of the city. Named after the tribes of Israel, three gates are to serve the north site: one named the Reuben Gate, one named the Judah Gate, and one named the Levi Gate. 32On the east side, 4,500 units by measurement, there are to be three gates: one named the Joseph Gate, one named the Benjamin Gate, and one named the Dan Gate. 33On the south side, 4,500 units by measurement, there are to be three gates: one named the Simeon Gate, one named the Issachar Gate, and one named the Zebulun Gate. 34On the west side, 4,500 units by measurement, there are to be three gates: one named the Gad Gate, one named the Asher Gate, and one named the Naphtali Gate. 35A perimeter is to measure 18,000 units, and the name of the city from that time on is to be:
eThe Lord is There.fh
Daniel
Chapter 1
1In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. 2Within a week, the Lord handed King Jehoiakim of Judah over to him, along with valuable objects from the house of God. Nebuchadnezzar brought them to the temple of his god in the land of Shinar and stored them in its treasure house.
3The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief officer, to bring in some Israelis of royal and noble descent. 4They were to be young men without physical defect, handsome in appearance, skilled in all wisdom, quick to learn, prudent in how they used knowledge, and capable of serving in the kingfs palace. They were to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
5The king assigned them fine food and choice wine on a daily basis, ordering them to be trained for three years, at the end of which time they would enter the kingfs service. 6Included among the people of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7The chief officer assigned the name gBelteshazzarh to Daniel, the name gShadrachh to Hananiah, the name gMeshachh to Mishael, and the name gAbednegoh to Azariah.
8Daniel determined within himself not to become defiled by the kingfs menu of rich foods or by the kingfs wine, so he requested permission from the chief officer not to defile himself. 9God granted to Daniel grace and compassion on the part of the chief officer. 10The chief officer told Daniel, gI fear his majesty the king, who has determined what you eat and drink. If he notices that your faces are more pale than the other young men in your group, I will forfeit my head to the king.h
11But Daniel told the guard whom the chief officer had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12gPlease test your servants for ten days and let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare how we look with the young men who ate the kingfs rich food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you observe.h
14So he listened to what Daniel said and tested them for ten days. 15At the end of ten days their appearance was better and their faces were well-nourished compared to the young men who ate the kingfs rich food. 16So the guard took away their rich food and wine, giving them vegetables. 17As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge, aptitude for learning, and wisdom. Daniel also could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
18Then at the end of the training period that the king had established, the chief officer brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19When the king spoke to them, none of them compared to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah as they stood before the king. 20In every matter of wisdom or understanding that the king discussed with them, he found them ten times superior to all the astrologers and enchanters in his entire palace.
21So Daniel remained there in service until the first year of King Cyrus.
Chapter 2
1Now during the second year of Nebuchadnezzarfs reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him. As a result, he couldnft sleep. 2So the king gave orders to summon the diviners, the enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to reveal to the king what he had dreamed. When they came and stood before him, 3the king told them, gI have dreamed a dream and I will remain troubled until I can understand it.h
4The Chaldeans responded to the king in Aramaic: gMay the king live forever. Tell the dream to your servants, and wefll reveal its meaning.h
5In reply the king told the Chaldeans, gHere is what I have commanded: If you donft tell me both the dream and its meaning, youfll be destroyed and your houses will be reduced to rubble. 6But if you do relate the dream to me as well as its meaning, youfll receive gifts, rewards, and great honor from me. Therefore reveal the dream to me, along with its meaning.h
7They replied again, gLet the king tell his servants the dream, and wefll disclose its meaning.h
8The king responded, gIfm convinced that youfre stalling for time because youfre aware of what Ifve commanded. 9So if you donft disclose the dream to me, there will be only one sentence for all of you. You have conspired together to present lies and corrupt interpretations until the situation changes. Now tell me the dream and Ifll know that you can reveal its true meaning.h
10The Chaldeans answered the king directly, gTherefs not a single man on earth who can do what the king has commanded. No king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such a thing from any diviner, enchanter, or Chaldean. 11Furthermore, what the king is asking is so difficult that no one can reveal it except the gods\and they donft live with human beings.h
12At this point, the king flew into a rage and issued an order to destroy all the advisors of Babylon. 13When the order went out to kill the advisors, they searched for Daniel and his friends to kill them, too.
14Daniel responded with wisdom and discretion to Arioch, the kingfs executioner, who had gone out to execute the advisors of Babylon. 15He asked him, gWhy such a harsh decree from the king?h Then Arioch informed Daniel, 16so Daniel went to ask Nebuchadnezzar for an appointment to see him, and it was granted him so that he could reveal the meaning to the king. 17Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the kingfs command. 18Daniel was seeking mercy, in order to ask about this mystery in the presence of the God of heaven, so that Daniel and his friends might not be executed along with the rest of the advisors of Babylon.
19When the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision later that night, Daniel blessed the God of heaven 20and said,
gMay the name of God be blessed forever and ever;
wisdom and power are his for evermore.
21It is God who alters the times and seasons,
and he removes kings and promotes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22He reveals what is profoundly mysterious
and knows what is in the darkness;
with him dwells light.
23To you, God of my ancestors, I give thanks and praise,
because you have given me wisdom and power;
you have now revealed to me what we asked of you
by making known to us what the king commanded.h
24After this, Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the advisors of Babylon. He told him, gDonft destroy the advisors of Babylon. Bring me before the king and Ifll explain the meaning to him.h
25Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel into the kingfs presence and informed him: gIfve found a man from the Judean captives who will make known the meaning to the king.h
26King Nebuchadnezzar replied by saying to Daniel (whose Babylonian name is Belteshazzar), gAre you able to tell me about the dream and its meaning?h
27By way of answer, Daniel addressed the king:
gNone of the advisors, enchanters, diviners, or astrologers can explain the secret that the king has requested to be made known. 28But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he is making known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days.
gWhile you were in bed, the dream and the visions that came to your head were as follows: 29Your majesty, when you were in bed, thoughts came to your mind about what would happen in the future, and the Revealer of Secrets has made known to you what will take place. 30As for me, this secret was made known to me, not because my own wisdom is greater than anyone else alive, but in order that the meaning may be made known to the king, and that you might understand the thoughts of your heart.
31gYour majesty, while you were watching, you observed an enormous statue. This magnificent statue stood before you with extraordinary brilliance. Its appearance was terrifying. 32That statue had a head made of pure gold, with its chest and arms made of silver, its abdomen and thighs made of bronze, 33its legs made of iron, and its feet made partly of iron and partly of clay.
34gAs you were watching, a rock was quarried\but not with human hands\and it struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, breaking them to pieces. 35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together and became like chaff from a summer threshing floor that the breeze carries away without leaving a trace. Then the rock that struck the statue grew into a huge mountain and filled the entire earth.
36gThis was the dream, and wefll now relate its meaning to the king. 37You, your majesty, king of kings\to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory, 38so that wherever people, wild animals, or birds of the sky live, he has placed them under your control, giving you dominion over them all\youfre that head of gold.
39gAfter you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to yours, and then a third kingdom of bronze will arise to rule all the earth. 40Then there will be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Just as all things are broken to pieces and shattered by iron, so it will shatter and crush everything.
41gThe feet and toes that you saw, made partly of potterfs clay and partly of iron, represent a divided kingdom. It will still have the strength of iron, in that you saw iron mixed with clay. 42Just as their toes and feet are part iron and part clay, so will the kingdom be both strong and brittle. 43Just as you saw iron mixed with clay, so they will mix themselves with human offspring. Furthermore, they wonft remain together, just as iron doesnft mix with clay.
44gDuring the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor its sovereignty left in the hands of another people. It will shatter and crush all of these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. 45Now, just as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without human hands\and that it crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold to pieces\so also the great God has revealed to the king what will take place after this. Your dream will come true, and its meaning will prove trustworthy.h
46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face before Daniel, paid honor to him, and commanded that an offering and incense be presented on his behalf. 47The king told Daniel, gTruly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and the Revealer of Secrets, because you were able to reveal this mystery.h 48Then the king promoted Daniel to a high position and lavished many great gifts on him, including making him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over the advisors of Babylon. 49Moreover, Daniel requested that the king appoint Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained in the royal court.
Chapter 3
1Some time later, king Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue, making it ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up in the Dura Valley within the province of Babylon. 2Then King Nebuchadnezzar summoned the regional authorities, governors, deputy governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all of the other administrators of the provinces, ordering them to come to the dedication of the statue that he had erected.
3So the regional authorities, governors, deputy governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all of the other administrators of the provinces assembled to dedicate the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They took their places in front of the statue that he had erected. 4Then a herald proclaimed aloud:
gPeople of all nations, and languages are commanded: 5Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp, playing together along with various instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that was set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. 6Anyone who does not fall down and worship is immediately to be thrown into the blazing fire furnace.h
7Therefore, when all of the people gheard the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp, playing together along with various other instruments,h all the gpeople, nations, and languagesh began to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8Just then, certain influential Chaldeans took this opportunity to come forward and denounce the Jews. 9They told King Nebuchadnezzar, gYour majesty, live forever. 10You, your majesty, issued this decree:
eEvery man who hears the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp, playing together along with various other instruments is to fall down and worship the golden statue. 11Whoever does not fall down and worship is to be thrown into a blazing fire furnace.f
12gCertain influential Jewish men whom you appointed to manage the city of Babylon\Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego\have neither paid attention to you, your majesty, nor served your gods. And they wonft worship the golden statue that you set up.h
13Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and furiously ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. 14Nebuchadnezzar asked them, gIs it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you donft worship my gods and that you donft worship the golden statue that has been set up? 15Now, if you are ready at this very moment to obey ethe sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp,f and worship the image that I have madec If you do not so worship, you will immediately have cast yourselves into the middle of the blazing fire, and what god is there who can deliver you from my power?h
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, gItfs not necessary for us to respond in this matter. 17Your majesty, if it be his will, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the blazing fire furnace, and he will deliver us from you. 18But if not, rest assured, your majesty, that we wonft serve your gods, and we wonft worship the golden statue that you have set up.h
19Out of control with rage, Nebuchadnezzarfs facial expression changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20Then he issued orders to his elite guard to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with ropes and throw them into the blazing fire furnace. 21So the elite guard tied them up fully clothed, still wearing their robes, tunics, and turbans, and threw them into the blazing fire furnace, 22because the kingfs command was so drastic. Since the furnace was blazing hot, its flames killed those who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the blazing fire. 23Bound firmly with ropes, these three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing fire furnace.
24Astonished, King Nebuchadnezzar stood up in terror, and asked his advisers, gDidnft we throw three men into the fire, bound firmly with ropes?h
In reply they told the king, gYes, your majesty.h
25gLook!h he told them, gI see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being.h
26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out, gShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!h So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27The regional authorities, viceroys, governors, and royal advisors gazed at those men and saw that the fire had no effect on their bodies\not a hair on their head was singed, their clothes were not burned, and they did not smell of fire.
28Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and announced:
gBlessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the kingfs command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29So I decree that people from any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will be destroyed and their house reduced to rubble, because there is no other god who can save like this.h
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego within the province of Babylon.
Chapter 4
1An Official Statement
from Nebuchadnezzar
the King
To the people of all nations and languages who live on earth.
Peace and prosperity to you!
2It gives me great pleasure to tell about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3How great are his signs!
How powerful are his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion lasts from generation to generation.
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was resting in my home and prospering in my palace. 5I had a dream that made me afraid. The thoughts that went through my mind while in bed and the visions in my head terrified me. 6So I gave an order to bring in all of the advisors of Babylon so they would tell me the interpretation of the dream.
7Then the diviners, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers came in, and I told them the dream. But they could not reveal its interpretation to me. 8Eventually, Daniel appeared before me. (He is called Belteshazzar, in accordance with the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is within him.) I told him my dream:
9gBelteshazzar, chief of the diviners, since I know that the spirit of the holy gods is within you, and no mystery too difficult for you, explain to me the vision of my dream that I saw, along with its interpretation. 10This is what I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed: I was looking and\listen carefully!\I saw a tree in the middle of the earth, the height of which was very great. 11The tree grew large, became strong, and its top reached the sky. It could be seen to the ends of the earth. 12Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit bountiful, and its food sufficient for everyone. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it.
13gThen I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed\and take careful notice!\I saw a holy observer descend from heaven. 14He called out aloud:
eCut down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get out from under it, and let the birds leave its branches. 15Nevertheless, leave the stump and its roots in the ground, but bind it with iron and bronze in the field grass. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky, and let him graze with the animals in the grass of the earth. 16Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of an animal until seven seasons of time pass by for him. 17This order is announced by the observers, and the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires, and he places the least important of men over them.f
18gThis is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning, since none of the advisors in my kingdom can tell me its interpretation. But you are able to do so because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.h
19Then Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was greatly troubled for a while and was terrified by his thoughts. The king said, gBelteshazzar, donft let the dream or its meaning terrify you.h
Belteshazzar responded, gYour majesty, if only the dream were about your enemies and its meaning about those who oppose you! 20The tree that you saw, which grew large and strong until its top reached the sky and became visible to the whole earth 21with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit\enough food for everyone\and under which wild animals of the field found shelter and the birds of the air had nests in its branches\ 22itfs you, your majesty! Youfve become great and strong, your greatness has grown to the heavens, and your dominion reaches to the distant parts of the earth.
23gYour majesty saw a holy observer descending from heaven and saying, eCut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground, along with its roots, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass. Let him be soaked with the dew of the sky and live with the wild animals of the field until seven seasons pass over him.f
24gThis is the meaning, your majesty, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against his majesty, the king: 25Youfll be driven from people, and youfll live among wild animals of the field. Youfll eat grass like cattle and be soaked with the dew of the sky while seven years pass you by\until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires. 26Just as it was ordered for you to leave the stump of the tree in the ground along with its roots, so your kingdom will be restored to you when you realize that Heaven rules over everything. 27Therefore, your majesty, may my advice be acceptable to you: Stop your sinning, do whatfs right, and put a stop to your wickedness by showing kindness to the oppressed. Perhaps your tranquility will continue.h
28All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29About a year later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he commented to himself, gIsnft Babylon great? Ifve built a royal palace in it by my own might and power, for the sake of my majesty.h
31As these words were being spoken by the king, a voice came out of heaven: gKing Nebuchadnezzar, this is declared to you:
eThe kingdom has been taken from you! 32Youfre to be driven away from people. Youfre to live with the wild animals of the field. You are to be made to eat grass like cattle, and seven years will pass you by until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires.fh
33The decree was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar immediately. He was driven away from people to eat grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eaglesf feathers and his nails like birdsf claws.h
34gWhen that period of time was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed the Most High, praising and honoring the one who lives forever:
For his sovereignty is eternal,
and his kingdom continues from generation to generation.
35All who live on the earth
are nothing compared to him.
He does what he wishes
with the heavenly armies
and with those who live on earth.
No one can hold back his power
or say to him, eWhat did you do?f
36At that moment I recovered my sanity, and my honor and majesty returned to me, for the sake of my kingdom. My advisors and officials sought me out, my throne was restored, and even more greatness than I had before was added to me. 37In conclusion, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and give glory to the King of heaven:
For everything he does is true,
his ways are just,
and he is able to humble those who walk in pride.h
Chapter 5
1King Belshazzar put on a great festival for a thousand of his officials. He joined all one thousand of them in getting drunk. 2Under the influence of wine, Belshazzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem be brought in so the king, his officials, his wives, and his mistresses could drink from them. 3As ordered, they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the sanctuary of Godfs Temple in Jerusalem, and the king, his officials, his wives, and mistresses drank from them. 4As they drank the wine, they praised gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5At that moment, humanlike fingers of a hand appeared near the lamp stand of the royal palace and wrote on the plaster of the wall. 6While the king watched the back of the hand as it was writing, his facial expression changed. Utterly frightened, he lost control of his own bowels and his knees knocked together.
7The king cried out to bring in the enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He announced to the advisors of Babylon, gWhoever can read this writing and tell me its meaning will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around his neck, and will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.h
8Then all the kingfs advisors came in, but they were unable to read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9So King Belshazzar became even more frightened, and his facial expression showed it. His officials also were thrown into confusion.
10Hearing the voices of the king and his officials, the queen entered the banquet hall. gYour majesty, live forever,h the queen said. gDonft be frightened by your thoughts or allow your facial expression to show it. 11Therefs a man in your kingdom in whom dwells the spirit of the holy gods. During your grandfatherfs reign, he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom, like that of the gods. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar\your kingly predecessor\appointed him to be chief administrator over the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, 12because he was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and understanding, along with an ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. His name is Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar. Call for Daniel, and he will reveal the meaning of the writing.h
13Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king spoke up and told Daniel, gSo you are Daniel, one of the Judean exiles whom my grandfather the king brought from Judah! 14Ifve heard about you, that a spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. 15Take note that the advisors and enchanters were brought before me to read the writing and explain its meaning, but they were unable to do so. 16However, Ifve heard that you can provide meaning and interpretation, and that you can solve difficult problems. If you are able to read the writing and report its meaning, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.h
17At this, Daniel answered, speaking directly to the king, gLet your gifts and rewards be given to someone else. However, Ifll read the writing for the king and tell him its meaning. 18Your majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor. 19And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages revered and feared him. He executed those whom he desired to execute, he spared those whom he wished to spare, he promoted those whom he desired to promote, and he humbled those whom he wished to humble. 20But when he became arrogant and his spirit hardened, he was removed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21He was driven away from human society and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires.
22gBut you, Belshazzar, his grandson, havenft humbled yourself, even though you knew all of this.
23gYoufve exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven.
gYoufve had the vessels from his Temple brought into your presence.
gAnd you, your officials, and your wives and mistresses drank wine from them.
gYou praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which canft see, hear, or demonstrate knowledge.
gBut you didnft honor God, who holds in his power your very life and all your ways.
24gTherefore, the hand that wrote this inscription was sent from his presence. 25This is the written inscription:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN
26These are the meanings of the words:
MENE: God has audited your kingdom\and has ended it.
27TEKEL: Youfve been weighed on the scales\and you donft measure up.
28PERES: Your kingdom has been divided\and will be given to the Medes and Persians.h
29Then Belshazzar gave orders to clothe Daniel in purple, to place a chain of gold around his neck, and to proclaim him the third highest ruler of the kingdom.
30That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed, 31and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62.
Chapter 6
1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 regional authorities over the kingdom throughout the realm, 2along with three chief administrators from them, one of which was Daniel. The regional authorities reported to these three administrators, so that the king would experience no losses. 3Daniel distinguished himself among all the administrators and regional authorities, because he was of an extraordinary spirit. Therefore the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.
4Because of this, the administrators and regional authorities tried to bring allegations of dereliction of duty in government affairs against Daniel, but they were unable to find any charges of corruption. Daniel was trustworthy, and no evidence of negligence or corruption could be found against him. 5So these men said, gWefll never find any basis for complaint against Daniel unless we build it on the requirements of his God.h
6Then these administrators and regional authorities went as a group to the king and said this, gYour majesty, live forever! 7All of the royal administrators, prefects, regional authorities, scribes, and governors have concluded that the king should establish and enforce an edict that anyone who prays to any god or man for the next 30 days (except to you, your majesty) is to be thrown into the lionsf pit. 8Therefore, your majesty, establish the decree and sign the written document so it canft be changed, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians that canft be repealed.h 9So King Darius signed the edict contained in the written document.
10When Daniel learned that the written document had been signed, he went to an upstairs room in his house that had windows opened facing Jerusalem. Three times a day he would kneel down, pray, and give thanks to his God, just as he had previously done.
11The conspirators then went as a group and found Daniel praying and seeking help before his God. 12So they approached the king and asked, gDidnft you sign an edict that for the next 30 days if anyone prays to any god or man, except to you, your majesty, he would be thrown into the lionsf pit?h
The king responded, gThe decree has been established, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians that canft be repealed.h
13Then they told the king, gDaniel, who is one of the Judean exiles, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the written decree, since he is still praying three times a day.h
14When the king heard this, he was greatly upset, because he was determined to make every effort to save Daniel before the sun set. 15But the men who had gone as a group to the king told him, gRemember, your majesty, that according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, any decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be repealed.h
16At this point, the king ordered Daniel brought in and thrown into the lionsf pit. The king spoke to Daniel, gYour God, whom you serve constantly, will deliver you himself.h 17A stone was brought and placed over the opening to the pit, and the king affixed a seal to it with his personal signet ring and with the signet rings of his officials so that no one would interfere with Danielfs situation. 18Then the king retired to his palace to spend the night fasting. He enjoyed no entertainment, and he couldnft sleep.
19The king got up at dawn and went quickly to the lionsf pit. 20As he approached where Daniel was in the pit, he cried out to him in a voice filled with anguish, gDaniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve constantly, been able to deliver you from the lions?h
21Daniel replied to the king, gMay your majesty live forever! 22My God sent his angel and sealed the mouths of the lions. They have not harmed me, proving that Ifm innocent before him. Also against you, your majesty, Ifve committed no offense.h
23The king was ecstatic, so he gave orders for Daniel to be released from the pit. Daniel was taken up from the pit, and no injury was found to have been inflicted on him, because he had believed in his God. 24Then the king gave orders to bring those men who had tried to have Daniel devoured, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lionsf pit. They had not reached the floor of the pit before the lions had overtaken them and crushed all their bones.
25Afterward, King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived throughout his realm:
gMay great prosperity be yours!
26gI hereby decree that in every area of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
who endures forever.
His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed,
and his dominion continues forever.
27He delivers and rescues
and performs signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth.
He has delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions.h
28Daniel achieved success during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus the Persian.
Chapter 7
1In the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel dreamed a dream, receiving visions in his mind while in bed, after which he recorded the dream, relating this summary of events.
2Daniel said, gI observed the vision during the night. Look! The four winds of the skies were stirring up the Mediterranean Sea. 3Four magnificent animals were rising from the sea, each different from the other. 4The first resembled a lion, but it had eaglesf wings. I continued to watch until its wings were plucked off, it was lifted up off the ground, and it was forced to stand on two feet like a man. A human soul was imparted to it.
5gThen look!\a second animal resembling a bear followed it. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs held between the teeth in its mouth. Therefore people kept telling it, eGet up and devour lots of meat!f
6gAfter this, I continued to watch\and look!\there was another one, resembling a leopard with four birdsf wings on its back. The animal also had four heads, and authority was imparted to it.
7gAfter this, I continued to observe the night visions. And look!\there was a fourth awe-inspiring, terrifying, and viciously strong animal! It had large, iron teeth. It devoured and crushed things, and trampled under its feet whatever remained. Different from all of the other previous animals, it had ten horns.
8gWhile I was thinking about the horns\look\another horn, this time a little one, grew up among them. Three of the first horns were yanked up by their roots right in front of it. Look! It had eyes like those of a human being and a mouth that boasted with audacious claims.h
9gI kept on watching until the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothes were white, like snow, and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne burned with flaming fire, and its wheels burned with fire. 10A river of fire flowed out from before him. Thousands upon thousands were serving him, with millions upon millions waiting before him. The court sat in judgment, and record books were unsealed.
11gI continued watching because of the audacious words that the horn was speaking. I kept observing until the animal was killed and its body destroyed and given over to burning fire. 12Now as to the other animals, their authority was removed, but they were granted a reprieve from execution for an appointed period of time.h
13gI continued to observe the night vision\and look!\someone like the Son of Man was coming, accompanied by heavenly clouds. He approached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14To him dominion was bestowed, along with glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages are to serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion\it will never pass away\and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.h
15gNow as for me, Daniel, I was emotionally troubled, and what I had seen in the visions kept alarming me. 16So I approached one of those who was standing nearby and began to ask the meaning of all of this. He spoke to me and caused me to understand the interpretation of these things. 17He said, eThese four great animals are four kings who will rise to power from the earth. 18But the saints of the Highest will receive the kingdom forever, inheriting it forever and ever.f
19gI wanted to learn the precise significance of the fourth animal that was different from all the others, extremely awe-inspiring, with iron teeth and bronze claws, and that had devoured and crushed things, trampling under its feet whatever remained. 20Also, I wanted to learn the significance of the ten horns on its head and the other horn that had arisen, before which three of them had fallen\that is, the horn with eyes and a mouth that uttered magnificent things and which was greater in appearance than its fellows.
21gAs I continued to watch, that same horn waged war against the saints, and was prevailing against them 22until the Ancient of Days arrived to pass judgment in favor of the saints of the Highest One and the time came for the saints to take possession of the kingdom. 23So he said:
eThe fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the entire earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24Now as to the ten horns, ten kings will rise to power from this kingdom, and another king will rise to power after them. He will be different from the previous kings, and will defeat three kings. 25Hefll speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One. Hefll attempt to alter times and laws, and theyfll be given into his control for a time, times, and half a time. 26Nevertheless, the court will convene, and his authority will be removed, annulled, and destroyed forever. 27Then the kingdom, authority, and magnificence of all nations of the earth will be given to the people who are the saints of the Highest One. His kingdom will endure forever, and all authorities will serve him and obey him.f
28gAt this point the vision ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts continued to alarm me, and I lost my natural color, but I kept quiet about the matter.h
Chapter 8
1gDuring the third year of King Belshazzarfs reign, I, Daniel, saw a vision after the earlier vision that had appeared to me. 2As I observed the vision, I looked around the citadel of Susa in Elam Province. While I watched, I found myself beside the Ulai Canal. 3gThen I turned my head to look\and behold!\a two-horned ram was standing beside the canal. The two horns grew long, the first one growing longer than the second, with the longer one springing up last. 4I watched the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. No animal could stand before him, nor was there anyone who could deliver from his control. He did as he pleased and exalted himself.
5gAs I watched and wondered, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a distinctive horn between its eyes. 6It approached the ram with the two horns that I had observed while standing beside the canal, and charged at him, out of control with rage. 7I saw it approach the ram, overflowing with fury at him, and run into him with the full force of its strength. The goat shattered the ramfs two horns, and the ram could not oppose it. So the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him. No one could rescue the ram from its control. 8Then the goat grew extremely great, but when it was strong, its great horn was shattered. In its place, four distinctive horns grew out in all directions.h
9gA somewhat insignificant horn emerged from one of them. It moved rapidly against the south, against the east, and against the Glory. 10Then it moved against the heavenly army. It persuaded some of the army to fall to the earth, along with some of the stars, and it trampled them. 11Then it set itself as great as the Prince of the army, from whom the daily ritual was abolished, in order to bring low his sanctuary. 12Because of the transgression, the army will be given over, along with the daily ritual, and the horn will cast truth to the ground, prospering while it continues to act.h
13gThen I heard one holy person speaking, and another holy person addressed the one who was speaking: eIn the vision about the daily ritual, how much time elapses while the desecration terrifies and both the Holy Place and the army are trampled?f
14gHe told me, eFor 2,300 days. Then what is holy will be restored.fh
15gAfter I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. All of a sudden, there was standing in front of me one who appeared to be valiant. 16I heard the voice of a man calling out from the Ulai Canal, eGabriel, interpret what that fellow has been seeing.f
17gAs he approached where I was standing, I became terrified and fell on my face. But he told me, eSon of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.f
18gWhile he had been speaking with me, I had fainted on my face, but he touched me and enabled me to stand upright on my feet. 19Then he said,
ePay attention! Ifm going to brief you about what will happen at the end of the period of wrath, because its end is appointed. 20The ram that you saw with a pair of horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21The demonic goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is its first king. 22The shattered horn and the four that took its place are four kingdoms that will come from his nation, but they will not have his strength. 23Toward the end of their rule, as the desecrations proceed, an insolent king will arise, proficient at deception. 24Mighty will be his skills, but not from his own abilities. Hefll be remarkably destructive, will succeed, and will do whatever he wants, destroying mighty men and the holy people. 25Through his skill hefll cause deceit to prosper under his leadership. Hefll promote himself and will destroy many while they are secure. Hefll take a stand against the Prince of Princes, yet hefll be crushed without human help. 26The vision about the twilights and dawnings that has been related is trustworthy, but keep its vision secret, because it pertains to the distant future.f
27Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and ill for days, but afterward I got up and went about the kingfs business. Nevertheless, I was astonished by the vision, and could not understand it.h
Chapter 9
1gIn the first year of the reign of Darius son of Ahasuerus, a descendant of the Medes, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans,\ 2in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, noted in the Scripture the total years that were assigned by the message from the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem: 70 years.
3gSo I turned my attention to the Lord God, seeking him in prayer and supplication, accompanied with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4I prayed to the Lord my God, confessing and saying:
eLord! Great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant and gracious love for those who love him and obey his commandments, 5wefve sinned, wefve practiced evil, wefve acted wickedly, and wefve rebelled, turning away from your commands and from your regulations. 6Furthermore, we havenft listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, to our officials, to our ancestors, and to all of the people of the land.
7eTo you, Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us, open humiliation\even to this day, to the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, both those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the lands to which you drove them because of their unfaithful acts that they committed against you.
8eOpen humiliation belongs to us, Lord, to our kings, our officials, and our ancestors, because wefve sinned against you. 9But to the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though wefve rebelled against him 10and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws that he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11And all Israel flouted your Law, turning aside from it and not obeying your voice. Because wefve sinned against him, the curse has been poured upon us, along with the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God.
12eHe has confirmed his accusation that he spoke against us and against our rulers who governed us by bringing upon us great calamity, because nowhere in the universe has anything been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13As itfs written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has befallen us, but we still havenft sought the Lord our God by turning from our lawlessness to pay attention to your truth. 14So the Lord watched for the right time to bring the calamity upon us, because the Lord our God is righteous regarding everything he does, but we have not obeyed his voice.
15eAnd now, Lord our God, who brought your people from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made a name for yourself that remains to this day\wefve sinned. Wefve acted wickedly. 16Lord, in view of all your righteous acts, please turn your anger and wrath away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become an embarrassment to all of those around us.
17eSo now, O God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his requests, and look with favor on your desolate sanctuary, for the sake of the Lord. 18Lord, turn your ear and listen. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and at the city that is called by your name. Wefre not presenting our requests before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great compassion.
19eLord, listen!
eLord, forgive!
eLord, take note and take action!
eFor your own sake, donft delay, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.fh
20gWhile I was still speaking in prayer, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and placing my request in the presence of the Lord my God on behalf of the holy mountain of God\ 21while I was still speaking, Gabriel the man of God whom I had seen in the previous vision, appeared to me about the time of the evening offering. 22He gave instructions, and this is what he spoke to me:
eDaniel, Ifve now come to give you insight and understanding. 23Because youfre highly regarded, the answer was issued when you began your prayer, and Ifve come to tell you. Pay attention to my message and youfll understand the vision. 24Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city: to restrain transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for lawlessness, to establish everlasting righteousness, to conclude vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25So be informed and discern that seven weeks and 62 weeks will elapse from the issuance of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed Commander. The street will be rebuilt, along with the wall, though in troubled times. 26Then after the 62 weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and will have no successor. Then the people of the Coming Commander will destroy both the city and the Sanctuary. Its ending will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war, with desolations having been decreed. 27He will make a binding covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he will suspend both the sacrifice and grain offerings. Destructive people will cause desolation on the pinnacle until it is complete and what has been decreed is poured out on the desolator.fh
Chapter 10
1In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar). The message was trustworthy and concerned a great conflict. He understood it and had insight concerning the vision.
2gAt that time I, Daniel, had been mourning for three straight weeks. 3I ate no fancy foods\neither meat nor wine entered my mouth. Furthermore, I didnft use any ointment until the end of the entire three weeks. 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was beside the bank of the great Tigris River, 5I lifted up my eyes to look\and behold!\there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was encircled with gold from Uphaz. 6His body was like beryl, his face flashed like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs were like polished bronze, and his speech roared like that of a crowd.
7gNow I, Daniel, was the only one to receive the vision\the men who were with me didnft see it. However, an enormous fear overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide, 8and I was left alone to observe this magnificent vision. Nevertheless, no strength remained in me\my face lost its color, and I became weak. 9As I listened to the sound of his words, I fell down on my face unconscious, with my face to the ground.h
10gAll of a sudden, a hand touched me and lifted me upon my hands and knees. 11He told me, eDaniel, man highly regarded, understand the message that Ifm about to relate to you. Stand up, because Ifve been sent to you.f When he spoke this statement to me, I stood there trembling.
12geDonft be afraid, Daniel,f he told me, ebecause from the first day that you committed yourself to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. Ifve come in answer to your prayers. 13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then\look!\Michael, one of the chief angels, came to assist me. I had been detained there near the kings of Persia. 14Now Ifve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, because the vision pertains to those days.f
15gAfter he had spoken to me like this, I bowed my face to the ground, unable to speak. 16But all of a sudden someone who resembled a human being touched my lips, so I opened my mouth and spoke, addressing the one who was standing in front of me: eSir, Ifm overwhelmed with anguish by this vision. I have no strength left. 17So how can a servant of my lord talk with someone like you, sir? And as for me, therefs no strength left in me, and I can hardly breathe.f
18gThen this person who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me 19and said, eDonft be afraid, man highly regarded. Be at peace, and be strong.f
gAs soon as he spoke to me, I gained strength and replied, eSir, please speak, now that youfve strengthened me.f
20gThen he said, eDo you understand why I came to you? Soon Ifll return to fight the prince of Persia. Ifm going forth to war\and take note\the prince of Greece is coming. 21Ifll inform you about what has been recorded in the Book of Truth. No one stands firmly with me against these opponents, except Michael your prince. 
Chapter 11
1In year one of King Darius the Mede, I arose to fortify and strengthen him.fh
2geNow Ifll tell you the truth: Look! Three more kings will arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain more than them all. As soon as he gains power by means of his wealth, hefll stir up everyone against the Grecian kingdoms.
3geA mighty king will come to power, and hefll rule with awesome energy, doing whatever he pleases. 4However, after he has come to power, his kingdom will be broken and parceled out in all directions. It will not go to his succeeding descendants, nor will its power match how he ruled, because his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to successors besides them.
5geThe southern king will become strong, along with one of his officials, who will become stronger than he and rule over his own realm with great power. 6After a number of years, theyfll become allies and the daughter of the southern king will go to the northern king in order to craft alliances. But she wonft remain in power, nor will he retain his power. Instead, shefll be surrendered, along with her entourage, the one who fathered her, and the one who supported her at that time.
7geOne of her family line will replace him. Hefll come against the army and enter the fortress of the northern king, conquering them and becoming victorious. 8Hefll also take their gods, their molten images, and their valuable vessels of silver and gold into Egypt as hostages. Hefll avoid the northern king for a number of years. 9Then hefll come against the realm of the southern king and then return to his own territory. 10His sons will prepare for war, assembling an army of considerable force. One of them will come on forcefully, overflowing, passing through, and waging war up to his own fortress.
11geThe southern king will fly into a rage and march out to fight the northern king. Hefll gather a large army, but that army will be handed over to him. 12When that army has been defeated, hefll become overconfident and slaughter many thousands, but he wonft succeed. 13The northern king will return and raise a greater army than before. After a few years, hefll advance with a great force and with a vast amount of armaments.fh
14geDuring those years, many will rebel against the southern king. The more violent ones among your people will rebel in order to fulfill this vision, but they will fail. 15Then the northern king will come, erect a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The southern forces wonft prevail\not even with their best troops\and theyfll have no strength to take a stand.
16geHowever, the one who invades him will do whatever he wants to do. No one will oppose him. Hefll establish himself in the Beautiful Land, wielding devastating power. 17Hefll decide to come with the full power of his kingdom, bringing with him an alliance that hefll implement. Hefll give him a daughter in marriage to overthrow it, but it wonft succeed or work out for him. 18Then hefll turn his attention to the coastal lands and will capture many. But a commander will put an end to his insolence, repaying him for his scorn. 19Hefll turn his attention toward the fortresses in his own territory, but hefll stumble and fall, and wonft endure. 20His successor will send out a tax collector for royal splendor, but in a short period of time hefll be shattered, though neither in anger nor in battle.fh
21geIn his place there will arise a despicable person, upon whom no royal authority has been conferred, but hefll invade in a time of tranquility, taking over the kingdom through deception. 22Overwhelming forces will be carried away before him, along with the Commander-in-Chief of the covenant. 23From the time that an alliance is made with him, hefll act deceitfully, and he will go up and take power with only a small group of nations. 24Hefll invade the most prosperous areas of the province during a time of tranquility, accomplishing what neither his predecessors nor his ancestors ever could. Hefll distribute war spoils, booty, and wealth to them, and hefll plot the overthrow of fortresses, though only for a time. 25Hefll encourage himself against the southern king by raising a large army. As a result, the southern king will mobilize for war with a large and powerful army, but he wonft succeed because they will devise elaborate schemes against him. 26His own security detail will undermine him, his army will be swept away, and many will fall and be killed in battle. 27Now as for the two kings, their intentions will be evil, and theyfll promote deception at their dinner table, but none of this will succeed, because the end wonft have come yet. 28Then hefll return to his homeland with great wealth, will focus his attention against the holy covenant, and will take action as he returns to his land.fh
29geAt the scheduled time hefll return, moving southward, but the end result wonft be as before, 30because ships will come against him from the Mediterranean islands. Disheartened, hefll return, incited to vehemence against the holy covenant, and hefll take action. As he returns, hefll show deference to those who abandon the holy covenant. 31Armed forces will arise from his midst, and theyfll desecrate the fortified Sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and establish the destructive desecration. 32Through flattery hefll corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but people who know their God will be strong and take action. 33Insightful people will impart understanding to many, though theyfll fall by sword, by fire, by captivity, and as war booty for a while. 34When they fall, theyfll be given some relief, but many will join them by pretending to be sympathetic to their cause. 35Some of the insightful will fall so they may be refined, purged, and purified until the time of the end, since it will surely come about.fh
36geThe king will do as he pleases. Hefll exalt and magnify himself above every god, speaking amazing things against the God of Gods. Hefll succeed until the indignation is completed, because what has been determined must be carried out. 37Hefll recognize neither the gods of his ancestors nor those desired by women\he wonft recognize any god, because hefll exalt himself above everything. 38Hefll glorify the god of fortresses, a god whom his ancestors never knew, honoring him with gold, silver, valuable jewels, and treasures. 39Hefll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, hefll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and hefll parcel out the land for a profit.
40geAt the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him, and the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships. Hefll invade countries, moving swiftly and sweeping through. 41Hefll enter the Beautiful Land, and many will fall, even though these will escape his control: Edom, Moab, and certain Ammonite officials.
42Hefll extend his power over other countries, and even the land of Egypt wonft escape. 43Hefll capture treasures of gold, silver, and all the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites at his feet. 44However, reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and hefll march out in great anger, intending to destroy and to desolate many. 45When he pitches his royal pavilions between the seas facing the mountain of holy Glory, hefll come to his end, and no one will help him.fh
Chapter 12
1geAt that time, Michael will arise, the great prince who will stand up on behalf of your people, and a time of trouble will come like there has never been since nations began until that time. Also at that time, your people will be delivered\everyone who will have been written in the book. 2Many of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken\some to life everlasting, and some to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever. 4Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around while knowledge increases.fh
5gThen I, Daniel, continued watching\and look!\two others stood there, one on this side of the river bank and the other on the other side of the river bank. 6One asked the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing above the waters of the river, eHow long until the fulfillment of the wonders?f
7gI heard the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing above the waters of the river as he lifted his right and left hands to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half. When the shattering of the power of the holy people has occurred, all these things will conclude.h
8gI heard, but I didnft understand. So I asked, eSir, what happens next?f
9gHe answered, eGo on your way, Daniel, because these matters are wrapped up and sealed until the time of the end. 10Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, though the wicked act wickedly, and none of the wicked understand. Nevertheless, the insightful will understand. 11There will be 1,290 days from the time the daily ritual is rescinded and the destructive desolation established. 12Blessed is the one who waits and reaches the 1,335 days. 13Now as for you, go on your way until the end\youfll rest and then rise to receive your reward at the end of the age.fh
Hosea
Chapter 1
1A message from the Lord came to Beerifs son Hosea during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Joashfs son Jeroboam, who was king of Israel.
2When a message from the Lord came to Hosea, the Lord told him, gGo marry a prostitute and have children with her, because the land is prostituting itself by departing from the Lord.h 3So he went out and married Diblaimfs daughter Gomer. She conceived with him and gave birth to a son.
4The Lord told Hosea, gName the child eJezreel,f because in a little while Ifll avenge the blood that was shed by Jehufs dynasty at Jezreel. Ifll put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5At that time Ifll shatter the military strength of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.h
6Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, so the Lord told Hosea, gName her eLo-ruhamah,f because I will no longer be showing mercy to the house of Israel, nor will I forgive them. 7But Ifll have mercy on the house of Judah, and Ifll save them by the Lord their God\I will not save them by the bow, nor by the sword, nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by cavalry.h
8After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived again and gave birth to a son, 9so the Lord told Hosea, gName him eLo-ammi,f because you are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10Despite this, the number of the people of Israel will be like ocean sand, which can neither be measured nor counted. And the time will come when instead of it being said, eYou are not my people,f it will be said, eYou are children of the living God.f 11And the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be united as one. They will appoint for themselves a single leader and will take dominion over the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. 
Chapter 2
1So call your brothers eAmmi,f and your sisters eRuhamah.fh
2gCall your mother to account, call her\
for she is not my wife,
and Ifm not her husband.
Let her do away with her seductive looks
and remove her adultery from between her breasts.
3Otherwise, Ifll strip her naked\
as she was on the day she was born\
make her like a wilderness,
turn her into a parched land,
and cause her to die of thirst.
4Furthermore, Ifll not show pity on her children,
since they are children of prostitution.
5Indeed, their mother has committed prostitution\
the one who has been conceiving them has acted disgracefully\
when she said,
eIfm going after my lovers,
who provide me food and water,
as well as my wool, my flax,
my oil, and my wine.f
6gLook how Ifm blocking her path with thorns
and building a wall to hinder her,
so she canft find her way.
7She will pursue her lovers,
but she wonft catch up with them.
She will seek them,
but she wonft find them.
Then she will say,
eIfll go back and return to my first husband,
because it was better for me then than now.f
8She didnft recognize
that it was I who provided her grain, wine, and oil,
and it was I who gave her silver,
while they crafted gold for Baal.
9gTherefore Ifll return
and take back my grain at harvest time
and my new wine in its season.
Ifll take back my wool and my flax
that was to have covered her nakedness.
10So now Ifll reveal her lewdness to the eyes of her lovers,
and no man will rescue her from my control.
11Ifll put a stop to her mirth,
along with her celebrations, her New Moons, her Sabbaths, and all of her festive assemblies.
12Ifll destroy her vines and her fig trees,
about which she said,
eThese are the earnings that my lovers paid me.
Ifll make them grow into a forest,
and the wild animals will eat from them.f
13Ifll punish her for the time she has devoted to the Baals,
to whom she burned incense,
and for whom she put on her earrings and jewels
so she could go after her lovers and forget me,h
declares the Lord.
14gTherefore, look! I will now allure her.
I will make her go out to the wilderness,
and will speak to her heart.
15There I will restore her vineyards to her,
and the Valley of Achor will become a doorway to hope.
There she will respond as she did in her youth,
when she came up from Egypt.h
16gIt will come about at that time,h
declares the Lord,
gthat you will address me as eMy husband,f
and you will no longer call me eMy masterf.
17I will remove the names of the Baals from her vocabulary\
they will not be remembered by their names anymore.
18I will make a covenant with them at that time,
a covenant with the wild animals of the field,
with the birds of the air,
and with the creatures of the ground.
I will banish the battle bow, the sword, and war from the earth.
I will cause my people to lie down where it is safe.
19I will make you my wife forever\
I will make you my wife in a way that is righteous,
in a manner that is just,
by a love that is gracious,
and by a motive that is mercy.
20I will make you my wife because of my faithfulness,
and you will know the Lord.
21gIt will come about at that time that I will respond,h
declares the Lord,
gI will respond to the heavens,
and they will respond to the earth.
22The earth will respond with grain, new wine, and oil,
and they will respond to Jezreel.
23I will plant my people in the land for myself.
I will show mercy on her who has received no mercy
I will say to those who are not my people, eYou are my people!f
and they will say, eYou are my God.fh
Chapter 3
1Then the Lord told me: gGo love your wife again, even though she is being loved by another and is committing adultery. Love her the same way the Lord loves the people of Israel, even though they look to other gods and love raisin cakes.h 2So I bought her back for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and about ten bushels of barley.
3I told her, gYou will remain with me a long time, you wonft be promiscuous, you wonft be involved with any man, and Ifll do the same.h
4Likewise, the people of Israel will dwell a long time without a king, without a prince, without sacrifice, without sacred pillars, and with neither ephod nor teraphim. 5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come in awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.
Chapter 4
1gHear this message from the Lord, people of Israel.
Indeed, the Lord brings a charge
against the people who live in the land\
for there is no truth and no gracious love
or knowledge of God in the land.
2Swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery are rampant,
and blood mingles with blood.
3Therefore the land will mourn,
and all who live there will languish,
along with the wild animals of the field and the birds of the air.
Even the fish in the sea will disappear.
4gLet no one fight or bring charges against another,
for my dispute is with you, priest.
5So you will stumble during the day,
the prophet also will stumble with you at night,
and I will destroy your mother.
6My people are destroyed because they lack knowledge of me.
Because you rejected that knowledge,
I will reject you as a priest for me.
Since you forget the Law of your God,
I will also forget your children.
7gThe more they increased in number,
the more they sinned against me,
so I will change their glory into shame.
8They feed on the sin of my people;
they purpose in their heart to transgress.
9So it will be: like people, like priest.
I will punish them for their lifestyles,
rewarding them according to their behavior.
10They will eat,
but will not be satisfied.
They will engage in prostitution,
but they wonft increase,
because they have stopped listening to the Lord.
11gSexual immorality, wine, and fresh wine seduce the heart of my people.
12My people seek counsel from their piece of wood,
and their divinerfs rod speaks to them.
For a spirit of prostitution causes them to go astray;
in their immorality they desert their God.
13They offer sacrifices on the mountain tops,
burning offerings on the hills,
under oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees,
since their shade is very good.
Therefore your daughters are prostitutes
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14However, Ifm not going to punish your daughters
when they commit prostitution,
 nor your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery,
because their men are themselves immoral\
they offer sacrifices with prostitutes.
These people who arenft discerning will stumble.
15gEven though you prostitute yourself, Israel\
let not Judah incur guilt\
donft go to Gilgal,
or visit Beth-aven,
or swear an oath using the Lordfs name.
16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn mule!
Nevertheless, will not the Lord feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
17Ephraim has become entwined with idols;
leave him alone!
18While drinking to excess, they prostitute themselves.
Theyfre in love with dishonor.
19A wind storm will carry them away in its embrace,
and their sacrifices will bring them shame.h
Chapter 5
1gHear this, priests,
pay attention, house of Israel,
 listen, royal family!
For judgment is coming your way,
because you have been a trap to Mizpah,
a snare spread out on Mount Tabor.
2The rebels are deep into their slaughter;
I am punishing them all.
3I know Ephraim,
and Israel cannot hide from me,
since you, Ephraim, have been acting like a prostitute,
defiling Israel.
4gTheir actions hinder them from turning to their God,
because a spirit of fornication is in their midst,
and the Lord they do not know.
5The arrogance of Israel testifies against him;
therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity,
and Judah with them.
6They will go with their flocks and herds
to seek the Lord,
but they will not find him;
he has withdrawn from them.
7They have been unfaithful to the Lord,
having raised unbelieving children.
In the coming month they will be devoured,
along with their fields.
8gSound the trumpet in Gibeah,
and the alarm in Ramah.
Cry out at Beth-aven
Go out, Benjamin!
9Ephraim will be desolate
when it is rebuked.
I have made known among the tribes of Israel
what will surely come about.
10The princes of Judah have become
like those who move boundary markers:
I will pour out my anger on them like water.
11Ephraim is crushed,
broken by judgment,
because he willingly pursued idols.
12Therefore I will consume Ephraim like a moth,
and the house of Judah as rottenness consumes.
13When Ephraim examined his illness
and Judah his injury,
then Ephraim went to Assyria,
and inquired of the great king;
but he could not cure you
nor heal your injury.
14Therefore I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
and like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I\even I\will tear them to pieces,
and then I will leave.
I will take them away,
and there will be no rescue.
15gI will leave and go back to my place
until they admit their offense
and seek my face.
When affliction comes to them,
they will eagerly seek me.h
Chapter 6
1gCome, let us return to the Lord;
even though he has torn us,
he will heal us.
Even though he has wounded us,
he will bind our wounds.
2After two days, he will restore us to life,
on the third day he will raise us up,
and we will live in his presence.
3Let us know,
let us pursue knowledge of the Lord;
his coming is as certain as the dawn.
He will come to us like the rain,
like the autumn and spring rains come on the earth.
4gWhat am I to do with you, Ephraim?
What am I to do with you, Judah?
Your love is like a morning rain cloud\
it passes away like the morning dew.
5Therefore I cut them to pieces by the prophets,
killing them by the words from my mouth.
The verdict against you shines like a beacon.
6For it is love that I seek,
and not sacrifice;
knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7gBut like Adam, they broke the covenant;
in this they have acted deceitfully against me.
8Gilead is a lawless town;
it is polluted by bloodshed.
9Like a gang of thieves that stalk a man,
priests commit murder along the road to Shechem,
committing shameful crimes.
10I have seen a horrible evil in the house of Israel\
Ephraimfs promiscuity.
Israel is defiled.
11gSo, Judah, a harvest has been appointed for you
when I restore my people from captivity.h
Chapter 7
1gWhen I was healing Israel,
Ephraimfs sin was uncovered,
along with Samariafs wickedness.
While they craft lying schemes,
the thief invades,
and the gang of thieves plunders outside.
2It never occurs to them that I remember all their sin.
Now their actions have caught up with them,
and they have my attention.
3They please the king with their evil,
and the princes with their dishonesty.
4All of them are adulterers\
they burn like an oven prepared by the baker,
who has ceased stoking it
until the dough is leavened.
5gOn the kingfs festival day
the princes got drunk from wine,
so the king joined the mockers.
6For they have stirred up themselves like an oven
as they lie in ambush.
Their baker sleeps through the night;
in the morning, the oven will be blazing like a fire.
7They all burn like an oven;
they have consumed their judges;
all their kings have fallen\
not even one of them calls on me.
8gEphraim compromises with the nations;
hefs a half-baked cake.
9Foreigners have consumed his strength,
and he hasnft noticed.
Furthermore, his head is sprinkled with gray hair,
but he doesnft realize it.
10Israelfs arrogance testifies against him;
but they do not return to the Lord their God,
nor seek him in all of this.
11gEphraim is also like a silly dove,
lacking sense:
They call out to Egypt,
and turn toward Assyria.
12When they go,
Ifll cast my net over them.
Ifll bring them down, as one shoots birds in the sky.
Ifll chasten them,
as the assembly has already heard.
13Woe to them\
because they have run away from me.
Ruin to them\
because they have sinned against me.
Even though I redeemed them,
they spread lies against me.
14They will not cry to me from their heart\
instead, they wail on their beds.
They gather together to eat and drink,
turning away from me.
15gThough I have taught them
and strengthened their arms,
nevertheless they plot evil against me.
16They return\but not to the Most High.
They are like a defective weapon.
Their princes will fall by the sword
because of their raging tongue,
and they will be a laughingstock in the land of Egypt.h
Chapter 8
1gSound the ramfs horn!
Like a vulture the enemy will come against the Temple of the Lord,
because Israel violated my covenant,
transgressing my Law.
2They cry out to me,
eGod, we of Israel acknowledge you.f
3gIsrael has discarded what is good.
The enemy will pursue them.
4They set kings in place,
but not by me.
They established princes,
whom I did not recognize.
They crafted idols for themselves from their silver and gold;
as a result, they will be destroyed.
5Your calf, Samaria, has been thrown away.
My anger is burning against them.
How long until they become pure again?
6Because from Israel it was fashioned by craftsmen,
it is not God;
therefore Samariafs calf will be broken in pieces.
7 gBecause they sow the wind,
they will reap the wind storm.
The plant has no stalk
and its bud yields no grain.
Even if therefs a harvest,
foreigners will gobble it up.
8Israel has been devoured;
now they will live among the nations
like a worthless container.
9gBecause they went over to Assyria,
they are like a wild donkey alone by itself.
Ephraim has hired some lovers.
10Even though they sold themselves to the nations,
I will gather them.
They will mourn for a while
for the burden they were to the king and princes.
11gThe more altars Ephraim builds for sin,
the more altars there will be for sin.
12I prescribed great things from my Law for them,
but they considered them profane.
13They offer me meat from the sacrifices of my offerings,
and they eat from it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
He will now remember their transgression
and pay them back for their sins;
to Egypt they will return.
14gIsrael has neglected its maker in building palaces.
Judah has multiplied its fortified cities,
but I will send fire to their cities,
and it will consume their fortresses.h
Chapter 9
1gDonft celebrate, Israel, like other nations would rejoice,
because you left your God by committing fornication,
loving the profit you gained on all of the threshing floors.
2Neither threshing floor nor winepress will sustain them,
and the new wine will disappoint her.
3They will not live in the Lordfs land\
Ephraim will return to Egypt,
and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.
4They wonft present wine offerings to the Lord,
nor will they please him.
Their sacrifices will seem like food for mourners\
everyone who eats them will become unclean;
none of them will enter the Temple of the Lord.
5gWhat will you do on the designated holiday,
when the Lordfs festival comes?
6Look! They have gone away because of the destruction\
Egypt will gather them up,
and Memphis will bury them.
Weeds will overgrow their inheritance,
and thorns will grow in their tents.
7The time for your judgment has now come;
payday is here\
and Israel knows it.
The prophet is a fool,
and the spiritual man is insane.
Because of your great sin,
the hatred against you is great.
8While Ephraim stands watch with my God,
the prophet has snares set that will trap his ways,
and hostility lodges in the Temple of his God.
9They have corrupted themselves deeply,
as did Gibeah in its day.
Therefore God will remember their lawlessness,
and he will pay them back for their sins.
10gI found Israel,
as one finds grapes in the wilderness;
Your ancestors seemed to me like the fruit
gleaned from a fig treefs first harvest.
When they went to Baal-peor,
they devoted themselves to that filth,
and they became loathsome,
like what they loved.
11The glory of Ephraim will fly away like a bird\
no birth, no pregnancy, not even a conception.
12Even if they rear their children,
I will, in turn, make them childless\
in fact, woe to them
when I turn away from them!
13Ephraim, as I see it, is like Tyre,
planted in a comfortable place;
Ephraim will bear children
but they will be executed.h
14Give them, Lord\
What will you give?
You will give them a womb that miscarries and dry breasts.
15gAll of their wickedness started in Gilgal,
because I began to hate them there.
Because of the wickedness of their behavior,
I will drive them from my Temple.
I will not love them anymore;
all their leaders are rebels.
16Ephraim is blighted;
its roots shriveled.
It can bear no fruit.
Even if they bear children,
I will kill their cherished offspring.
17gMy God will reject them,
because they did not obey him,
and they will become wanderers among the nations.h
Chapter 10
1gIsrael, the overgrown vine, bears fruit like itself;
the more fruitful they become,
the more altars they build.
The better the land,
the more ornate the stone idols.
2Their hearts are divided;
from now on they are to be found guilty.
God will tear down their altars,
he will destroy their stone idols.
3From now on they will say,
eWe have no king,
because we did not fear the Lord\
and what would a king do for us?f
4Their word is falsely given
as they make their agreements;
so judgment springs up
like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5gThe residents of Samaria will be terrified
because of the cows of Beth-aven.
Its people will mourn over Beth-aven,
along with the priests who will mourn its glory,
because that glory has departed.
6Indeed, that glory will be carried to Assyria\
it will become a present for an avenging king.
Ephraim will be disgraced,
and Israel will become ashamed of its decision.
7Samariafs king will float away
like driftwood on the surface of water.
8Destroyed will be the high places of Aven,
that are the sin of Israel.
Both thorn and thistle will grow up over their altars.
They will call out to the mountains, eCover us!f
and to the hills, eFall on us!f
9gFrom the time of Gibeah,
you have sinned, Israel;
There they took their stand;
the battle at Gibeah could not subdue the lawless.
10When Ifm ready, I will chasten them;
and the people will gather against them,
to imprison them for their two unrighteous acts.h
11gEphraim, the well-trained heifer,
loves to thresh grain,
so I will spare her neck.
I will turn Ephraim into a pack animal.
Judah will pull the plow,
and Jacob will turn up the fallow ground.
12Sow in righteousness in your own interest,
reap in gracious love,
break up your own unprepared ground;
It is now time to inquire of the Lord,
until he comes to pour out righteousness for you.
13You have plowed evil;
you have reaped unrighteousness;
you have eaten the fruit of hypocrisy;
because you trusted in your own direction,
and in the number of your mighty forces.
14Therefore a disaster will come upon your people,
and all of your fortresses will be ruined.
As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in wartime,
mothers were dashed to pieces
along with their children.
15The same will happen to you, Bethel,
because of your great evil\
early one morning the king of Israel will be totally silenced.h
Chapter 11
1gWhen Israel was a young child I loved him,
and from Egypt I called my son.
2The more I called out to them,
the farther they fled from me;
they sacrificed to Baals,
burning incense to carved images.
3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
supporting them by their arms,
but they never knew that I was healing them.
4I guided them with human kindness,
with loving reins.
I acted toward them
like one who removes a yoke from their neck;
I bent down and fed them.
5gThey will not return to the land of Egypt;
instead, the Assyrian will be their king,
because they kept refusing to repent.
6The sword will fall on their cities,
consuming and devouring their fortified gates,
despite their planning.
7My people are determined to turn away from me;
though they call to the Most High,
no one is worshiping.
8gHow can I give up on you, Ephraim?
I will deliver you, will I not, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
I canft make you like Zeboim, can I?
My heart stirs within me;
my compassion also fans into flame!
9I will not act in my anger;
I will not return to destroy Ephraim,
For I am God,
and not a human\
the Holy One among you\
so I will not enter the city in anger.
10They will go after the Lord,
who will roar like a lion;
and when he roars,
the children will come trembling from the west.
11Trembling like a bird, they will come out of Egypt,
and as a dove from the land of Assyria;
and I will settle them in their houses,h
declares the Lord.
12gEphraim surrounds me with lies,
and the house of Israel surrounds me with deceit,
But Judah still rules with God,
and remains faithful, along with the godly ones.h
Chapter 12
1gEphraim feeds on the wind,
chasing after the eastern winds,
storing up lies and desolation day after day.
They are making a contract with the Assyrians,
and sending oil to Egypt.
2The Lord accuses Judah,
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him for what he does.
3He circumvented his brother in the womb,
and as an adult he fought with God.
4He even fought the angel and won;
he cried and prayed to him.
Then at Bethel he found him,
and there he spoke with us\
5the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies\
the Lord is his name.
6So you, return to your God;
guard grace and justice,
and look to your God always.
7gNow as for the merchant,
deceitful balances remain in his hand,
and he loves to defraud.
8Ephraim claims,
eI have become rich,
I have made a fortune!
Because of all my wealth,
no one will find any iniquity or sin in me.f
9gYet I remain the Lord your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
I will make you live in tents again,
as in the festival of that name.
10I spoke to the prophets,
giving revelation after revelation,
and employing parables in the prophetic writings.
11gTherefs iniquity in Gilead, isnft there?
They have become truly vain.
They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal;
their altars are like piles of stone in furrowed fields.
12Jacob fled into the land of Aram;
Israel served there to obtain his wife,
tending sheep to gain his wife.
13gBy a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt,
and by a prophet he was rescued.
14Ephraim has stirred up violent anger;
therefore the guilt of his blood will remain on him,
and his Lord will repay him for his contempt.h
Chapter 13
1gWhen the tribe of Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;
and it was exalted within Israel.
But when they offended God by Baal,
they died,
2but now they are sinning more and more,
crafting idols from melted silver.
Their idols are made with the most exacting skill,
all of it the work of craftsmen.
People say about them,
eThey offer human sacrifice,
and kiss calf-shaped idols.f
3Therefore they will be like morning clouds,
like early morning dew that evaporates,
like chaff blown away from the threshing floor,
or like smoke from a chimney.h
4gI am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt,
and you have known no god except for me,
because except for me there is no savior.
5I took care of you in the wilderness,
in a waterless land.
6As their pastures flourished,
all their desires were met.
As they were satiated,
they became arrogant
and therefore ignored me.
7gSo I will be like a lion to them.
Like a leopard I will stalk them along the road.
8I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs;
I will tear open their ribs.
I will devour them like a lion\
the wild beasts will rip them apart.
9gYou have destroyed yourself, Israel,
although I remain your help.
10Now where is your king?
Will he save you in all your cities?
And where are your judges,
about whom you demanded,
eGive me a king and officials!f?
11I gave you a king in my anger,
and I took him away in my fury.h
12gEphraimfs guilt is on record;
his sin is stored away.
13When the time of childbirth comes,
he will be so foolish
that he will refuse to be born.h
14gFrom the power of Sheol I will rescue them,
from death I will redeem them.
Death, where are your plagues?
Sheol, where is your destruction?
My eyes will remain closed to your pleas for compassion.
15Even though he is fruitful compared to his relatives,
an east wind will come,
the Lordfs wind storm from the wilderness,
and his spring will evaporate.
His fountain will dry up,
and the Lordfs wind storm will plunder
all the expensive vessels of the treasury.
16Samaria will be held guilty,
because she has rebelled against her God.
By the sword they will fall\
with their infants dashed to pieces,
and their pregnant women torn open.h
Chapter 14
1gReturn, Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have fallen due to your own iniquity.
2Bring a prepared speech with you
as you return to the Lord. Say to him:
eTake away all our iniquity,
and accept what is good.
Then we will present the fruit of our lips.
3Assyria wonft save us;
we wonft be riding on horses,
Nor will we be saying anymore to the work of our hands,
gYou are our God.h
Indeed, in you the orphan finds mercy.f
4gI will correct their apostasy,
loving them freely,
since my anger will have turned away from them.
5I will be like the dew to Israel;
Israel will blossom like a lily,
growing roots like the cedars of Lebanon.
6Israelfs branches will spread out,
and its beauty will be like an olive tree,
with its scent like that of Lebanon.
7Those who live under its protection will surely return.
Their grain will flourish;
they will blossom like a vine,
and Israelfs scent will be like wine from Lebanon.
8gEphraim, what have I in common with idols?
I have listened and will pay attention to him.
I am like a flourishing cypress;
in me will your fruit be found.h
9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things.
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right:
the righteous follow his example,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
Joel
Chapter 1
1This message from the Lord came to Pethuelfs son Joel.
2gHear this, you elders!
Listen, all of you residents of the land!
Has there ever been anything like this during your lifetime,
or even when your ancestors were alive?
3Pass it on to your children,
and from your children to their children,
and from their children to the following generation.
4Whatever the devouring locust left behind
the locust swarm has consumed!
Whatever the locust swarm has left behind,
the young locust has consumed!
Whatever the young locust has left behind,
the ravaging locust has consumed!h
5gWake up, you drunkards!
Cry aloud and howl, you wine drinkers,
because your supply of new wine has been snatched from you.
6Indeed, a nation has invaded my land\
it is strong and its population is too large to count\
with teeth like a lion
and fangs like a lioness.
7That nation laid waste my vines,
and stripped bare my fig tree,
discarding it.
It stripped off its bark.
8gGrieve like a virgin,
who, dressed in her mournerfs clothes,
cries out in memory of the man she was going to marry.
9Both grain offering and wine offering have been removed from the Lordfs Temple;
the priests and ministering servants of the Lord are mourning.h
10gThe fields lie in ruins
and the ground is dried up.
Indeed, the grain is ruined,
the new wine has evaporated,
and the olive oil has run out.
11Be dismayed, you farmers!
Cry aloud, you vintners,
for the wheat and barley,
because the harvest in your fields has been lost.
12The grapevine is shriveled
and the fig tree is withered,
along with the pomegranate tree, the palm tree, the apple tree
and all of the cultivated trees.
Truly, joy has evaporated from Adamfs children.h
13gPut on your mourning clothes, you priests;
and cry aloud, you ministering servants at the altar!
Come! Stay the night in mournerfs clothes, you ministers of my God,
because the grain offering and the wine offering is held back from the Temple of your God.
14Set apart time for a fast!
Call a solemn assembly!
Gather the elders and everyone living in the land to the Temple of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord!h
15Oh, no! For the Day of the Lord approaches,
and like destruction from the Almighty, it will come!
16Isnft our food supply cut off right in front of us,
along with joy and gladness from the Temple of our God?
17Seeds shrivel within their furrows,
the storehouses lie empty,
and granaries stand in ruins
because the grain has withered.
18Oh, how the livestock groan!
The herds of cattle wander about
because they have no pasture.
Even flocks of sheep suffer!
19To you, Lord, I cry out,
because fire has devoured the open pastures,
and has set all the cultivated trees ablaze.
20The livestock also cries out to you,
because their water sources have evaporated
and because fire has consumed the open pastures.
Chapter 2
1gSound the ramfs horn in Zion!
Sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Tremble, all of you inhabitants of the land,
because the Day of the Lord is coming.
Oh, how near it is!
2A day of doom and gloom,
a day of clouds and shadows
like the dawn spreads out to cover the mountains\
a people strong and robust.
Never has there been anything like it,
neither will anything follow to compare with it,
even through the lifetime of generation upon generation.h
3gA fire blazes in their presence,
and behind them a conflagration rages.
Before they come, the land is like the garden in Eden;
after they leave, there is only a barren wasteland.
Indeed, nothing escapes them.
4As to their form, theyfre like horses;
and like chariot horses, how they can run!
5They leap like the rumbling of chariots echoing from mountain tops,
like the roar of wild fire that devours the chaff,
as an army firmly established in battle array.
6The people are terrified in their presence;
every face grows pale.
7They run like elite soldiers,
climbing ramparts like men trained for war.
Each man advances in proper order,
never breaking rank.
8Neither does a man crowd his fellow soldier;
each one marches in his own path.
When they fall by the sword
they are not injured.
9They swarm through the city,
running upon its ramparts.
Climbing atop the houses,
they enter through windows like a thief.h
10gThe land quivers in their presence;
even the heavens shake.
The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will stop shining.
11The Lord will shout in the presence of his forces,
because his encampment is very great;
for powerful is he who carries out his message.
Truly the Day of the Lord is great, and very terrifying.
Who will be able to survive it?h
12gYet even now,h declares the Lord,
gTurn back to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, tears, and mourning.
13Tear your hearts, not your garments;
and turn back to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to become angry,
overflowing in gracious love,
and grieves about this evil.
14Who knows? He will turn back and relent, will he not,
leaving behind a blessing,
even a grain offering and drink offering for the Lord your God?h
15gSound the ramfs horn in Zion!
Dedicate a fast and call for a solemn assembly!
16Gather the people!
Dedicate the congregation!
Bring in the elders.
Gather the youngsters
and even the nursing infants.
Call the bridegroom from his wedding preparations,
and the bride from her dressing room.
17As they serve between the porch and the altar,
let the priests and ministers of the Lord weep and pray:
eSpare your people, Lord,
and do not make your heritage a disgrace
so that nations ridicule them.
Why should they say among the people,
gWhere is their God?hfh
18Then the Lord will show great concern for his land,
and will have compassion on his people.
19The Lord will say to his people,
gLook! I will send you grain, new wine, and oil,
and you will be content with them.
I will no longer cause you to be a disgrace among the nations.h
20gI will remove the northerners from you,
driving them to a barren and desolate land\
the front toward the Dead Sea
and the back toward the Mediterranean.
Their stench will rise,
and their stinking odor will ascend,
because they have done great things.h
21gStop being afraid, land!
Rejoice and be glad,
because the Lord will do great things.
22Stop being afraid, beasts of the field,
because the desert pastures will bloom,
the trees will bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and vine will deliver their wealth.
23And so be glad, children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
because he has given you the right amount of early rain,
and he will cause the rain to fall for you,
both the early rain and the later rain as before.
24The threshing floors will be smothered in grain,
and the vats will overflow with wine and oil.
25gThen I will restore to you the years that the locust swarm devoured,
as did the young locust, the other locusts, and the ravaging locust,
that great army of mine that I sent among you.
26You will have plenty to eat, and will be fully satisfied.
You will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has performed wonders specifically for you.
And my people will never be ashamed.
27As a result, you will know that I am in the midst of Israel;
that I myself am the Lord your God\
and there is none other!
And my people will never be ashamed.h
28gThen it will come about at a later time
that I will pour out my Spirit on every person.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your elderly people will dream dreams,
and your young people will see visions.
29Also at that time I will pour out my Spirit
upon men and women servants.
30I will display warnings in the heavens,
and on the earth blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31The sun will be given over to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and terrifying Day of the Lord.
32And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be delivered.
For as the Lord has said,
eIn Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape,
the survivors whom the Lord is calling.fh
Chapter 3
1gLook, now! In those very days and at that time,
when I restore prosperity to Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations,
bringing them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
I will set out my case against them there,
on behalf of my people, my heritage Israel,
whom they scattered among the nations,
apportioning my land among themselves.
3They cast lots for my people\
they sold a young boy in exchange for a prostitute,
and a girl for wine,
so they could drink.h
4gFurthermore, what have you to do with me,
Tyre, Sidon, and all the sea coasts of Philistia?
Are you taking revenge on me?
If you are taking revenge on me,
Ifll send it back on you swiftly and promptly,
5since you took my silver and gold,
carried my precious treasures into your temples,
6and sold Judahfs and Jerusalemfs descendants to the Greeks,
so you can remove them far from their homeland!
7gLook, I will bring them up from where you sold them,
I will turn your revenge back upon you,
8and I will sell your sons and daughters into the control of the people of Judah.
And they will sell them to the people of Sheba, a country far away.h
Indeed, the Lord has spoken.h
9gDeclare this among the nations:
ePrepare for war!
Wake up your elite forces!
Let all the soldiers draw near!
Call them up!
10Beat your plow blades into swords,
and your pruning knives into spears!
Let the frail say, gI am strong!h
11Hurry and come, all you gentiles!
Gather yourselves together!fh
gLord, cause your mighty army to come down.
12gLet the nations be awakened
and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
because I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13Put in the sickle,
because the harvest is ripe.
Come and go down,
because the winepress is full.
The wine vats are overflowing,
because their evil is great!
14gMultitudes, multitudes
in the Valley of Judgment!
For the Day of the Lord is near
in the Valley of Judgment!
15The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will stop shining.
16gThe Lord will roar from Zion,
and shout from Jerusalem.
The heavens and the earth will shake,
but the Lord will be the refuge of his people,
and the strength of the people of Israel.h
17gAnd truly you will know that I am the Lord your God,
dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.
Then Jerusalem will be holy,
and no foreigners will invade her again.
18It will come about at that time
that the mountains will drip with newly pressed wine,
the hills will flow with milk,
and the streams of Judah will flow abundantly.
A fountain will spring from the Temple of the Lord,
to water the Valley of the Acacias.
19Egypt will be desolate,
and Edom will be a desert,
because of violence against the people of Judah
since they shed innocent blood in their land.
20But Judah will live forever,
and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21I will acquit their bloodguilt that has not yet been acquitted.
For the Lord lives in Zion!h
Amos
Chapter 1
1The words of Amos, who was among the sheep breeders of Tekoa, which he spoke concerning Israel during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah and during the reign of Joashfs son Jeroboam, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2He said, gFrom Zion the Lord roars,
and from Jerusalem he shouts aloud.
The shepherdsf pastures will languish,
and Carmelfs summit will wither.h
3This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Damascus
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because they have trampled down Gilead
with ironclad threshing sleds.
4So I will send down fire upon the house of Hazael,
and it will devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.
5I will shatter the gate bars of Damascus,
and I will cut off the residents of the Aven Valley,
along with the one who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;
and the people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,h
says the Lord.
6This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Gaza
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because they exiled the entire population,
delivering them to Edom.
7So I will send down fire upon the wall of Gaza,
and it will devour their fortified citadels;
8and I will cut off the inhabitants of Ashdod,
along with Ashkelonfs ruler.
I will turn to attack Ekron,
and the rest of the Philistines will die,h
says the Lord God.
9This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Tyre
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because they delivered the entire population to Edom,
and did not remember their covenant with their relatives.
10So I will send down fire upon the wall of Tyre,
and it will devour their fortified citadels.h
11This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Edom
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because he pursued his brother with a sword,
refusing to be compassionate.
His anger was raging continuously;
he kept up his unending wrath.
12So I will send down fire upon Teman,
and it will devour the fortified citadels of Bozrah.h
13This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of the Ammonites
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
in order to enlarge their national borders.
14So I will send down fire upon the wall of Rabbah,
and it will devour their fortified citadels
with an alarm sounding in the time of battle,
and with a whirlwind in the time of storm.
15Their king will go into captivity\
he and his princes together,h
says the Lord.
Chapter 2
1This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Moab
because they cremated the bones of the king of Edom,
burning them to lime.
2So I will send down fire upon Moab,
and it will devour the fortified citadels of Kerioth.
Moab will die in the uproar of battle,
with a war cry
and with the trumpeting of the ramfs horn.
3I will execute their rulers among them,
killing all of their officials as well,h
says the Lord.
4This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Judah
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because they rejected the Law of the Lord
and did not keep his statutes.
Their own lies made them wander off,
following along the same path their ancestors walked.
5So I will send down fire upon Judah,
and it will devour the fortified citadels of Jerusalem.h
6This is what the Lord says:
gFor three transgressions of Israel
\and now for a fourth\
I will not turn away;
because they sold the righteous for money,
and the poor for sandals,
7moving quickly to rub the face of the needy in the dirt.
Corrupting the ways of the humble,
a man and his father go to the same woman,
deliberately defiling my holy name.
8They lay down beside every altar,
on garments pledged as collateral,
drinking wine paid for through fines
imposed by the temple of their gods.
9Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites in front of them,
though their height seemed like a cedar,
though their strength seemed like an oak,
but whose fruit I destroyed from above
and the roots from beneath.
10Furthermore, I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
leading you in the wilderness for 40 years,
to take possession of the land of the Amorites.
11I also raised up your sons to be prophets,
and from your young men I raised up Nazirites.
Is this not true, people of Israel?h
declares the Lord.
12gBut you forced the Nazirites to drink wine,
and commanded the prophets,
eYou are not to prophesy!f
13gOh, how I am burdened down with you,
as a wagon is overloaded with harvested grain!
14So the swift runner will not escape,
the valiant will not fortify his strength,
and the mighty warrior will not save his life.
15The skilled archer will not be able to stand,
the swift runner will not survive,
and the mounted rider will not preserve his own life.
16Even the bravest of elite troops will run away naked at that time,h
declares the Lord.
Chapter 3
1gListen to this message that the Lord has spoken about you, people of Israel. It concerns the entire family that I brought from the land of Egypt:
2eYou alone have I known from among all of the families of mankind;
therefore I will hold you accountable for all your iniquities.fh
3gWill a couple walk in unity
without having met?
4Will a lion roar in the forest
without having found its prey?
Will a young lion cry from its den
without having caught anything?
5Does a bird fall into a snare on the ground
without any bait in the trap?
Will a trap snap shut
when there is nothing to catch?
6And when an alarm sounds in the city,
the people will tremble, wonft they?
If there is trouble in a city,
the Lord has brought it about, has he not?h
7gTruly the Lord God will do nothing he has mentioned
without revealing his purposes to his servants the prophets.
8A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who will not prophesy?
9Announce this in the fortified citadels of Ashdod,
and in the fortified citadels of the land of Egypt.
Tell them, eGather together on the mountains of Samaria;
look at the great misery among the citadels,
along with the oppression within Egypt.f
10Because they do not know how to act right,h
declares the Lord,
gthey are filling their strongholds with treasures
that they took from others by violence into their fortified citadels.h
11Therefore this is what the Lord God says:
gAn enemy will surround the land.
He will pull down your defenses,
and plunder your fortified citadels.h
12This is what the Lord says:
gJust as a shepherd might save from the lionfs mouth
only two leg bones or a scrap of an ear,
the Israelis will be saved in a similar manner\
those in Samaria who sit on the remains of their broken beds,
and those in Damascus who lie on the edge of their couches.h
13gListen and testify against the house of Jacob,h
declares the Lord God, the God of the Heavenly Armies,
14gbecause on that day I will lay out the charges against Israel.
I will also bring judgment upon the altars of Bethel;
the horns of the altar will be cut off
and will fall to the ground.
15I will wreck both the winter house and the summer house,
and the ivory houses will fall.
These palaces will surely fall,h
declares the Lord.
Chapter 4
1gListen to this message, you fat cows from Bashan,
who live on the Samaritan mountains,
who oppress the poor,
who rob the needy,
and who constantly ask your husbands for one more drink!h
2The Lord God has taken a sacred oath:
gThe day is coming when they will take you away on fishhooks,
every last one of you on fishhooks.
3Each of you will go out through the breaches of the walls
straight to Mt. Hermon,h
declares the Lord.
4gCome to Bethel and sin,
to Gilgal and sin even more!
Bring along your morning sacrifices,
and pay your tithes every other day.
5While youfre at it, present a thank offering with leaven,
and publicize your freewill offerings,
letting everyone hear about it,
because this is what you really love to do, you Israelis,h
declares the Lord God.
6gI also have scheduled food shortages for you in all of your cities,
and lack of bread in all of your settlements,
but you havenft returned to me,h
declares the Lord.
7gI therefore have withheld the rain from you
three months before the harvest,
causing rain to come upon one city,
but not upon another,
and upon one field
but not upon another,
so that it would wither.
8So the people of two or three cities staggered away to another city
in order to obtain drinking water,
but you have not returned to me,h
declares the Lord.
9gI afflicted you with blight and fungus;
and the locust swarm devoured the harvest
of your gardens, your vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees,
but you have not returned to me,h
declares the Lord.
10gI sent plagues among you as I did with Egypt.
I killed your choicest young men with the sword.
I took your horses away from you.
I filled your noses with the stench of your encampments,
but you have not returned to me,h
declares the Lord.
11gI overthrew your cities,
as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Youfve become like a burning ember, snatched from the fire,
but you have not returned to me,h
declares the Lord.
12gTherefore this is what I will do to you, Israel.
Because I am about to do this,
prepare to be summoned to your God, Israel!h
13Look! The one who crafts mountains,
who creates the wind,
who reveals what he is thinking to mankind,
who darkens the morning light,
who tramples down the high places of the land\
the Lord, the God of the Heavenly Armies is his name.
Chapter 5
1gHear this accusation that I am bringing against you:
eA dirge, house of Israel:
2Fallen is Israel the virgin\never to rise again!
She is abandoned on her own land,
with no one to raise her up.f
3gFor this is what the Lord God says:
eThe city that is sending out a thousand
will have a hundred left;
The city that is sending out a hundred
will have ten left of the house of Israel.fh
4gFor this is what the Lord says to the house of Israel:
eSeek me and live,
5but donft seek Bethel.
Donft go to Gilgal,
and donft pass over to Beer-sheba.
Because Gilgal will surely go into captivity,
and Bethel will come to nothing.
6eSeek the Lord and live!
Otherwise, he may break out like a fire in the house of Joseph
and devour Bethel,
and there will be no one to extinguish it.
7Those of you who are making justice taste bitter,
and who have thrown righteousness to the ground:
8Seek the one who fashions the Pleiades and Orion,
who turns the deep darkness into morning,
who darkens day into night,
who calls out to the waters of the sea,
pouring them out onto the surface of the earth\
the Lord is his name.
9It is he who is raining sudden destruction
upon the strong like lightning,
so that ruin comes upon the fortress.
10They have hated those who are presenting their cases in court,
detesting the one who speaks truthfully.
11eTherefore, since you continually trample the poor,
taxing his grain,
building houses of stone in which you wonft live
and planting fine vineyards from which you wonft drink\
12and because I know that your transgressions are many,
and your sins are numerous
as you oppose the righteous,
taking bribes as a ransom,
and turning away the poor in court\
13therefore the prudent person remains silent at such a time,
for the time is evil.
14ePursue good and not evil,
so that you may live,
and this is what will happen:
The Lord God of the Heavenly Armies will be with you,
as you have been claiming.
15Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in court\
perhaps the Lord, the God of the Heavenly Armies,
will be gracious to the survivors of Joseph.fh
16Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of the Heavenly Armies, the Lord, says:
eThere will be dirges in all of the streets;
and in all of the highways they will cry out in anguish.
They will call the farmer to mourning
and those who lament to grieve.
17And in all of the vineyards there will be mourning
when I pass through your midst,f
says the Lord.h
18gWoe to those who are craving the Day of the Lord!
How is it to your benefit, this Day of the Lord?
Itfs a day of darkness to you, and not light.
19It will be like a man who runs from a lion,
only to encounter a bear;
or who comes home, leans his hand against a wall,
and a serpent bites him!
20Will not the Day of the Lord be darkness, and not light\
pitch black at that, without a ray of sunshine?h
21gI hate\I despise\your festival days,
and your solemn convocations stink.
22And if you send up burnt offerings to me
as well as your grain offerings,
I will not accept them,
nor will I consider your peace offerings of fattened cattle.
23Spare me your noisy singing\
I will not listen to your musical instruments.
24gBut let justice roll on like many waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing river.
25gWas it to me that you brought offerings and gifts
in the desert for 40 years, house of Israel?
26And you carried the tent of your king\
and Saturn, your star god idols that you crafted for yourselves.
27So I will cause you to be taken captive beyond Damascus,h
says the Lord,
whose name is God of the Heavenly Armies.
Chapter 6
1gWoe to those who are at ease in Zion,
to those who rest on the mountain of Samaria\
the famous men of the nations
to whom the house of Israel came!
2Cross over to Calneh and look around,
then go on to that great city of Hamath,
and from there go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Or is their territory more extensive than yours?
3gDisbelieving that a day of evil will come,
embracing opportunities to commit violence,
4lying on ivory beds,
stretching out on your couches,
eating lambs from the flock,
and fattened calves from the stall,
5chanting to the sound of stringed instruments as if they were David,
composing songs to themselves as if they were musicians,
6drinking wine from bowls,
anointing themselves with the choicest of oils,
but not grieving on the occasion of Josephfs ruin\
7therefore you will be the first to go into exile,
and the celebrations of those who are lounging will end.h
8gThe Lord God has sworn by himself,h
declares the Lord, the God of the Heavenly Armies,
gI utterly detest the arrogance of Jacob;
I hate his fortresses;
and I will deliver up the city,
along with everyone in it.
9gAnd if there are ten men remaining in one house,
they will die.
10Onefs relative will pick up the corpse
to carry them from the house for burning,
saying to whomever remains inside the house,
eIs there anyone still with you?f
And he will say, eNo.f
He will respond, eBe quiet,
because we do not mention the name gLordh.f
11For indeed, the Lord is giving the command\
and he will smash the large house to rubble
and the small house into bits.
12gHorses donft run over bare rock, do they?
One doesnft plow rock with oxen, does he?
But you have turned justice to gall,
and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.
13You rejoice in nothing worth mentioning\
that is, you keep on saying,
eWe captured Karnaim by our own strength of will
and by our own effort, didnft we?f
14gSo look, house of Israel! I will raise up a nation against you,h
declares the Lord, the God of the Heavenly Armies,
gand they will harass you from the entrance of Hamath
to the wadi of the wilderness.h
Chapter 7
1This is what the Lord God showed me: Look, he was forming locust swarms as the latter plantings were just beginning to sprout. Indeed, the king had just taken his first fruit tax. 2And so it came about that when the swarm had finished eating the grass of the land, I was saying,
gLord God, forgive\please!
How will Jacob stand, since he is small?h
3So the Lord relented from this. gThis will not happen,h said the Lord.
4This is what the Lord God showed me: Look! The Lord God was calling for judgment by fire, and it was drying up the great depths of the ocean and consuming the land. 5So I kept on saying,
gLord God, forgive\please!
How will Jacob stand, since he is so small?h
6So the Lord relented from this. gThis will not happen, either,h said the Lord God.
7This is what he showed me: Look! The Lord was standing upon a wall that stood straight and true, with a plumb line in his hand. 8And the Lord was asking me, gWhat do you see, Amos?h
I replied, gA plumb line.h
So the Lord said,
gLook, I have set a plumb line
in the midst of my people Israel.
I will no longer spare them.
9Isaacfs high places will be destroyed,
and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined.
I will rise in opposition to the house of Jeroboam with my sword.h
10So Amaziah priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel. It said, gAmos has been conspiring against you in the very heart of the house of Israel! The land cannot bear everything he has to say, 11because Amos is saying this:
eBy the sword will Jeroboam die,
and Israel will surely go into exile
far from her homeland.fh
12So Amaziah kept saying to Amos, gGet out of here, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Live there and prophesy there. 13Donft prophesy anymore at Bethel, because itfs the kingfs sanctuary and a temple of the kingdom.h
14Amos replied in answer to Amaziah,
gI am no prophet,
nor am I a prophetfs son,
for I have been shepherding
and picking the fruit of sycamore trees.
15But the Lord took me from tending the flock and the Lord kept saying to me, eGo, prophesy to my people Israel.f
16gVery well then, hear this message from the Lord:
eYou are saying,
gDonft prophesy against Israel,
and donft preach against the house of Isaac.h
17eTherefore this is what the Lord says:
gYour wife will become a whore in the city,
and your sons and daughters will die by the sword.
Your land will be divided and apportioned,
and you will die in a foreign land.
Israel will surely go into exile,
far from its homeland.hfh
Chapter 8
1This is what the Lord God showed me: Look! A basket of summer fruit! 2And he was asking, gWhat do you see, Amos?h
I answered, gA basket of summer fruit.h
Then the Lord told me,
gThe end approaches for my people Israel.
I will no longer spare them.
3At that time,h
declares the Lord God,
gthe temple songs will be wailing.
Many bodies will accumulate everywhere.
4gHear this, you who are swallowing up the needy,
who intend to make the poor of the land fail,
5and who are saying,
eWhen will the New Moon fade
so we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath conclude
so we may market winnowed wheat?\
shortchanging the measure,
raising the price,
falsifying the scales by treachery,
6buying the poor for cash,
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling chaff mixed in with the wheat.f
7gThe Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
I will never forget anything they have done.
8Surely the land will tremble because of this, wonft it?
And all who live in it will mourn, wonft they?
The entire land will swell up like a flooded river.
It will be stirred up and then will sink
like the river of Egypt.
9It will come about at that time,h declares the Lord God,
gI will cause the sun to set at noon
and the earth to darken in the daylight.
10I will turn your festivals into mourning,
and all of your songs to dirges.
I will cause all of you to put on sackcloth
and to shave all of your heads.
I will make that time like mourning for an only son,
and its conclusion will be like the end of a bitter day.h
11gLook! The days are coming,h
declares the Lord God,
gwhen I will send a famine throughout the land\
not a famine of food or a thirst for water\
but rather a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
12People will stagger from sea to sea,
from north to east.
They will run back and forth,
searching for a message from the Lord,
but they wonft find it.
13At that time,
the beautiful virgins will faint,
as will the strong young men\from thirst.
14Those who have been swearing oaths by the sin of Samaria,
or who say, eAs your god lives, Dancf
or who say, eAs the way of Beer-sheba livescf\
will fall, and will never rise again.h
Chapter 9
1I saw the Lord standing beside the altar as he was saying,
gStrike the doorposts
so that the thresholds tremble,
bringing them down on the heads of all of them.
Those who survive I will kill with the sword.
Those who flee will not escape.
There will be no deliverance for the fugitives.
2gEven if they burrow into Sheol,
from there my hand will find them.
Even if they ascend to the heavens,
from there I will bring them down.
3Even if they hide at the top of Mount Carmel,
from there I will search and seize them.
Even if they hide from my sight in the depths of the sea,
from there I will order the serpent to strike them.
4Even if they go into exile among their enemies,
from there I will order the sword to kill them.
I will fix my gaze on them to inflict disaster,
and not to do good.
5gThe Lord God of the Heavenly Armies
who is touching the earth so that it melts
and all of its inhabitants mourn there\
the land rises like the Nile River,
but sinks like the river of Egypt\
6who is building his stairway to heaven
and setting its foundation on earth;
who is calling for the waters of the sea
and pouring them out over the surface of the land\
the Lord is his name!
7gArenft you people of Israel like the people of Cush to me?h
declares the Lord.
gI brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, did I not,
as well as the Philistines from Caphtor
and the Arameans from Kir?
8Look! The eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom.
I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
but I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,h
declares the Lord.
9gLook! Ifm giving the order:
I will sift the house of Israel throughout all the nations,
as one sifts with a sieve,
yet not a single kernel will reach the ground!
10All sinners among my people will die by the sword,
especially all who are saying,
eDisaster will not come upon or conquer us!fh
11gAt that time I will restore Davidfs fallen tent,
restoring its torn places.
I will restore its ruins,
rebuilding it as it was long ago,
12so my people may inherit the remnant of Edom
and all of the nations that bear my name,h
declares the Lord who is bringing this about.
13gLook! The days are coming,h
declares the Lord,
gwhen the one who sows will overtake the harvester
and the treader of grapes will overtake the planter.
Fresh wine will drip down from the mountains,
cascading down from the hills.
14I will surely restore my people Israel;
they will rebuild the ruined cities
and inhabit them.
They will plant vineyards
and drink the wine from them.
They will plant gardens
and eat the fruit from them.
15I will plant the people of Israel in their own land,
never again to be torn out of their land
that I gave them,h
says the Lord your God.
Obadiah
Chapter 1
1Obadiahfs vision:
This is what the Lord God has to say about Edom.
We have heard a report from the Lord,
and a messenger has been dispatched among the nations to say
gGet up! Let us rise up against her to fight!h
2gLook! I will make you insignificant among the nations;
you will be utterly despised.
3The arrogance in your heart has deceived you,
who inhabit hidden places on rocky cliffs,
whose dwelling is in the heights,
who say continually to yourself,
eWho will bring me down to the ground?f
4Though you soar high like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
I will bring you down even from there,h
declares the Lord.
5gIf thieves came against you,
if marauding gangs by night
\Oh, how you will be destroyed!\
Would they not steal only until they had enough?
If grape pickers came to you,
would they not leave some grapes to be gleaned?
6gOh, how Esau is ransacked,
how his hidden treasures are thoroughly searched out!
7All your allies will force you out of the land,
your associates will deceive you and prevail against you.
Your friends will lay out a trap for you,
and you will never understand it!
8gIn that day,h declares the Lord,
gwill I not destroy the wise from Edom,
and those with understanding from Esaufs Mountain?
9Teman, our mighty soldiers will be dismayed,
so that every man from Esaufs Mountain will be slaughtered.h
10gShame will overwhelm you
because of the violence you inflicted on your brother Jacob,
and you will be excluded forever.
11gOn the day you just stood by,
when strangers carried away Jacobfs wealth
and foreigners entered his gates,
casting lots for Jerusalem,
you were just like one of them.
12gYou should not have gloated over your brother,
on the day of his calamity.
You should not have rejoiced
when the descendants of Judah were perishing.
You should not have boasted
when they were in distress.
13gYou should not have entered the gate of my people
on the day of their disaster.
Also, you should not have gloated over Judahfs misfortune
on the day of his disaster,
nor should you have plundered his wealth
on the day of his disaster.
14And you should not have taken your stand at the crossroads
to cut down his fleeing refugees,
nor should you have handed over his survivors
on the day of his distress.h
15gIndeed, the Day of the Lord approaches all nations.
As you have done it will be done to you\
your deeds will return to haunt you!
16Just as you have drunk from the cup of my wrath upon my holy mountain,
so will all nations drink from the cup of my wrath perpetually.
They will drink, they will gulp it down,
and they will be as if they had never existed!
17gBut there will be a delivered remnant on Mount Zion.
There will be holiness,
and the house of Jacob will take back their possessions.
18gThe house of Jacob will be a fire,
and the house of Joseph a flame,
but the house of Esau will be kindling.
Then Jacob and Joseph will burn and consume Esau,
and no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.h
Indeed, the Lord has spoken it.
19gThose in the Negev will possess Esaufs Mountain,
and those in the Shephelah the Philistines.
They will possess the fields of Ephraim
and the fields of Samaria,
while Benjamin will possess the territory of Gilead.
20The exiles, the Israeli host,
will possess the territory of the Canaanites all the way to Zarephath.
The exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
will possess the cities of the Negev.
21Deliverers will assemble on Mount Zion to judge Esaufs Mountain,
and to the Lord will the kingdom belong!h
Jonah
Chapter 1
1Now this message from the Lord came to Amittaifs son Jonah: 2gGet up and go to Nineveh, that great city! Then cry out in protest against it, because their evil has come to my attention.h
3But Jonah got up and fled from the Lord to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, and secured passage on a ship bound for Tarshish. He paid the fare and boarded, intending to go with the mariners to Tarshish to escape from the Lord. 4Then the Lord sent a great wind over the sea, and a severe storm broke out. It seemed as if the ship were about to break up. 5At this point the mariners became terrified, and each man cried out to his gods. They began to throw the cargo into the sea in order to lighten the vessel. But Jonah had gone down into the vesselfs hold, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6So the captain approached him, and told him, gWhat are you doing asleep? Get up! Call on your gods! Maybe your god will think about us so we wonft die!h
7Meanwhile, each crewman told another, gCome, letfs cast lots to find out whose fault it is that wefre in this trouble.h So they cast lots, and the lot indicated Jonah! 8So they interrogated him: gTell us, why has this trouble come upon us? Whatfs your occupation? Wherefd you come from? Whatfs your home country? Whatfs your nationality?h
9gIfm a Hebrew,h he replied, gand Ifm afraid of the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea along with the dry land!h
10In mounting fear, the men asked him, gWhat have you done?h The men were aware that he was fleeing from the Lord, because he had admitted this to them.
11Because the sea was growing more and more stormy, they asked him, gWhat must we do to you so the sea will calm down for us?h
12Jonah told them, gPick me up and toss me into the sea. Then the sea will calm down for you, because I know that itfs my fault that this mighty storm has come upon you.h 13Even so, the crewmen rowed hard to bring the ship toward dry land, but they were unsuccessful, because the sea was growing more and more stormy.
14At last they cried out to the Lord, gPlease, Lord, do not let us perish because of this manfs life, and do not hold us responsible for innocent blood, because you, Lord, have done what pleased you.h 15So they picked up Jonah and tossed him into the sea, and the sea stopped raging. 16Then the men feared the Lord greatly, offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and made vows.
17Now the Lord had prepared a large sea creature to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the sea creature for three days and three nights.
Chapter 2
1Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the sea creature. 2He said:
gI called out to the Lord from the midst of affliction directed at me,
and he answered me.
From the depths of death I cried out for help;
and you heard my cry.
3You cast me into the deep\
into the heart of the sea.
Flood waters engulfed me.
All your breakers and your waves swirled over me.
4So I told myself, eI have been driven away from you.
How will I again gaze on your holy Temple?f
5Flood waters encompassed me,
the deep surrounded me
while seaweed wrapped around my head.
6I sank to the roots of the mountains;
the earthfs prison bars closed around me forever.
Yet you resurrect the dead from the Pit, Lord my God!
7gAs my life was fading away,
I remembered the Lord;
and my prayer came to you in your holy Temple.
8Those who cling to vain idols
leave behind the gracious love that could have been theirs.
9But as for me, with a voice of thanksgiving I will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Deliverance is the Lordfs!h
10Then the Lord spoke to the sea creature, and it spewed Jonah onto the dry land.
Chapter 3
1This message from the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2gGet up and go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.h 3So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh to do what the Lord had ordered.
Now Nineveh was a very large city, requiring a three-day journey to cross through it. 4As Jonah started into the city on the first dayfs journey, he proclaimed the message, g40 days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!h
5The people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast, and from the greatest to the least important of them, they put on sackcloth. 6When the message reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his royal garments, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in ashes. 7Then he had this proclamation published throughout Nineveh:
gBy decree of the king and his nobles:
No man or animal, herd or flock, is to taste anything, graze, or drink water. 8Instead, let both man and animal clothe themselves with sackcloth and cry out to God forcefully. Let every person turn from his evil ways and from his tendency to do violence. 9Who knows but that God may relent, have compassion, and turn from his fierce anger, so that we are not exterminated?h
10God took note of what they did\that they turned from their evil ways. Because God relented concerning the trouble about which he had warned them, he did not carry it out.
Chapter 4
1Greatly displeased, Jonah flew into a rage. 2So he prayed to the Lord, gLord, isnft this what I said while I was still in my home country? Thatfs why I fled previously to Tarshish, because I knew youfre a compassionate God, slow to anger, overflowing with gracious love, and reluctant to send trouble. 3Therefore, Lord, please kill me, because itfs better for me to die than to live!h
4The Lord replied, gDoes being angry make you right?h
5Then Jonah left the city and sat down on the eastern side. There he made a shelter for himself and sat down under its shade to see what would happen to the city. 6The Lord God prepared a vine plant, and it grew over Jonah to shade his head and provide relief from his misery. Jonah was happy\indeed, he was ecstatic\about the vine plant. 7But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm that attacked the vine plant so that it withered away. 8When the sun rose, God prepared a harsh east wind. The sun beat down on Jonahfs head, he became faint, and he begged to die. gIt is better for me to die than to live!h he said.
9Then God asked Jonah, gIs your anger about the vine plant justified?h
And he answered, gAbsolutely! Ifm so angry I could die!h
10But the Lord said, gYou cared about a vine plant that you neither worked on nor cultivated? A vine plant that grew up overnight and died overnight? 11So why shouldnft I be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand human beings who do not know their right hand from their left, as well as a lot of livestock?
Micah
Chapter 1
1This message from the Lord came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of the Judean kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah concerning the vision he saw about Samaria and Jerusalem:
2gListen, people! All of you!
Earth! Pay attention, and all you inhabitants of it!
May the Lord God be a witness against you\
the Lord from his holy Temple.
3Look here! The Lord is coming from his place!
He will come down
and will trample down the high places throughout the land.
4The mountains will melt under him
and the valleys will split apart,
like wax in the presence of fire
and like water gushing down a steep incline.
5All this comes about due to the transgression of Jacob,
and due to the sins of the house of Israel.
What is Jacobfs sin? Itfs Samaria, isnft it?
And whatfs Judahfs high place? Itfs Jerusalem, isnft it?
6gSo I will turn Samaria into a mound of dirt in a field,
a place to plant vineyards.
And I will dump her building stones into the valley,
uncovering her foundation.
7All of her carved images will be crushed to pieces,
all the earnings of her prostitution will be burned up,
and I will destroy all her idols;
because she collected the wages of prostitution,
and to the wages of prostitution they will return.h
8gTherefore I will cry out and grieve loudly;
I will walk around stripped and naked.
I will cry out like a jackal
and mourn like a company of ostriches.
9For Samariafs injury is fatal,
reaching all the way to Judah,
extending even to the gate of my people\to Jerusalem.h
10gDonft discuss it in Gath!
Donft cry bitterly in Akim!
Roll in the ashes, Beth-leaphrah!
11Run away, you residents of Shaphir,
displaying your shameful nakedness.
Donft come out, you residents of Zaanan!
Your firm standing will disappear as Beth-ezel mourns.
12Even though the inhabitants of Maroth long for success,
nevertheless evil descended from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.
13gYou inhabitants of Lachish, harness your chariot to your swiftest steed\
the daughter of Zion has begun to sin\
because within you the transgressions of Israel were revealed.
14Therefore give your gifts to Moresheth-gath;
that is, the houses of Achzib as a deceitful symbol to the kings of Israel.
15Nevertheless, I will deliver an heir to you, inhabitants of Mareshah\
to Adullam the glory of Israel will come.
16gShave your head
and cut off your locks as you mourn your beloved children.
Make yourself bald as an eagle,
because they will go from you into exile!h
Chapter 2
1gWoe to those who are crafting iniquity,
planning evil well into the night!
When morningfs light comes,
they carry out their plans because they have the power to do so.
2They covet fields and seize them;
they covet houses, and grab them, too.
They harass the valiant man, along with his household,
an individual and his estate.
3gTherefore this is what the Lord says,
gIfm crafting evil against this family,
from which you canft escape.
You wonft strut around arrogantly,
because the times are evil.f
4gWhen this happens, someone will compose a proverb about you, lamenting sorrowfully,
eWe are completely ruined!
He has given my peoplefs heritage to others.
How he has removed it from me,
dividing up our fields!f
5gThis is why there will not be left even a single person
to settle boundary disputes in the Lordfs community.
6To those who speak out, they will declare,
eDonft prophesy to anyone!f
so their shame wonft go away.
7gIt is said, house of Jacob,
eThe Spirit of the Lord is limited,
if he acts this way, is he not?f
gBut my words benefit those who live righteously, do they not?
8Lately my people have acted like an enemy\
you strip travelers who thought they were as secure
as those who return from war.
9You have evicted the wives of my people from their dream homes;
you have removed my majesty from their children permanently.
10gGet up and go,
because therefs no rest for you here!
Since everything is polluted, it can only cause destruction,
even heavy destruction.
11Suppose a man who keeps company with a deceiving spirit prophesies like this:
eDrink wine and strong drink!f
Wonft the people accept him as a prophet?h
12gJacob, how I will surely gather all of you!
How I will gather the survivors of Israel!
I will gather them together like sheep in a pen,
like the flock in the midst of the sheepfold.
There will be a great commotion because of all the people.
13God will stand up and break through in their presence.
Then they will pass through the gate, going out by it.
Their king will pass in front of them
with the Lord at their head.h
Chapter 3
1gHe will say, eListen, you leaders of Jacob,
you officials of the house of Israel!
You should know justice, should you not?\
2you who despise good and love evil,
who tear off the skin of my people,
along with the flesh from their bones.
3You eat the flesh of my people,
flaying their skin from them.
You break their bones,
chopping them in pieces like meat for a pot,
like meat destined for a soup kettle.f
4gThen they will cry to the Lord,
but he will not listen to them.
In fact, he will hide his face from them at that time,
because they were so wicked in what they were doing.h
5gThis is what the Lord says about the prophets
who are causing my people to go astray,
who are calling out ePeacef when theyfre being fed,
but who declare war against those who wonft feed them:
6eYou will have nights without visions,
and darkness without prophecy.
The sun will set on the prophets,
and the day will darken for them.
7Those who see visions will be put to shame,
and the diviners will be disgraced\every one of them\
they will cover their faces,
because there will be no answer from God.fh
8gAs for me, I am truly filled with power by the Spirit of the Lord,
filled with judgment and power
to announce to Jacob his transgression,
and to Israel his sin.
9Please listen to this, you leaders of the house of Jacob,
you officials of the house of Israel,
you who hate administering justice,
who pervert the very meaning of equity,
10who are building up Zion by means of bloodshed,
and Jerusalem by means of iniquity.
11Her leaders judge for the money,
her priests teach only when theyfre paid ,
and her prophets prophesy for cash.
Even so, donft they all rely on the Lord as they ask,
eThe Lord is among us, is he not?
Nothing bad can possibly happen to us!f
12gTherefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed up like a field,
and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble,
and the Temple Mount like a forest high place.h
Chapter 4
1gBut in the last days it will come about
that the Temple Mount of the Lord will be firmly set
as the leading mountain.
It will be exalted above its surrounding hills,
and people will stream toward it.
2Many nations will approach and say,
eCome, letfs go up to the mountain of the Lord,
and to the Temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us about his ways,
and we will walk according to his directions.f
gIndeed, the Law will proceed from Zion,
and the message of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3And he will judge among many people,
rebuking strong nations far away;
and they will reshape their swords as plowshares
and their spears as pruning hooks.
No nation will threaten another,
nor will they train for war anymore.
4Instead, each man will sit in the shade of his grape vines
and beneath the shade of his fig tree,h
since the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has spoken.
5gBecause all of the people will walk,
each person in the name of his God,
and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
6gAt that time,h declares the Lord,
 gI will assemble the lame;
and I will gather those whom I have scattered,
along with those whom I have afflicted.
7I will transform the lame into survivors,
and those who were scattered into a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion,
now and forever.h
8gAnd you, watchtower of the flock,
you stronghold of the daughter of Zion,
it will happen even to you:
The former dominion, even the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem, will come.
9Why are you crying so loud now?
Therefs no king among you, is there?
Perhaps your advisor has died?
For pain has overtaken you like a woman in labor.
10Be in pain! Be in labor, you daughter of Zion,
like a woman about to give birth,
because now you will depart from the city,
living in the open fields.
To Babylon you will go.
There you will be delivered,
there the Lord will rescue you from the power of your enemies.h
11gNow many nations have gathered against you, saying,
eLet her be defiled,f and
eLetfs look down on Zion.f
12But they donft know the thoughts of the Lord,
and they donft understand his tactics,
for he will gather them like harvested grain to his threshing floor.
13Get up and smash them to pieces, daughter of Zion,
because I will make your horn like iron
and your hooves like bronze!
And you will beat many people to pieces,
and I will consecrate their dishonest gain to the Lord
and their assets to the Lord of the entire earth.h
Chapter 5
1gNow marshal yourselves as troops.
He has laid siege to us.
They will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod.h
2gAs for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
even though you remain least among the clans of Judah,
nevertheless, the one who rules in Israel for me
will emerge from you.
His existence has been from antiquity,
even from eternity.
3Therefore that ruler will abandon them
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his countrymen will return to the Israelis.h
4gThen he will take his stand,
shepherding by means of the strength of the Lord,
by the power of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will be firmly established;
indeed, from then on he will become great\
to the ends of the earth.
5And he will be our peace.h
gWhen the Assyrian invades our land,
trampling through our palaces,
we will raise up seven shepherds against him,
even eight significant men.
6The shepherds will devastate the land of Assyria with the sword,
along with the entrances to the land of Nimrod.
gThis is how he will vanquish Assyria
when he invades our land,
trampling within our borders:
7The survivors of Jacob will live among many peoples,
as dew from the Lord,
as showers upon the grass.
They will look to no one,
and will place no hope in human beings.
8The survivors of Jacob will live among the nations;
they will live among many peoples,
like a lion among flocks of sheep,
who, if he passes through,
will trample and tear down
with no one to deliver.
9You will turn your power against your adversaries,
and all of your enemies will be cut down.h
10gIt will come about at that time,h declares the Lord,
gI will tear away your horses from you,
and I will destroy your chariots.
11I will cut off the cities of your land,
and I will tear down all of your fortifications.
12I will render your witchcraft powerless,
and mediums will no longer exist among you.
13I will separate you from your carved images and sacred pillars,
and you no longer will worship
what youfve made with your hands.
14I will uproot your cultic gods from you,
 and I will tear down your cities.
15I will execute vengeance, anger, and fury
on the nations who do not obey.h
Chapter 6
1Please hear what the Lord says:
gGet up and make your case before the mountains,
and let the hills listen to your voice.
2Listen, you mountains, to the Lordfs argument!
Listen, you strong foundations of the earth,
because the Lord has a dispute with his people,
and he will set out his case before Israel.
3gMy people, what have I done to you,
and how have I offended you?
Answer me!
4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and ransomed you from the house of slavery,
sending Moses, Aaron, and Miriam into your presence.
5gMy people, recall how king Balak of Moab deliberated,
and how Beorfs son Balaam counseled him from Shittim to Gilgal,
so that you may know the righteousness of the Lord.h
6How am I to present myself in the Lordfs presence
and bow in the presence of the High God?
Should I present myself with burnt offerings,
with year-old calves?
7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
or with endless rivers of oil?
Am I to give my firstborn to pay for my rebellion,
the fruit of my body in exchange for my soul?
8He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good
and what the Lord is requiring from you\
to act with justice,
to treasure the Lordfs gracious love,
and to walk humbly in the company of your God.
9The voice of the Lord cries out to the city\
wisdom fears your name:
gHeed the rod, and the one who prepared it!
10Are there still wicked treasures in the house of the wicked,
along with deceitful and abominable measuring standards?
11Will I tolerate those who maintain deceptive standards
and who use deceitful weights in their business?
12Her rich people are filled with violence,
and her inhabitants tell lies\
their tongues speak deceitfully!
13gTherefore I will make you ill when I attack you;
I will bring you to ruin because of your offenses.
14Youfll eat,
but you wonft have enough;
and hunger will be common among you.
Youfll horde things,
but you wonft save them,
and what you preserve
Ifll give over to the sword.
15Youfll plant,
but you wonft reap.
Youfll crush the olive harvest,
but youfll have no oil to anoint yourself.
Youfll tread out the grapes,
but youfll never drink wine.
16You keep Omrifs statutes
and observe the customs of the house of Ahab.
Because you live according to their advice,
Ifll make you desolate
and turn your inhabitants into an object of scorn.
Therefore you will bear the shame of my people.h
Chapter 7
1Poor me!
I feel like those who harvest summer fruit,
or like those who pick grapes\
there are no clusters to eat
or any fresh fruit that I want.
2The faithful have died off,
and there is not one upright human being in the land.
They all stalk one another with lethal intent,
a man will even hunt his own brother with a net.
3And speaking of evil,
they practice it eagerly\with both hands!
Both leader and judge demand a bribe,
the famous confess their perverted desires,
and they scheme together.
4The best of them is like a thorn,
and their most upright like a hedge of thorns.
The day announced by your watchmen\
and by your own calculations\approaches.
Now itfs your time to be confused!
5Donft trust your friends,
donft confide in a companion,
watch what you say to your wife.
6The son disrespects his father,
the daughter rebels against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
and a manfs enemies are the people of his own house.
7But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God who will deliver me.
My God will hear me.
8Donft be glad on my account, my enemy.
When I fall, Ifll get up.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord is a light for me.
9I will endure the Lordfs anger\
since I have sinned against him\
until he takes over my defense,
administers justice on my behalf,
and brings me out to the light,
where I will gaze on his righteousness.
10Then my enemy will observe it,
and shame will engulf the ones who asked me,
eWhere is the Lord your God?f
My own eyes will see them,
they will be trampled on like mud in the streets.
11When the time comes for rebuilding your walls,
that time will surely be extended.
12At that time armies will invade you from Assyria,
from Egyptian cities to the Euphrates River,
from sea to sea
and from mountain to mountain.
13The land will become desolate
because of its inhabitants,
and as a result of their behavior.
14Use your rod to shepherd your people,
the flock that belongs to you,
that lives alone in the forest of Carmel.
Let them find pasture in Bashan and Gilead,
as they did long ago.
15As I did when you came out of the land of Egypt,
I will show you awesome things.
16The nations will look on
and will be ashamed in spite of all their power;
they will cup their hands over their mouths,
and their ears will be deaf.
17They will lick the dust like a serpent;
they will crawl from their strongholds like snakes.
They will fear the Lord our God.
They will be terrified because of you.
18Is there any God like you,
forgiving iniquity,
passing over transgressions by the survivors who are your heritage?
He is not angry forever,
because he delights in gracious love.
19He will again show us compassion;
he will subdue our iniquities.
You will hurl all their sins into the deepest sea.
20You will remain true to Jacob,
and merciful to Abraham,
as you promised our ancestors long ago.
Nahum
Chapter 1
1A pronouncement about Nineveh: The record of the vision of Nahum from Elkosh.
2A jealous God, the Lord avenges.
The Lord avenges;
The Lord is an angry husband.
The Lord takes vengeance on his enemies,
reserving anger for his adversaries.
3The Lord is slow to anger and powerful,
and he will never let the guilty go unpunished.
The Lordfs path is in the windstorm and hurricane;
thunderclouds are dust beneath his feet.
4He rebukes the sea, and it evaporates;
he dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
while the flowers of Lebanon languish.
5Mountains shake because of him,
and the hills melt.
The earth goes into upheaval at his presence,
as does the world with all of its inhabitants.
6Who can stand before his fury?
And who can endure his fierce anger?
His displeasure pours out like fire,
and rocks are broken to pieces because of him.
7The Lord is good\
a refuge in troubled times.
He knows those who are confiding in him.
8But with an overwhelming deluge he will bring utter desolation to Nineveh,
and his enemies he will pursue with darkness.
9What are you scheming against the Lord?
He will bring about utter desolation\
adversity will not strike twice!
10Indeed, while tangled as by a thorn bush,
while drunken as by a strong drink,
the Ninevites will be burned like dry straw.
11Someone has left you who plans evil against the Lord.
He is a demonic counselor.
12This is what the Lord says:
gNo matter how strong they are,
and no matter how numerous,
they will surely be annihilated and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will do so no more.
13Now I will break off Assyriafs yoke from you,
and tear apart your shackles.h
14Now this is what the Lord has decreed about you, Nineveh:
gThere will be no more children born to carry on your name.
I will cut out the graven and molten images from the temples of your gods.
I myself will dig your grave,
because you are vile.h
15Look! There on the mountains!
The feet of the one who brings good news,
who broadcasts a message of peace.
Judah, celebrate your solemn festivals
and keep your vows,
because the wicked will never again invade you.
Nineveh will be completely eliminated!
Chapter 2
1You are being attacked by advancing forces!
Guard your rampart!
Watch your roads!
Prepare yourselves!
Marshall your defenses!
2For the Lord will restore the glory of Jacob,
just as he will restore the glory of Israel,
although plunderers have devastated them,
vandalizing their vine branches.
3The shields deployed by Israelfs elite forces are scarlet,
their valiant men are clothed in crimson.
When they are prepared,
the polished armament on their chariots will shine,
and lances will be brandished about ferociously.
4Their chariots storm through the streets,
jostling each other along broad avenues.
They look like torches,
as they dart around like lightning.
5He will remember to summon his finest troops.
They will stumble on their way,
hurrying over to Ninevehfs wall.
Their defensive shield is in place.
6The river gates will be opened,
and the palace will collapse.
7It has been determined:
The woman is unveiled and sent away,
her servant girls mourn.
Beating their breasts,
they whimper like doves.
8Nineveh is a reservoir whose water is draining away.
gWait! Wait!h they cry,
yet not even one person looks back.
9Take the silver! Take the gold!
There is no end to the treasure\
fabulous riches of every imagination.
10Nineveh is devastated, deserted, and desolate.
Her heart melts, her knees knock.
Every stomach is upset,
every face grows pale.
11Where is this lionfs den?
Where is the place where the young lions fed,
where the lion and its mate walked with their young,
the place where they feared nothing?
12This lion renders its prey to pieces to feed its whelps,
and strangles enough prey for its mate,
filling its lairs with prey
and its dens with rendered flesh.
13gI am against you,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
gand I will send your chariots up in smoke.
A sword will devour your young lions,
I will eliminate your prey from the earth,
and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.h
Chapter 3
1Woe to this city, contaminated with shed blood,
all full of lies and robberies\
it is never without victims!
2The crack of whips
and the clamor of wheels!
The galloping horses
and the bounding chariots!
3The cavalry attacks\
the flashing sword
and the glittering spear!
Many are the slain\
so many casualties!\
No end to bodies,
and the soldiers trip over the corpses.
4Innumerable are the harlotries of this well-favored whore,
this mistress of witchcraft,
who enslaves nations through her fornication
and families through her sorcery.
5gLook, I am against you,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
gso I will pull up your dress over your face.
I will show your nakedness to the nations,
and your disgrace to the kingdoms.
6I will hurl abominable filth upon you,
making you look foolish,
and making an example of you.
7It will be that everyone who looks at you will run away, saying,
eNineveh has been violently overthrown!
Who will mourn for her?
Where will I find anyone to comfort you?fh
8gAre you any better than Thebes,
which sits by the upper Nile, surrounded by water?
The sea was her defense,
the waters her wall of protection.
9Sudan was her source of strength, along with Egypt\
there were no limits.
Put and the Libyans were her allies.
10But she, too, was exiled\
she went into captivity!
Her young children were dashed to pieces
at every crossroad of their streets,
and her famous citizens were sold by lottery,
while all of her aristocrats were put in chains.
11You will also become drunk.
You will disappear,
trying to hide from your enemies.
12All your defenses are like fig trees with ripe early fruit\
when shaken, it falls right into the devourerfs mouth.
13Look at your people\
they are women!
Your borders stand wide open to your enemies,
while fire consumes the bars of your gates.h
14gDraw water, because a siege is coming!
Strengthen your fortresses!
Make the clay good and strong!
Mix the mortar!
Go get your brick molds!
15In that place fire will consume you,
the sword will cut you down,
consuming you as locusts do.
Multiply yourself like locusts,
increase like swarming grasshoppers.
16You added to your inventory of businessmen\
they number more than the stars of heaven.
The creeping locust sheds its skin and flies away.
17Your imperial guards are like the swarming grasshopper;
your marshals are like hordes of grasshoppers,
settling in the stone walls on a chilly day.
The sun rises, and they flee away;
no one knows where they went.
18Hey king of Assyria! Your shepherds are asleep
and your nobles are lying down!
Your people lie scattered on the mountains,
and there is no one to gather them together.
19There is no healing for your injury\
your wound is fatal.
Everyone who hears about you will applaud,
because who hasnft escaped your endless evil?h
Habakkuk
Chapter 1
1The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk perceived.
2gHow long, Lord, must I cry out for help,
but you wonft listen?
Ifm crying out to you, eOppression!f
but you arenft providing deliverance.
3Why are you forcing me to look at iniquity
and to stare at wickedness?
Social havoc and oppression are all around me;
there are legal conflicts, and disputes abound.
4Therefore, the Law has become paralyzed,
and justice never comes about.
Because criminals outnumber the righteous,
whenever judgments are issued, they come out crooked.h
5gLook out at the nations and pay attention!
Be astounded! Be really astounded!
Because something is happening in your lifetime
that you wonft believe, even if it were described down to the smallest detail.
6Watch out! For I am bringing in the Chaldeans,
that cruel and impetuous people,
who sweep across the earth
dispossessing people from homes not their own.
7They are terrible and fearsome;
their brand of justice and sense of honor derive only from themselves!
8Their horses are swifter than leopards,
and more cunning than wolves that attack at night.
Their horsemen are galloping
as they approach from far away.
They swoop in like ravenous vultures.
9gThey all come to oppress\
hordes of them, their faces pressing onward\
they take prisoners as numerous as the desert sand!
10They make fun of kings,
deriding those who rule.
They laugh at all of the fortified places,
constructing ramps to seize them.
11Then like the wind sweeping by
they will pass through\
theyfre guilty because they say their power is their god.h
12gHavenft you existed forever,
Lord my God, my Holy One?
We wonft die!
Lord, youfve prepared them for judgment;
Rock, youfve sentenced them to correction.
13Your eyes are too pure to gaze upon evil;
and you cannot tolerate wickedness.
So why do you tolerate the treacherous?
And why do you stay silent
while the wicked devour those who are more righteous than they are?
	14gYou have fashioned mankind like fish in the ocean,
like creeping things that have no ruler.
	15The adversary captures them with a hook,
gathering them up in a fishing net.
He collects them with a dragnet,
rejoicing and gloating over his catch.
16Therefore he sacrifices to his fishing net,
and burns incense in the presence of his dragnet,
because by them his assets increase
and he gets plenty of food.
17Is he to continue to empty his fishing net?
Will he ever stop killing entire nations without mercy?h
Chapter 2
1gI will stand at my guard post
and station myself on a tower.
I will wait and see what the Lord will say about me
and what I will answer when he reprimands me.h
2When he answered, the Lord told me:
gWrite out the revelation,
engraving it clearly on the tablets,
so that a courier may run with it.
3For the revelation pertains to an appointed time\
it speaks truthfully about the end.
Though it delays, wait for it,
because it will surely come about\
it will not be late!
4gNotice their arrogance\
they have no inward uprightness\
but the righteous will live by their faith.
5Moreover, just as wine leads astray the proud and powerful man,
he remains restless;
he has expanded his appetite\
like the afterlife or death itself, he is never satisfied.
He gathers to himself all of the nations,
taking captive all of the people for himself.h
6gWill not all of these ridicule him
with mocking scorn? They will say,
eWoe to the one who hordes for himself what isnft his.
How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?f
7Wonft your creditors revolt unexpectedly?
Wonft those who make you tremble wake up?
As a result, youfll become their prey!
8Because you plundered many nations,
all of their remnants will plunder you.
Human blood has been shed,
and violence has been done to the land,
to the city, and to all who live in it.h
9gWoe to the one who amasses profit upon unjust profit
in order to establish his household,
so he can establish a secure place on the heights
and escape from the power of evil.
10You have brought shame to yourself by killing many people\
you are forfeiting your own life.
11Indeed, the stone will cry out from the wall
and the rafter will respond from the woodwork.h
12gWoe to the one who founds a city upon bloodshed,
and constructs a city by lawlessness.
13Is it not because of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
that people grow tired putting out fires,
and nations weary themselves over nothing?
14Indeed, the earth will be filled
with knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
as water fills the sea.h
15gWoe to the one who supplies his neighbor with a drink!
You are forcing your bottle on him,
making him drunk so you can see them naked.
16You are filled with dishonor instead of glory.
So go ahead, drink and be naked!
The Lord will turn against you,
and utter disgrace will debase your reputation.
17Indeed, the violence done to Lebanon will overtake you,
and the destruction of the beasts will terrorize you\
because you shed human blood
and did violence to the land, to the city, and to all who live in it.h
18gWhere is the benefit in owning a carved image,
that motivates its maker to carve it?
It is only a cast image\
a teacher that lies\
because the engraver entrusts himself to his carving,
crafting speechless idols.
19gWoe to the one who says to a tree, eWake up!f
or eArise!f to a speechless stone.
Idols like this canft teach, can they?
Look, even though it is overlaid with gold and silver,
therefs no breath in it at all.h
20gThe Lord is in his holy Temple.
All the earth\be quiet in his presence.h
Chapter 3
1A prayer by the prophet Habakkuk, set to music.
2Lord, as I listen to what has been said about you,
I am afraid.
Lord, revive your work throughout all of our lives\
reveal yourself throughout all of our lives\
when you are angry,
remember compassion.
3God comes from Teman\
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Interlude
His glory spreads throughout the heavens,
and praises about him fill the earth.
4His radiance is like sunlight;
beams of light shine from his hand,
where his strength lays hidden.
5Before him pestilence walks,
and disease follows behind him.
6He stood up and shook the land;
with his stare he startled the nations.
The age-old mountains were shattered,
and the ancient hilltops bowed down.
His ways are eternal.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
and the tent curtains of the land of Midian in anguish.
8Was the Lord displeased with the rivers?
Was your anger directed against the watercourses
or your wrath against the sea?
Indeed, you rode upon your horses,
upon your chariots of deliverance.
9Your bow was exposed,
and your arrows targeted by command. - Interlude
You split the earth with rivers.
10When the mountains looked upon you, they trembled;
the overflowing water passed by,
the ocean shouted,
and its waves surged upward.
11The sun and moon stand still in their orbits;
at the glint of your arrows they speed along,
even at the gleam of your flashing spear.
12You march through the land in righteous indignation;
you tread down the nations in anger.
13You marched out to deliver your people,
to deliver with your anointed.
You struck the head of the house of the wicked;
you stripped him naked from head to foot. - Interlude
14With his own lances you pierced the heads of his warriors,
who came out like a windstorm to scatter us\
their joy is to devour the afflicted who are in hiding.
15You rode on the sea with your horses,
even riding the crested waves of mighty waters.
16I heard and I trembled within.
My lips quivered at the noise.
My legs gave way beneath me,
and I trembled.
Nevertheless, I await the day of distress
that will dawn on our invaders.
17Even though the fig tree does not blossom,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even if the olive harvest fails,
and the fields produce nothing edible;
even if the flock is snatched from the sheepfold,
and there is no herd in the stalls\
18as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will find my joy in the God who delivers me.
19The Lord God is my strength\
he will make my feet like those of a deer,
equipping me to tread on my mountain heights.
Zephaniah
Chapter 1
1This message from the LORD came to Cushifs son Zephaniah, the grandson of Gedaliah and great-grandson of Hezekiahfs son Amariah, during the reign of Amonfs son Josiah, king of Judah:
2gIfll utterly sweep away everything from the land,h
declares the Lord.
3gIfll consume both human beings and animals\
Ifll consume the birds of the sky,
the fish in the sea,
and the wicked along with their sin,
when I eliminate human beings from the land,h
declares the Lord.
4gI will also stretch out my hand against Judah,
and upon all inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Ifll wipe out every trace of Baal from this place,
and the name of the pagan priests,
along with my own priests.
5Ifll wipe out those who worship the stars
that they view from their housetops,
those who bow down and swear to the Lord
and who also swear by Milcom,
6those who turn away from the Lord,
donft seek the Lord,
and never ask for his help.h
7Remain silent in the presence of the Lord God,
because the Day of the Lord approaches,
and because the Lord has prepared a sacrifice
for those whom he has invited to be consecrated.
8gIt will come about during the Lordfs sacrifice
that Ifll punish the officials, the royal descendants,
and all who wear foreign clothing.
9At the same time, Ifll punish every idol worshipper,
especially those who are filling their masterfs temple with violence and deceit.
10When all of this happens,h declares the Lord,
ga loud shriek will come from the Fish Gate,
and howling from the Mishneh Quarter,
along with great destruction from the hills.h
11gWail, you who live in the market district,
because all of the merchants will be crushed
and all of their customers will be eliminated.
12And it will come about that I will search Jerusalem with candles,
punishing the self-satisfied and complacent,
who say to themselves,
eThe Lord will do neither good nor evil.f
13Therefore their possessions will be seized as plunder
and their homes left in ruins.
They may build houses,
but they wonft live in them.
They may plant vineyards,
but they wonft drink their wine.h
14gThe great Day of the Lord approaches\
How it comes, hurrying faster and faster!
The sound of the Day of the Lord there
includes the bitter cry of the mighty soldier.
15That day will be filled with wrath,
a day of trouble and tribulation,
a day of desolation and devastation,
a day of doom and gloom,
a day of clouds and shadows,
16a day of trumpet and battle cry
against fortified cites and watch towers.
17gAnd Ifll bring so much distress to people
that they will walk around like the blind.
Because they have sinned against the Lord,
their blood will be poured out like dust
and their intestines will spill out like manure.
18Neither their silver nor their gold will deliver them
in the Day of the Lordfs wrath;
but the entire land will be consumed
by the fire of his jealousy,
for he will bring the inhabitants of the land to a sudden end.h
Chapter 2
1gGather together!
Yes, indeed, gather together,
you shameless nation!
2Before the decree is carried out,
before the day flies away like chaff,
before the fierce anger of the Lord visits you,
before the Day of the Lordfs wrath surprises you,
3seek the Lord, all you humble people of the land,
who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness!
Seek humility!
Maybe you will be protected in the Day of the Lordfs anger.h
4gFor Gaza will be forsaken,
and Ashkelon deserted\
Ashdod will be emptied at high noon;
even Ekron will be uprooted.
5Woe to those who live along the coast,
the people of Philistia!
This message from the Lord is being spoken against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines:
eIfll destroy you until no one lives there!f
6The Philistine coast will become meadows
for shepherds and sheep pens.
7The survivors of Judah will find pasture on it;
at twilight they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon,
for the Lord their God will visit them,
restoring their prosperity.h
8gIfve heard Moabfs insults
and the curses from those Ammonites
by which they defame my people
and boast about their territory.
9Therefore as Ifm alive and living,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel,
gMoab will surely become like Sodom,
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,
a place overrun by weeds and salty marshes,
unpopulated forever.
The survivors of my people will confiscate their property,
and those who remain of my nation will inherit what was theirs.
10This they will have in lieu of their pride,
because they have insulted and mocked the people of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
11The Lord will incite them to terror,
because he will cause all the gods of the earth to waste away.
They will worship him,
every person in his own home,
including even the coastlands of the nations.h
12gNow as for you, Cush,
you will surely be slain by my sword!
13gAnd the Lord will attack the north, destroying Assyria.
He will turn Nineveh into a desolate ruin,
as dry as a desert wilderness.
14Flocks will lie down in her midst,
along with animals of every kind.
Desert owls and screeching owls will nest at the top of the pillars,
hooting through the vacant windows,
eRuin sits at these doorsills,f
for he will expose even the cedar framework.
15This is that carefree city that lived irresponsibly,
that told herself, eMe first!f
and, eThere will be no one else!f
How ruined she has become\
a habitat for wild animals!
Everyone who passes by her will sneer at her
and make obscene gestures!h
Chapter 3
1Woe to this filthy, polluted, and oppressive city!
2It wonft obey anyone.
It wonft accept discipline.
It does not trust in the Lord.
It does not approach God.
3Its national officials are roaring lions;
its judges are like wolves of the night
that donft leave the bones for the morning.
4Its prophets are arrogant and treacherous.
Its priests have contaminated the sanctuary.
They give perverse interpretations of the Law.
5The righteous Lord who lives within her will do no wrong;
he will bring justice to light morning by morning.
He never fails,
but the unjust are shameless.
6gI have destroyed nations\
their fortifications are deserted.
I have turned their main thoroughfares into wastelands
where no one will travel.
Their cities are desolate;
as a result, not one man remains\
no, not even a single resident.
7I have said, eIf only you would fear me,
if only you would take my instructions to heart.f
Then their houses would not have been torn down.
I have chastened them,
but they were eager to corrupt everything they were doing.h
8gJust you wait!h declares the Lord.
gThe day will come when I stand up as a prosecutor,
for I am determined to assemble the nations
and to gather the kingdoms,
in order to pour out my indignation upon them\
all of my fierce anger.
All the earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.
9Indeed, then I will return my people to a pure language
so that they all may call upon the name of the Lord,
serving him with a united will.
10gFrom beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers\
including my dispersed people\
will present offerings to me.
11When this happens, you will not be ashamed of your actions
by which you sinned against me,
because I will remove from among you those who revel in pride.
Arrogance will have no place in my holy mountain.
12I will keep a humble and gentle people among you,
and they will trust in the name of the Lord.
13The survivors of Israel will not practice lawlessness
nor tell lies,
nor will a deceitful message be found in their mouths,
because they will eat and rest,
with no one to cause fear.h
14gSing aloud, daughter of Zion!
Shout out, Israel!
Rejoice with all of your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!
15The Lord has acquitted you;
turning back your adversaries.
Israelfs king, the Lord, is among you;
you will not fear disaster anymore.
16gWhen all of this happens, it will be told Jerusalem,
eDonft be afraid!h
and to Zion,
eDonft lose courage!h
17The Lord your God among you is powerful\
he will save
and he will take joyful delight in you.
In his love he will renew you with his love;
he will celebrate with singing because of you.
18I will gather the afflicted from the solemn assembly;
those who were with you,
who were bearing a burden of disgrace.
19gWatch how I deal with everyone who oppresses you!
At that time I will rescue the one who is lame,
and I will draw to me the one who has been driven away.
I will honor them with praise
and with a good reputation in every land
where they have been put to shame.
20At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
Indeed, I will give you a good reputation,
making you praiseworthy among all of the people of the world,
when I restore your prosperity before your eyes,h says the Lord.
Haggai
Chapter 1
1On the first day of the sixth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius, this message from the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and to Jehozadakfs son Joshua, the high priest:
2gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eThese people keep saying, gNo, the right time for rebuilding the Lordfs Temple has not yet come.hfh
3Then this message from the Lord came by Haggai the prophet: 4gIs it the right time for all of you to live in your own paneled houses while this house remains in ruins?h
5gNow this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, says: eCarefully consider your ways:
6You have sowed much
 but have reaped little.
You have eaten
but donft have enough to become satisfied.
You have drunk
but donft have enough to become intoxicated.
You have clothed yourself
but donft have enough to keep warm.
And the hired laborer deposits his salary
in a bag full of holes!fh
7gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eCarefully consider your ways: 8Go up into the mountains, bring timber, and reconstruct my house. Then I will be pleased with it and I will be honored,f says the Lord. 9eYou turned away in pursuit of abundance, but look at how little you found! What you did manage to bring home, I blew away! And why?f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. eItfs because of my house! It lies in ruins while each of you runs off to his own house! 10That is why the heavens keep withholding dew from you, and the earth withholds her fruit. 11I sent a drought on the land, on the mountains, on your grain, on your new wines, on your oil\on everything the ground produces\on men, on livestock, and on everything you do!fh
12Then Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel, Jehozadakfs son Joshua the high priest, and all the rest of the people obeyed the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 13Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with a special commission from the Lord: geI am with you,f declares the Lord.h
14Then the Lord revitalized the spirit of Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, the spirit of Jehozadakfs son Joshua the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people, so they came and began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 15This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius.
Chapter 2
1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, this message from the Lord came by Haggai the prophet: 2gSpeak to Shealtielfs son Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to Jehozadakfs son Joshua, the high priest, and to the rest of the people, asking, 3eWho is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And what does it look like now? From what you can see, it seems like nothing, doesnft it? 4Now be strong, Zerubbabel,f declares the Lord, eand be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land,f declares the Lord. eGo to work, because I am with you,f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 5eMy Spirit continues to dwell among you, according to the covenant I established when you came out from Egypt. Donft be afraid!f
6gFor this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eOnce more, in a little while, I will make the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land to shake. 7I will shake all nations, and the One desired by all nations will come. Then I will fill this house with glory,f says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
8gThe silver belongs to me, as does the gold,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 9gThe glory of this present house will be greater than was the former,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. gAnd in this place I will grant peace,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.h
10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius, this message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 11gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eAsk the priests about what the Law says: 12gIf a man carries consecrated meat in the folds of his garment, and if his garment touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other edible thing, will these things become consecrated?hfh
The priests answered, gNo.h
13So Haggai responded, gIf someone who is unclean because of contact with a dead body were to touch any of these things, would they become unclean?h
The priests responded, gThey would be unclean.h
14Then Haggai answered, geThatfs how I look at this people and this nation,f declares the Lord. eAnd thatfs how it is with everything they undertake and with what they offer there\it is unclean.
15gePay attention from now on to how things used to be before one stone had been laid upon another in the Temple of the Lord. 16When someone came to a pile of grain to get twenty bushels, there were only ten. Or when someone approached the wine press to siphon out 50 measures, there were only twenty. 17I punished you and everything that you undertook\with scorching wind, with mildew, and with hail, and you still did not return to me,f declares the Lord.
18gePay attention from now on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, when the foundation of the Lordfs Temple was laid. Pay attention! 19Is there seed left in the granary? Up until now, neither the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, nor the olive tree has borne fruit, but from this very day I will bless you.fh
20This message from the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21gSpeak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. Tell him: eI am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22I will overthrow royal thrones. I will annihilate the strength of national governments. I will overthrow chariots along with those who drive them. Both horses and their riders will fall, each one by means of his comradefs weapon. 23On that day,f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, eI will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,f declares the Lord, eand I will set you in place like a signet ring. For I have chosen you,f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.h
Zechariah
Chapter 1
1In the eighth month of the second year of the reign of Darius, this message from the Lord came to Berechiahfs son Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo the prophet: 2gThe Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3So tell them, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gReturn to me,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gand I will return to you. 4Donft be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gItfs time to turn from your evil lifestyles and from your evil actions,h ebut they would neither listen nor pay attention to me,fh declares the Lord.f 5gYour ancestors\where are they? And the prophets\do they live forever? 6But my words and my statutes that I gave as commands to my servants the prophets\did they not overwhelm your ancestors? And they returned to me: eThe Lord of the Heavenly Armies acted toward us just as he planned to do\in keeping with our lifestyles and in keeping with our actions.fh
7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month Shebat) in the second year of the reign of Darius, this message from the Lord came to Berechiahfs son Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo the prophet: 8gI stared into the night, and there was a man mounted on a red horse! The horse was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him there were red, brown, and white horses.h
9Then I asked, gWho are these, sir?h
The messenger who was talking to me answered, gI will tell you who these are.h
10The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, gThese are the ones whom the Lord sent out to wander throughout the earth.h
11Then they reported to the angel of the Lord who stood among the myrtle trees, gWe have wandered throughout the earth\and look!\the entire earth is at rest. Everything is quiet and peaceful.h
12And the angel of the Lord replied, gLord of the Heavenly Armies, how long will it be until you show mercy to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, with whom you have been angry for these past seventy years?h
13So the Lord answered the angel who was speaking to me with kind and comforting words.
14Then the angel who was speaking to me told me, gAnnounce this: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gI have a deep concern for Jerusalem, a great concern for Zion. 15I am deeply angry with the nations who are complacent, with whom I was only a little displeased\but they made things worse!h 16eTherefore this is what the Lord says: gI have returned to Jerusalem with compassionate intentions. My Temple will be rebuilt there,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gand the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.hfh
17gAlso announce the following: eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gMy cities will again overflow with prosperity. The Lord will comfort Zion once more and will choose Jerusalem again.hfh
18Then I looked up and saw four horns. 19I asked the angel who was talking to me, gWhat are those?h
So he answered me, gThose are the forces that have dispersed Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.h
20Then the Lord showed me four artisans.
21Then I asked, gWhat have they come to do?h
He answered, gThose horns that dispersed Judah\so that no one could lift up his head\those artisans are coming to disrupt the power of nations, tearing them down now that theyfve come to power and dispersed the land of Judah.h
Chapter 2
1Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2I asked, gWhere are you going?h
He responded, gTo measure Jerusalem in order to determine its width and length.h
3Look! That angel who was talking to me left, and another angel came forward to meet him. 4That other angel told him, gRun and tell that young man: eJerusalem will be an inhabited city without walls due to the number of people and livestock within it. 5I myself will be an encircling rampart of fire,f declares the Lord, eand I will be the glory in her midst.f
6geCome now! Come now! Flee from the land of the north,f declares the Lord, efor I have dispersed you like the four winds of heaven,f declares the Lord.
7geCome now, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the residents of Babylon. 8For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gIn pursuit of glory I was sent to the nations who plundered you, because whoever injures you injures the pupil of my eye. 9And look, I will shake my fist over them, and they will become plunder for their former slaves. And you will know that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies sent me.hfh
10gSing and rejoice, daughter of Zion! Take note! I am coming to live in your midst,h declares the Lord. 11gMany nations will cling to the Lord at that time and will become my people. I will live in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has sent me to you. 12The Lord will take possession of Judah as his own property in the Holy Land\and he will choose Jerusalem again. 13Be silent, every living thing, in the presence of the Lord, because he is emerging from his Holy Place.h
Chapter 3
1Then I saw Joshua the High Priest standing in the presence of the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right to oppose him.
2The Lord told Satan, gThe Lord rebuke you, Satan\in fact, may the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! This man is a burning brand plucked from the fire, is he not?h
3Now Joshua was wearing filthy clothes as he stood in the presence of the angel.
4So the angel continued to tell those who were standing in his presence, gRemove his filthy clothes.h
And he told Joshua, gLook how Ifve removed your iniquity. Now Ifm clothing you with fine garments.h
5Then I said, gLet them place a pure diadem on his head.h
So they placed the pure diadem on his head and clothed him with fine garments while the angel of the Lord was standing beside them.
6Then the angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIf you will live according to my ways, and if you will keep what I have entrusted to you, then you will also administer my Temple, and you will also guard my courtyards. And I will give you access to these who serve here.
8geListen, High Priest Joshua, you and those companions of yours who sit with you, for these men are a sign that I am presenting my servant, the Branch. 9Look, the stone that I put in place in Joshuafs presence\on that one stone are seven eyes. And look, I will do the engraving myself,f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, eand I will remove the perversity of that land in a single day. 10At that time,f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, eyou will invite each of your neighbors to join you under the vine and fig tree.fh
Chapter 4
1Then the angel who had been speaking with me returned and woke me up as if I had been asleep. 2Then he asked me, gWhat do you see?h
So I said, gI have been watching\and look!\there is a menorah made completely of gold with a bowl on top of it. And there are seven lights on it, along with seven feeder channels to the lamps, which are also on top of it. 3Two olive trees are near it, one on the right side of the bowl and one on the left.h
4Then I asked the angel who had been speaking with me, gSir, what are these?h
5The angel who had been speaking with me answered by asking, gYou donft know what these mean, do you?h
So I responded, gNo, sir.h
6Then he replied to me, gThis is this message from the Lord to Zerubbabel: eNot by valor nor by strength, but only by my Spirit,f says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 7eWho are you, great mountain? You will become a plain in Zerubbabelfs presence, and he will position the capstone, exulting over it, gHow beautiful! How beautiful!hfh
8Then this message from the Lord came to me again: 9gZerubbabelfs hands have laid the foundation of this Temple, and his hands will finish it, so that you will know that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has sent me to all of you. 10For who has despised the time of insignificant things? They will rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven lights represent the eyes of the Lord, which are looking throughout all of the earth.h
11Then I asked the angel, gWhat are these two olive trees, one on the right of the menorah and one on the left?h 12I also asked him a second question: gWhat are these two olive branches on either side of the two golden feeder channels that carry the golden oil to the seven lights?h
13The angel replied, gYou donft know what these are, do you?h
I responded to him, gNo, sir.h
14He said, gThese are the two anointed ones, who continually stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.h
Chapter 5
1Then I looked up and saw a flying scroll! 2And the angel asked me, gWhat do you see?h
I answered him, gIfm looking at a flying scroll. Itfs 30 feet long and fifteen feet wide.h
3He responded to me, gThis is the curse that is going out over the surface of the whole earth, because, according to this side of the scroll, all thieves will be ejected, and according to the other side of the scroll, all liars will be ejected.h
4gI am bringing this about,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. gThe curse will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who lies in my name. The curse will remain in his house until that house has been completely destroyed, right down to its timber and stones.h
5Then the angel who had been talking with me stepped forward and told me, gPlease look up and see whatfs going out.h
6So I asked, gWhat is it?h
He replied, gThis is a basket making its appearance.h He also said, gThis is what it appears to be in the entire land.h
7Look, a round lead cover was being lifted, and there was one woman seated inside the basket! 8And the angel said, gThis is evil!h So he shoved her back into the basket and snapped the round, lead cover over the opening.
9Then I looked up to see two women coming forward with the wind filling their wings. (They had wings like those of a stork.) They took up the basket, holding it between the earth and sky.
10So I asked the angel who was talking to me, gWhere are they taking the basket?h
11He answered me, gTo the land of Shinar, so they can build a temple to the woman in the basket. Then when its preparations are complete, the basket will be set there in its place.h
Chapter 6
1Then I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains! And the mountains were made of brass! 2Attached to the first chariot were red horses. Attached to the second chariot were black horses. 3Attached to the third chariot were white horses. Attached to the fourth chariot were speckled horses and gray horses. 4In response, I asked the angel who had been talking with me, gSir, what are these?h
5The angel told me, gThese are four heavenly spirits that are going out on patrol after having presented themselves to the Lord of the whole earth. 6The black horses are headed into the north country, and the white ones are headed out after them. The speckled horses are headed toward the south country.h
7Then the gray horses went out. They were eager to go out on patrol throughout the earth, so the angel said, gGo patrol the earth.h So they went out on patrol throughout the earth.
8Then he called to me, gLook! The horses that went north have caused my spirit to rest in the north country.h
9Then this message from the Lord came to me: 10gGo take up an offering from those who came out of the Babylonian exile, that is, from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah. Go along with them today into the house of Zephaniahfs son Josiah, who returned from Babylon. 11Take silver and gold and fashion crowns to set upon the head of Joshua son of Johozadak, the High Priest. 12Then tell him, eThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gHere is the man whose name is The Branch. He will branch out from where he is and will rebuild the Temple of the Lord. 13Yes, he will indeed rebuild the Temple of the Lord, and he will exalt its majesty by sitting and ruling on his throne. He will serve as priest on his throne, and no contention will exist between them. 14The crowns will go to Helem, to Tobijah, to Jedaiah, and to Zephaniahfs son Hen, as a memorial in the Temple of the Lord. 15Those who are now far away will come and do reconstruction work in the Temple of the Lord. Then you will know that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has sent me to you. This will come about if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.hfh
Chapter 7
1During the fourth year of the reign of King Darius, a message from the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month Kislev. 2The people of Bethel were sending Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men to pray in the Lordfs presence 3and to speak to the priests assigned to the Temple of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies along with the prophets, asking, gAm I to go about mourning, denying myself throughout the fifth month, as I have these many years?h
4Then this message from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies came to me: 5gTalk to everyone in the land, as well as to the priests. Ask them, eWhen you were fasting and mourning during the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, were you really fasting for me? 6And when you eat and drink, youfre eating and drinking for your own benefit, arenft you? 7Isnft this what the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets, when a prosperous Jerusalem was inhabited, as were its surrounding cities, the Negev, and the Shephelah?fh
8This message from the Lord came to Zechariah again: 9gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eAdminister true justice, and show gracious love and mercy toward each other. 10You are not to wrong the widow, orphans, the foreigner, or the poor, and you are not to plan evil against each other. 11But they refused to pay attention, turned their backs, and stopped listening. 12They made their hearts hard like a diamond, to keep from obeying the Law and the messages that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. 13Therefore, just as when I cried out and they would not listen, so also they will cry out, and I will not listen,f says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 14eI will scatter them to all of the nations, which they have not known.fh
Now the earth was left desolate after them. As a result, no one came or went because they had turned a pleasant land into a desert.
Chapter 8
1This is this message from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies:
2gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIfm greatly jealous about Zion, and that makes me furious about her.f
3gThis is what the Lord says: eI will return to Zion and I will live in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem will be called, gThe City of Truthh and the mountain of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will be called, gThe Holy Mountainh.f
4gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eThere will yet be old men and old women sitting in the parks of Jerusalem, each one of them holding canes in their hands due to their old age! 5The city parks will be filled with boys and girls. They will play in the cityfs open parks.f
6gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIt may seem impossible to the survivors of this people, but is it impossible for me?f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
7gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eLook! After having saved my people from the land of the east and from the land of the west, 8I will also bring them back to live in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will truly be their righteous God.fh
9gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eBe strong so the Temple can be built, you who are now listening to this message spoken by the prophets when the foundation was laid to the Temple of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 10Before then, everyone was unemployed\even the draft animals\and no one was safe coming or going because of the enemy, because I caused everyone to oppose each other.
11geBut now I will not treat the survivors of this people as I did formerly,f declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 12eFor there will be a sowing of peace: the vine will produce its fruit, the earth will produce its full yield, the sky will produce its dew, and I will make the survivors of this people inherit all these things. 13Furthermore, house of Judah and house of Israel, even though you used to be a curse among the nations, now I will surely save you, and you will be a blessing. Stop being afraid. Instead, grow stronger.fh
14gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eJust as I intended to bring harm to you when your ancestors angered me,f says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, eand I did not relent, 15so I have decided at this time to do good things for Jerusalem and for the house of Judah. So stop being afraid. 16Herefs what you must do: tell the truth to your neighbors, administer true and peaceful justice in your courtrooms, 17donft plot evil in your heart against a neighbor, and donft tolerate false testimonies, because I hate all these things,f declares the Lord.h
18Once again this message from the Lord come to me: 19gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eThe fasts that occur in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will be joyful and glad times for the house of Judah, replete with cheerful festivals. Therefore, love truth and peace.fh
20gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIn the future, people will come, including residents of many cities, 21and they will travel from one place to another place and say, gLetfs go quickly to pray in the presence of the Lord and to inquire of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.f And I will go, too. 22Many people and powerful nations will come to inquire of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies in Jerusalem, and to pray in the presence of the Lord.hfh
23gThis is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: eIn the future, ten men speaking all the languages of the nations will grab hold of one Jewish person by the hem of his garment and say, gLet us go up to Jerusalem with you, because we heard that God is with you.hfh
Chapter 9
1A declaration: this message from the Lord in the land of Hadrach,
with Damascus its confederate,
because the eyes of humanity will look to the Lord,
along with those of all the tribes of Israel.
2Also Hamath, which borders on it\
along with Tyre and Sidon\
indeed they are very wise.
3gTyre built itself a fortification,
hoarding silver like dust
and pure gold like mud in a street.
4Look! The Lord will evict her,
striking at her power in the sea,
and she will be consumed by fire.
5Ashkelon will see it happen and will be terrified;
Gaza will tremble greatly.
Ekron will be ashamed of her expectations,
Gazafs king will perish,
and Ashkelon will become uninhabited.
6A strange people will inhabit Ashdod,
and I will eliminate the arrogance of Philistia.
7I will remove the blood from its mouth,
along with its abominations from between its teeth.
Its survivors will be dedicated to our God;
It will be like a clan of Judah,
and Ekron will be as a Jebusite.
8I will set a garrison around my Temple,
to hinder those who might come and go,
and to guard against oppressors who intend to invade;
for I have taken note of this with my eyes.h
9gRejoice greatly, daughter of Zion;
cry out, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your king is coming to you.
He is righteous,
and he is able to save.
He is humble,
and is riding on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.
10I will banish chariots from Ephraim
and horses from Jerusalem.
War weapons will be banished,
and your king will speak peace to the nations.
His dominion will extend from sea to sea,
and from the River to the farthest portion of the earth.
11Now concerning you and my blood covenant with you,
I have liberated your prisoners
from a waterless pit.
12Return to your fortress, you prisoners who have hope.
Even today I am telling you:
In return I will repay you double.
13For I have bent Judah as if it were my bow,
loading it with Ephraim.
I raised up your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
wielding you like a mighty warriorfs sword.h
14The Lord will appear over them\
his arrow will shoot like lightning.
The Lord God will blow the trumpet,
and go out with the southern windstorm.
15The Lord of the Heavenly Armies will defend them;
they will devour and conquer those who sling stones.
They will drink and be boisterous like those who are drunk.
They will be filled to the brim with blood,
like the corners of the altar.
16The Lord their God will save them at that time
as his very own flock of people,
because they are his crown jewels,
exalted throughout his land.
17For how great is his goodness,
and how great is his beauty!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the virgins.
Chapter 10
1gAsk the Lord for rain in the spring\
the Lord who fashions lightning thunderstorms,
giving rain showers to mankind
along with grain in the fields.
2Truly the family idols talk nonsense
and the diviners discern lies,
describing delusional dreams.
Since their comfort is vacuous,
they wander off on their own like sheep,
because there is no shepherd.
3gAgainst the shepherds my anger rises\
I am punishing the leaders also,
because the Lord of the Heavenly Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
appointing them as his royal war horse for battle.
4From them arises the cornerstone and tent peg,
from them the battle bow,
from them arise all sorts of oppressive rulers.
5They will be like mighty soldiers
who trample mud in the streets during battle.
They will fight because the Lord is with them,
and the opposing horsemen will be confused.
6gI will fortify the house of Judah,
and the house of Joseph I will save.
I will surely bring them back,
because I care about them.
They will be as if I had never cast them away.
Since I am the Lord their God,
I will answer them.
7gThe people of Ephraim will become like mighty soldiers;
they will be glad, like those who have wine.
Their children will see this and rejoice;
their hearts will find joy in the Lord.
8I will whistle for them, gathering them together,
because I have redeemed them,
and they will multiply as they were before.
9I will scatter them among the nations,
and so they will remember me in distant countries.
They will rear their children,
and they will return.
10I will bring them once again out of the land of Egypt,
gathering them from Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon,
but there will not be enough space for them.
11They will pass through the sea of affliction,
and they will strike the waves in that sea.
All of the depths of the Nile will evaporate,
Assyriafs arrogance will be brought down low,
and the ruling power of Egypt will disappear.
12gI will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they will march here and there in his name,h
declares the Lord.
Chapter 11
1Open your doors, Lebanon,
and fire will consume your cedars.
2Wail, cypress tree,
for the cedar has fallen
while the stately trees are destroyed.
Wail, oak trees of Bashan,
for the old growth forest has been cut down.
3Hear the wailing of the shepherds,
for the magnificence of the forest is ruined!
Hear the roar of the lions,
for the Jordanfs arrogance is ruined!
4This is what the Lord my God says: gShepherd the flock marked for slaughter. 5Their buyers slaughter them without being punished, continuing to sell them as they say, eBless the Lord!f and, eIfm rich!f Meanwhile, their shepherds show them no compassion. 6Therefore I will no longer show compassion upon those who live in the land,h declares the Lord. gLook! I will deliver every single person into the control of his neighbor and into the control of the king. Even though they assault the land, I will not deliver it from their control.h
7So I became shepherd of the flock marked for slaughter, paying attention to the oppressed of the flock. I took two staffs\naming one gPleasanth and the other one gUnionh\and then I pastured the flock. 8In a single month I got rid of three shepherds because I grew tired of them, and they despised me. 9So I said, gI will no longer be your shepherd. Let those who are about to die perish, and let what is about to be destroyed be destroyed. As for the survivors, let them devour each other.h
10Then I took the staff that I had named gPleasanth and broke it, showing I was breaking my covenant that I had made with all of the people. 11It was broken at that time so the oppressed of the flock who were observing me would know that it had been a message from the Lord.
12I told them, gIf itfs alright with you, pay me what Ifve earned. But if it isnft, donft.h
So they paid out what I had earned\30 shekels of silver.
13Then the Lord told me, gThrow the money into the treasury\that magnificent value they placed on me!h
So I took the 30 shekels of silver and threw them into the treasury of the Temple of the Lord. 14Then I broke my second staff\the one I had named gUnionh\breaking the union between the house of Judah and the house of Israel.
15The Lord told me, gPick up the tools of a worthless shepherd again, 16for I am now raising up a shepherd in the land who will neither search for the lost, nor care for the young, nor fix the broken, nor sustain the healthy. Instead, he will devour the meat of the best of the sheep, tearing off their hoofs.h
17gWoe to the worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm
and his right eye.
May his arm wither
and his right eye be completely blind.h
Chapter 12
1A declaration: a message from the Lord to Israel. gThe Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who frames the spirit of man within himself, declares, 2eLook, I am making Jerusalem an unstable cup toward all of its surrounding armies when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3It will come about at that time that I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight; so everyone who burdens themselves with it will be crushed, even though all of the nations of the earth gather themselves against it. 4At that time,f declares the Lord, eI will strike every horse with panic and every rider with insanity. I will keep my eyes on the house of Judah, but I will blind every horse of the invading armies. 5The leaders of Judah will say to themselves, gThose who live in Jerusalem are my strength through the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, their God.h 6eAt that time, I will make the leaders of Judah like a brazier filled with blazing wood, or like a torch setting fire to harvested grain. They will devour all the invading armies, both on the right hand and on the left. As a result, Jerusalem will again be inhabited in its rightful place\as the real Jerusalem.fh
7The Lord will deliver the tents of Judah first, so that neither the glory of the house of David nor the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem overshadows Judah. 8At that time, the Lord will defend those who live in Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them at that time will be like David. The entire house of David will be like God\indeed, like the angel of the Lord in their midst!
9geAt that time, I will search out and destroy all of the nations who have come against Jerusalem. 10I will pour out on the house of David and on the residents of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and of supplications, and they will look to me\the one whom they pierced.fh
Then they will mourn for him, as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him, as for a firstborn son. 11At that time, Jerusalem will mourn deeply, like the mourning about Hadad-rimmon that took place in the plain of Megiddo. 12And so the land will mourn, families by families, alone by themselves\the family of the house of David by itself with their wives by themselves, the family of the house of Nathan by itself with their wives by themselves, 13the family of the house of Levi by itself with their wives by themselves, the family of Shimei by itself with their wives by themselves\14all of the surviving families by themselves, along with their wives by themselves. 
Chapter 13
1At that time, a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for those who live in Jerusalem so they can be cleansed from sin and ceremonial impurity.
2gAt that time,h declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gI will eliminate the names of the idols from the land, and they will not be remembered anymore. I will also force both prophet and demon to leave the land. 3It will also come about that if any man would dare to prophesy, then his father and his mother who bore him will respond to him, eYou will not live, because you are speaking lies in the name of the Lord.f Then his father and mother who bore him will stab him for prophesying. 4Furthermore, it will come about at that time that every prophet will become ashamed of his vision as he prophesies. They will wear no rough garments intended to deceive others.h
5gHe will say, eI am no mere prophet. A servant of mankind am I, because a man dedicated to this have I been from my youth.f
6gSomeone will say to him, eWhat are these injuries to your hands?f
gHe will reply, eTheyfre what I received at my friendfs house.f
7gArise, sword, against my shepherd,
against the mighty one who is related to me,h
declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
gStrike the shepherd,
the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn against the insignificant ones.
8It will come about in all of the land,h
declares the Lord,
gthat two thirds of the people living there will die,
but a third will survive who live there.
9And I will bring that surviving third through,
testing them as if through fire,
purifying them like silver,
assaying them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, eThis is my people,f
and they will say, eThe Lord is my God.fh
Chapter 14
1gLook! A day is coming for the Lord, when your plunder will be divided among you. 2I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem, to lay siege against it. The city will be captured, the houses will be ransacked, the women raped, and half of the city will go into exile, but the remaining people will not be cut off from the city. 3Then the Lord will go out to battle against those nations, waging war as in a day of battle. 4His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a very large valley, with half of the mountain moving toward the north and half toward the south. 5You will run away through my mountain valley, because the valley of the mountains will extend as far as Azal. You will flee, as you fled from the earthquake during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah. And so the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones will be accompanying you.h
6gAt that time, the daylight will be neither bright nor overcast. 7It will be a unique day, known only to the Lord\neither daytime nor nighttime\and it will come about at twilight there will be light! 8At that time, flowing waters will run perennially from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half to the Mediterranean Sea. 9The Lord will be king over all the earth at that time. There will be one Lord, and his name the only one. 10The entire land will become like the Arabah plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem. It will be raised up and inhabited where it is, from the Gate of Benjamin to the First Gate, then to the Corner Gate, to the Hananel Tower, and to the kingfs winepresses. 11People will live there, there will be no more destruction, and Jerusalem will be safely inhabited.h
12gThis will be the plague with which the Lord inflicts all of the people who have attacked Jerusalem: he will cause their flesh to rot away, even while theyfre standing on their feet. He will cause their eyes to rot away in their sockets, and their tongues to rot away in their mouths. 13At that time, they will be stricken with a terrible panic from the Lord. Everyone will attack each other. 14Judah, too, will fight at Jerusalem. Then the wealth of the surrounding nations will be gathered up: gold, silver, and clothing in great abundance. 15A similar plague will also strike horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all of the animals in those camps.h
16gIt will come about that all of the survivors of the nations who came against Jerusalem will come there from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, and to observe the Festival of Tents. 17If anyone from the families of the earth will not come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, there will be no rain for them. 18If the people of Egypt do not come to Jerusalem to take part, they will have no annual Nile overflow. A plague will come from the Lord to strike the nations who do not come to observe the Festival of Tents. 19This will be the punishment for Egypt and all nations who do not come to observe the Festival of Tents.h
20gAt that time, there will be written on the bells of the horses:
Holiness to the Lord
and the pots in the Temple of the Lord will be like the bowls in front of the altar\21every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be consecrated to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. Everyone who offers sacrifices will come, will take them, and will cook in them. Furthermore, at that time, there will no longer be a Canaanite in the Temple of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.h
Malachi
Chapter 1
1A declaration: a message from the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2gIfve loved you,h says the Lord. gBut you ask, eHow have you loved us?f
gWas not Esau Jacobfs brother?h declares the Lord, gyet I loved Jacob, 3rejected Esau, turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to desert jackals. 4Even though Edom may claim, eWe were crushed, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,f this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: gThey may rebuild, but Ifll demolish. People will call them, eThe Wicked Land,f and, eThe People With Whom the Lord is Forever Angry.f 5Your own eyes will see this, and you will say, eGreat is the Lord even beyond the borders of Israel!fh
6gA son honors his father and a servant his master. So if Ifm a father, where is my honor? And if Ifm a master, where is my respect?h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies to you priests who are despising my name. gBut you ask, eHow have we despised your name?f 7By presenting defiled food on my altar. And you ask, eHow have we defiled you?f By saying, eThe Table of the Lord is contemptible.f 8When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Offer that to your governor\would he be pleased with you or receive you favorably?h asks the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 9gAnd now, go ahead and implore God by saying, eBe gracious to us.f Will he receive you favorably and accept offerings like that from your hand?h asks the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
10gOh, that one of you would shut the Temple doors and not light useless fires on the altar! Ifm not pleased with you,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gand Ifll accept no offerings from you. 11Even so, from where the sun rises to where it sets my name will be great among the Gentiles. Incense will be brought to me everywhere, along with pure offerings, because my name will be great among the Gentiles,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 12gBut you are profaning my name by saying that the Table of the Lord is defiled and that its fruit and its food are contemptible.
13gAnd you say, eWhat a burden!f and sniff contemptuously at it,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gwhen you present maimed, crippled, and diseased animals, and when you bring the offering. Should I accept this from your hand?h asks the Lord. 14gCursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock, and vows to give it, but sacrifices a mutilated one to the Lord. Indeed, I am a great king,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gand my name is feared among the Gentiles.h
Chapter 2
1Now this commandment is for you priests: 2gIf you donft listen, and if you donft choose to give honor to my name,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gthen Ifll curse both you and your blessings. Ifve even cursed them already, because none of you are taking it to heart. 3Look! Ifm rebuking your descendants because of you, and Ifll spread waste on your faces, the waste of your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.
4gYou will know that I sent this commandment to you in order to continue my covenant with Levi,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 5gMy covenant with him was for life and peace, and I gave the commandments to him so he would fear me. He did fear me as he stood in my presence. 6True teachings were in his mouth, and falsehood was not found on his lips. He walked with me peacefully and righteously, and he turned many from sin. 7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because hefs the messenger of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
8gBut you priests turned aside from the way, and by your teaching you caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 9gSo I also made you despised, humiliating you before all of the people, because you arenft following my ways and are showing partiality when you teach.h
10Do we not have one father? Has not one God created us? Why does each of us act deceitfully, each man against his own brother, to profane the covenant of our ancestors? 11Judah has become unfaithful, and a detestable thing was committed in Israel and Jerusalem. Indeed, Judah profaned the Holy Place of the Lord, which he loves, and married a daughter of a foreign god. 12May the Lord exclude from the community of Jacob any man who does this, whoever he may be, even though he brings offerings to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
13gThis is another thing you do: you flood the altar of the Lord with tears, weeping and wailing because he no longer pays attention to your offering nor takes pleasure in it from your hand. 14Yet you ask, eFor what reason?f Because the Lord acts as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you were unfaithful to her, your partner, the wife of your covenant. 15Did he not make them one? And the vestige of the spirit remains in him. And why did he make them one? He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and donft be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
16gIndeed, the Lord God of Israel says that he hates divorce, along with the one who conceals his violence by outward appearances,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. gSo guard yourselves carefully, and donft be unfaithful.h
17gYou have wearied the Lord with your words. You ask, eHow have we wearied you?f By your saying, eAll who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord and hefs pleased with them,f or eWhere is the God of justice?fh
Chapter 3
1gWatch out! Ifm sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his Temple. He is the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Watch out! He is coming!h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
2But who will survive the day when he comes? Or who can stand when he appears? For hefs like a refinerfs fire and a laundererfs soap. 3He will sit refining and purifying silver, purifying the descendants of Levi, refining them like gold and silver. Then theyfll bring a righteous offering to the Lord. 4Then the offering to the Lord by Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable as it was in the past, even as in former years.
5gIfll come near to you for judgment. Ifll be a witness, quick to speak against sorcerers, against adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who defraud the laborer of his wage, against those who defraud the widow and the orphan, against those who deprive the alien of justice, and against those who donft fear me,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 6gBecause I the Lord donft change; therefore you children of Jacob arenft destroyed.h
7gEver since the time of your ancestors, you have turned away from my decrees and havenft kept them. Return to me and Ifll return to you,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. gBut you ask, eHow will we return?f 8gWill a person rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you ask, eHow are we robbing you?f gBy the tithe and the offering. 9You are cursed under the curse\the entire nation\because you are robbing me!
10gBring the entire tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. So put me to the test in this right now,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gand see if I wonft throw open the windows of heaven for you and pour out on you blessing without measure. 11And Ifll prevent the devourer from harming you, so that he does not destroy the crops of your land. Nor will the vines in your fields drop their fruit,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
12gThen all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
13gYou have spoken arrogant words against me,h says the Lord. gYet you ask, eWhat did we say against you?f 14You said, eIt is futile to serve God,f and, eWhat did we get out of it when we carried out his requirements and went about like mourners in the presence of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies?f 15and, eNow we call the arrogant one blessed. Those who do evil prosper and those who challenge God escape the consequences.fh
16Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other. The Lord listened and took note, and a scroll of remembrance was written in his presence about those who fear the Lord and honor His name. 17gTheyfll be mine,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gin the day when I prepare my treasured possession. Ifll spare them, just as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18When you return, you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, and between the one who serves God and the one who does not.h
Chapter 4
1gTruly, the coming day is burning like a furnace. All the arrogant and all who practice evil will be stubble. The coming day will set them on fire,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, gso that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in its light for those who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves released from their stalls 3and trample down the wicked. Indeed, they will become ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I do this,h says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
4gRemember the Law of Moses my servant that I gave him at Horeb for all Israel\both the decrees and laws.
5gPay attention! Ifm sending Elijah the prophet to you before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord comes, 6and he will turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, Ifll come, strike the land, and utterly destroy it.h
Matthew
Chapter 1
1This is a record of the life of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. 3Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram, 4Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. 5Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, 6and Jesse fathered King David.
David fathered Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asaph, 8Asaph fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah, 9Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah, 10Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amos, and Amos fathered Josiah. 11Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah fathered Salathiel, Salathiel fathered Zerubbabel, 13Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor, 14Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud, 15Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob. 16Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David totaled fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon totaled fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah there were fourteen generations.
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they lived together she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her secretly.
20After he had thought about it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. gJoseph, son of David,h he said, gdonft be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he is the one who will save his people from their sins.h
22Now all this happened to fulfill what was declared by the Lord through the prophet when he said,
23gSee, a virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,h
which means, gGod with us.h 24When Joseph got up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary as his wife. 25He did not have marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son; and he named him Jesus.
Chapter 2
1After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem 2and asked, gWhere is the one who was born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.h
3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, as was all of Jerusalem. 4He called together all the high priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, gIn Bethlehem of Judea, because that is what was written by the prophet:
6eO Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
because from you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.fh
7Then Herod secretly called together the wise men, found out from them the time the star had appeared, 8and sent them to Bethlehem. He told them, gAs you go, search carefully for the child. When you find him, tell me so that I, too, may go and worship him.h
9After listening to the king, they set out, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were ecstatic with joy. 11After they went into the house and saw the child with his mother Mary, they fell down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure sacks and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they left for their own country by a different road.
13After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. gGet up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt,h he said. gStay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him.h 14So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left at night for Egypt. 15He stayed there until Herodfs death in order to fulfill what was declared by the Lord through the prophet when he said, gOut of Egypt I called my Son.h
16Herod flew into a rage when he learned that he had been tricked by the wise men, so he ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem and all its neighboring regions, who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had determined from the wise men. 17Then what was declared by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled when he said,
18gA voice was heard in Ramah:
wailing and great mourning.
Rachel was crying for her children.
She refused to be comforted,
because they no longer existed.h
19But after Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20gGet up,h he said. gTake the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.h
21So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After having been warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee 23and came and settled in a town called Nazareth in order to fulfill what was said by the prophets: gHe will be called a Nazarene.h
Chapter 3
1About this time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness 2and saying, gRepent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!h 3He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said,
gHe is a voice calling out in the wilderness:
ePrepare the way for the Lord!
Make his paths straight!fh
4John had clothing made of camelfs hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey.
5Then the people of Jerusalem, all Judea, and the entire region along the Jordan began flocking to him, 6being baptized by him in the Jordan River while they confessed their sins.
7But when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he told them, gYou children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! 9Donft think you can say to yourselves, eWe have father Abraham!f because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! 10The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree that isnft producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I am baptizing you with water as a token of repentance, but the one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. It is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean up his threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire.h
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to stop him, saying, gI need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?h
15But Jesus answered him, gLet it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness.h
At this, he permitted him to be baptized. 16When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. 17Then a voice from heaven said, gThis is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him!h
Chapter 4
1After this, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he finally became hungry.
3Then the tempter came. gSince you are the Son of God,h he said, gtell these stones to become loaves of bread.h
4But he answered, gIt is written,
eOne must not live on bread alone,
but on every word coming
out of the mouth of God.fh
5Then the devil took him to the Holy City and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple. 6He told Jesus, gSince you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, because it is written,
eGod will put his angels in charge of you,f
and,
eWith their hands they will hold you up,
so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.fh
7Jesus responded to him, gIt is also written, eYou must not tempt the Lord your God.fh
8Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, along with their splendor. 9He told Jesus, gI will give you all these things if you will bow down and worship me!h
10Then Jesus told him, gGo away, Satan! Because it is written,
eYou must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.fh
11So the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to him.
12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he went back to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and went and settled in Capernaum by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14in order to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
15gO Land of Zebulun and Land of Naphtali,
on the road to the sea, across the Jordan,
Galilee of the unbelievers!
16The people living in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land and shadow of death,
a light has risen.h
17From then on, Jesus began to preach and to say, gRepent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!h
18While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers\Simon (also called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19gFollow me,h he told them, gand I will make you fishers of people!h 20So at once they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there he saw two other brothers\James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets. When he called them, 22they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.
23Then he went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness among the people. 24His fame spread throughout Syria, and people brought to him everyone who was sick\those afflicted with various diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed\and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan followed him.
Chapter 5
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the hill. After taking his seat, his disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them, saying:
3gHow blessed are those who are destitute in spirit,
because the kingdom from heaven belongs to them!
4gHow blessed are those who mourn,
because it is they who will be comforted!
5gHow blessed are those who are humble,
because it is they who will inherit the earth!
6gHow blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness,
because it is they who will be satisfied!
7gHow blessed are those who are merciful,
because it is they who will receive mercy!
8gHow blessed are those who are pure in heart,
because it is they who will see God!
9gHow blessed are those who make peace,
because it is they who will be called Godfs children!
10gHow blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousnessf sake,
because the kingdom from heaven belongs to them!
11gHow blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me! 12Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! Thatfs how they persecuted the prophets who came before you.h
13gYou are the salt of the world. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty again? Itfs good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
14gYou are the light of the world. A city located on a hill canft be hidden. 15People donft light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your good actions and glorify your Father in heaven.h
17gDo not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didnft come to destroy them, but to fulfill them, 18because I tell all of you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been accomplished. 19So whoever sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom from heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom from heaven 20because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom from heaven!h
21gYou have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, eYou must not murder,f and, eWhoever murders will be subject to punishment.f 22But I say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to punishment. And whoever says to his brother eRaka!f will be subject to the Council. And whoever says, eYou fool!f will be subject to hell fire.
23gSo if you are presenting your gift at the altar and remember there that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court, or your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26I tell you with certainty, you will not get out of there until you pay back the last dollar!h
27gYou have heard that it was said, eYou must not commit adultery.f 28But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body go into hell.h
31gIt was also said, eWhoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.f 32But I say to you, any man who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.h
33gAgain, you have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, eYou must not swear an oath falsely,f but, eYou must fulfill your oaths to the Lord.f 34But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is Godfs throne, 35nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. 36Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Instead, let your message be eYesf for eYesf and eNof for eNo.f Anything more than that comes from the evil one.h
38gYou have heard that it was said, eAn eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.f 39But I tell you not to resist an evildoer. On the contrary, whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go two with him. 42Give to the person who asks you for something, and do not turn away from the person who wants to borrow something from you.h
43gYou have heard that it was said, eYou must love your neighborf and hate your enemy. 44But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, donft they? 47And if you greet only your relatives, thatfs no great thing youfre doing, is it? Even the unbelievers do the same, donft they? 48So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.h
Chapter 6
1gBe careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2So whenever you give to the poor, donft blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward! 3But when you give to the poor, donft let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.h
5gAnd whenever you pray, donft be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward! 6But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.
7gWhen you are praying, donft say meaningless things like the unbelievers do, because they think they will be heard by being so wordy. 8Donft be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9Therefore, this is how you should pray:
eOur Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10May your kingdom come.
May your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread,
12and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
13And never bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.f
14Because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive people their offenses, your Father will not forgive your offenses.h
16gWhenever you fast, donft be gloomy like the hypocrites, because they put on sad faces to show others they are fasting. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward! 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who is in the hidden place. And your Father who watches from the hidden place will reward you.h
19gStop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, 21because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.h
22gThe eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness!h
24gNo one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!h
25gThatfs why Ifm telling you to stop worrying about your life\what you will eat or what you will drink\or about your body\what you will wear. Life is more than food, isnft it, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky. They donft plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, arenft you? 27Can any of you add a single hour to the length of your life by worrying? 28And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They donft work or spin yarn, 29but I tell you that not even Solomon in all of his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, wonft he clothe you much better\you who have little faith?
31gSo donft ever worry by saying, eWhat are we going to eat?f or eWhat are we going to drink?f or eWhat are we going to wear?f 32because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! 33But first be concerned about Godfs kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. 34So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.h
Chapter 7
1gStop judging, so that you wonft be judged, 2because the way that you judge others will be the way that you will be judged, and you will be evaluated by the standard with which you evaluate others.
3gWhy do you see the speck in your brotherfs eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, eLet me take the speck out of your eye,f when the beam is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brotherfs eye.h
6gNever give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them with their feet and then turn around and attack you.h
7gKeep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you. 8Because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened.
9gThere isnft a person among you who would give his son a stone if he asked for bread, is there? 10Or if he asks for a fish, he wouldnft give him a snake, would he? 11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who keep on asking him! 12Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets.h
13gGo in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it. 14How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there arenft many people who find it!h
15gBeware of false prophets who come to you in sheepfs clothing but inwardly are savage wolves. 16You will know them by their fruit. Grapes arenft gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they? 17In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. 19Every tree that doesnft produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire. 20So by their fruit you will know them.h
21gNot everyone who keeps saying to me, eLord, Lord,f will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, eLord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didnft we?f 23Then I will tell them plainly, eI never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!fh
24gTherefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.
26gEveryone who keeps on hearing these messages of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and battered that house, and it collapsed, and its collapse was total.h
28When Jesus had finished saying all these things, the crowds were utterly amazed at his teaching, 29because he was teaching them like a person who had authority, and not like their scribes.
Chapter 8
1When Jesus came down from the hillside, large crowds followed him. 2Suddenly, a leper came up to him, fell down before him, and said, gSir, if you want to, you can make me clean.h
3So Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, gI do want to. Be clean!h And instantly his leprosy was made clean. 4Then Jesus told him, gSee to it that you donft speak to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest, and then offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded as proof to the authorities.h
5When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a centurion came up to him and begged him repeatedly, 6gSir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in terrible pain.h
7Jesus told him, gI will come and heal him.h
8The centurion replied, gSir, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed, 9because I, too, am a man under authority and I have soldiers under me. I say to one of them eGof and he goes, to another eComef and he comes, and to my servant eDo thisf and he does it.h
10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and told those who were following him, gI tell all of you with certainty, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith! 11I tell all of you, many will come from east and west and will feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom from heaven. 12But the unfaithful heirs of that kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.h
13gGo,h Jesus told the centurion, gand it will be done for you, just as you have believed.h And his servant was healed that very hour.
14When Jesus went into Peterfs house, he saw Peterfs mother-in-law lying in bed, sick with a fever. 15He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began serving him.
16When evening came, people brought to him many who were possessed by demons. He drove out the spirits by speaking a command and healed everyone who was sick. 17This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
gIt was he who took our illnesses away
and removed our diseases.h
18When Jesus saw the large crowds around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. 19Just then, a scribe came up and told him, gTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.h
20Jesus told him,
gFoxes have holes and birds have nests,
but the Son of Man has no place to rest.h
21Then another of his disciples told him, gLord, first let me go and bury my father.h
22But Jesus told him, gFollow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.h
23When Jesus got into the boat, his disciples went with him. 24Suddenly, a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat began to be swamped by the waves. Yet Jesus kept sleeping. 25They went to him and woke him up. gLord!h they cried, gSave us! Wefre going to die!h
26He asked them, gWhy are you afraid, you who have little faith?h Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27The men were amazed. gWhat kind of man is this?h they asked. gEven the winds and the sea obey him!h
28When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gerasenes, two demon-possessed men met him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could travel on that road. 29Suddenly, they screamed, gWhat do you want with us, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before the proper time?h
30Now a large herd of pigs was grazing some distance away from them. 31So the demons began to plead with Jesus, saying, gIf you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.h
32He told them, gGo,h and they came out and went into the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned in the water.
33Now when those who had been taking care of the pigs ran away, they came into the city and reported everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then the whole city went out to meet Jesus, and as soon as they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Chapter 9
1After getting into a boat, Jesus crossed to the other side and came to his own city. 2All at once some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralyzed man, gBe courageous, son! Your sins are forgiven.h
3Then some of the scribes told themselves, gThis fellow is blaspheming!h
4But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking, replied, gWhy do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, eYour sins are forgiven,f or to say, eGet up and walkf? 6But so you will know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sinsch he told the paralyzed man, gGet up, pick up your stretcher, and go home!h
7So the man got up and went home. 8When the crowds saw this, they became frightened and glorified God for giving such authority to humans.
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collectorfs desk and told him, gFollow me.h So he got up and followed him.
10While he was having dinner at Matthewfs home, many tax collectors and sinners arrived and began eating with Jesus and his disciples. 11The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, gWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?h
12When Jesus heard that, he said, gHealthy people donft need a physician, but sick people do. 13Go and learn what this means: eI want mercy and not sacrifice,f because I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners.h
14Then Johnfs disciples came to Jesus and asked, gWhy do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples donft fast?h
15Jesus asked them, gThe wedding guests canft mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.h
16gNo one patches an old garment with a piece of unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.h
18While Jesus was telling them these things, an official came up and fell down before him. gMy daughter has just died,h he said. gBut come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.h 19So Jesus got up and followed him, along with his disciples.
20Just then a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his garment, 21because she had been saying to herself, gIf I just touch his robe, I will get well.h
22When Jesus turned and saw her, he said, gBe courageous, daughter! Your faith has made you well.h And from that very hour the woman was well.
23When Jesus came to the officialfs house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24he said, gGo away! The young lady hasnft died but is sleeping.h But they ridiculed him with laughter. 25When the crowd had been driven outside, he went in, took her by the hand, and the young lady got up. 26The news of this spread throughout that land.
27As Jesus was traveling on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, gHave mercy on us, Son of David!h 28When he had gone into the house, the blind men came to him.
Jesus asked them, gDo you believe I can do this?h
They told him, gYes, Lord!h
29Then he touched their eyes and said, gAccording to your faith, let it be done for you!h 30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly told them, gSee to it that nobody knows about this.h 31But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that region.
32As the men were going out, a man who couldnft talk because he was demon-possessed was brought to him. 33As soon as the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, gNothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!h
34But the Pharisees kept saying, gHe drives out demons by the ruler of demons.h
35Then Jesus began traveling throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness. 36When he saw the crowds, he was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37Then he told his disciples, gThe harvest is vast, but the workers are few. 38So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.h
Chapter 10
1Then Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and every illness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
5These were the Twelve whom Jesus sent out after he had given them these instructions: gDonft turn on to the road that leads to the unbelievers, and donft enter Samaritan towns. 6Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel. 7As you go, make this announcement: eThe kingdom from heaven is near!f 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
You have received without payment,
so give without payment.
9Donft take any gold, silver, or copper in your moneybags, 10or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food.
11gWhatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive in it and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet its occupants. 13If the household is receptive, let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isnft receptive, let your blessing of peace return to you. 14If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. 15I tell all of you with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!h
16gSee, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. 19When they hand you over, donft worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. 20It wonft be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21gBrother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. 22You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 23So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24gA disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!h
26gSo never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops. 28Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but canft kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
29gTwo sparrows are sold for a penny, arenft they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Fatherfs permission. 30Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! 31So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.h
32gTherefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people I, too, will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven.h
34gDo not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword! 35I came to turn
ea man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36A personfs enemies will include members of his own family.f
37gThe one who loves his father or mother more than me isnft worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isnft worthy of me. 38The one who doesnft take up his cross and follow me isnft worthy of me. 39The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it.h
40gThe one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophetfs reward, and the one who receives a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous personfs reward. 42I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will never lose his reward.h
Chapter 11
1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns.
2Now when John in prison heard about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples 3and asked him, gAre you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?h
4Jesus answered them, gGo and tell John what you hear and observe: 5the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. 6How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!h
7As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. gWhat did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kingsf houses. 9Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 10This is the man about whom it is written,
eSee, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.f
11I tell all of you with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from heaven is greater than he.
12gFrom the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it, 13because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John. 14If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15Let the person who has ears listen!
16gTo what can I compare the people living today? Theyfre like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,
17eA wedding song we played for you,
the dance you simply scorned.
A woeful dirge we chanted, too,
but then you would not mourn.f
18Because John didnft come eating or drinking, yet people say, eHe has a demon!f 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, eLook, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!f
Absolved from every act of sin,
is wisdom by her kith and kin.h
20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didnft repent. 21gHow terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you!
23gAnd you, Capernaum! You wonft be lifted up to heaven, will you? Youfll go down to Hell! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!h
25At that time Jesus said, gI praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. 26Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you. 27All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28gCome to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Place my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls, 30because my yoke is pleasant, and my burden is light.h
Chapter 12
1At that time Jesus walked through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples became hungry and began picking heads of grain to eat. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they told him, gLook! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!h
3But he told them, gHavenft you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4How is it that he went into the house of God and ate the Bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him and his companions to eat but was reserved for the priests? 5Or havenft you read in the Law that on every Sabbath the priests in the Temple violate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6But I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here! 7If you had known what eI want mercy and not sacrificef means, you would not have condemned the innocent, 8for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.h
9Moving on from there, Jesus went into their synagogue. 10Suddenly, a man with a paralyzed hand appeared. The people asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on Sabbath days, intending to accuse him of doing something wrong.
11But he asked them, gIs there a man among you who, if he had one sheep and it fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldnft take hold of it and pull it out? 12How much more is a human being worth than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on Sabbath days.h
13Then he told the man, gHold out your hand.h He held it out and it became normal, as healthy as his other hand. 14The Pharisees, however, went out and plotted against Jesus to kill him.
15When Jesus became aware of this, he left that place. Many crowds followed him, and he healed all of them, 16ordering them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
18gHere is my Servant whom I have chosen,
whom I love, and with whom I am pleased!
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to unbelievers.
19He will not quarrel or shout,
and no one will hear him shouting in the streets.
20He will not snap off a broken reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick
until he has brought justice through to victory.
21And in his name unbelievers will hope.h
22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to talk was brought to him. Jesus healed him so that the man could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and kept saying, gThis man isnft the Son of David, is he?h
24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, gThis man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.h
25He knew what they were thinking and told them, gEvery kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom stand? 27If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! 28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29How can someone go into a strong manfs house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then he can ransack his house.
30gThe person who isnft with me is against me, and the person who isnft gathering with me is scattering. 31So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.h
33gEither make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit. 34You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. 35A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give an account for every thoughtless word they have uttered, 37because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.h
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees told Jesus, gTeacher, we want to see a sign from you.h
39But he replied to them, gAn evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah, 40because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look\something greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today, because she came from so far away to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! Something greater than Solomon is here!h
43gWhenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless places looking for a place to rest but finds none. 44Then it says, eI will go back to my home that I left.f When it arrives, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person becomes worse than the first. Thatfs just what will happen to this evil generation!h
46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, gLook! Your mother and your brothers are standing outside asking to speak to you.h
48He asked the man who told him, gWho is my mother, and who are my brothers?h 49Then pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, gHere are my mother and my brothers, 50because whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.h
Chapter 13
1That day Jesus left the house and sat down beside the sea. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the entire crowd stood on the shore. 3Then he began to tell them many things in parables. He said, gListen! A farmer went out to sow. 4As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasnft deep. 6But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up. 7Other seeds fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew higher and choked them out. 8But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. 9Let the person who has ears listen!h
10Then the disciples came and asked Jesus, gWhy do you speak to people in parables?h
11He answered them, gYou have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom from heaven, but it hasnft been given to them, 12because to anyone who has something, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who doesnft have anything, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13Thatfs why I speak to them in parables, because
ethey look but donft see,
and they listen but donft hear or understand.f
14gWith them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says:
eYou will listen and listen but never understand.
You will look and look but never comprehend,
15for this peoplefs heart has become dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing.
They have shut their eyes
so that they might not see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn,
and I would heal them.f
16gHow blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear! 17I tell all of you with certainty, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but did not see them, and to hear the things you hear but did not hear them.h
18gListen, then, to the parable about the farmer. 19When anyone hears the word about the kingdom yet doesnft understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20As for what was sown on the stony ground, this is the person who hears the word and accepts it joyfully at once, 21but since he doesnft have any root in himself, he lasts for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among the thorn bushes, this is the person who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of wealth choke the word so that it canft produce a crop. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and produces a crop that yields 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown.h
 24He presented another parable to them, saying, gThe kingdom from heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25While people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26When the crop came up and bore grain, the weeds appeared, too. 27The ownerfs servants came and asked him, eMaster, you sowed good seed in your field, didnft you? Then where did these weeds come from?f 28He told them, eAn enemy did this!f The servants asked him, eThen do you want us to go and pull them out?f 29He said, eNo! If you pull out the weeds, you might pull out the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, gGather the weeds first and tie them in bundles for burning, but bring the wheat into my barn.hfh
31He presented another parable to them, saying, gThe kingdom from heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. 32Although it is the smallest of all seeds, when it is fully grown it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, and the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.h
 33He told them another parable: gThe kingdom from heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.h
34Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. 35This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet when he said,
gI will open my mouth to speak in parables.
I will declare what has been hidden
since the creation of the world.h
36Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and asked, gExplain to us the parable about the weeds in the field.h
37He answered, gThe person who sowed good seed is the Son of Man, 38while the field is the world. The good seed are those who belong to the kingdom, while the weeds are those who belong to the evil one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40Just as weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes others to sin and those who practice lawlessness 42and they will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Fatherfs kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!h
44gThe kingdom from heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found and hid. In his excitement he went and sold everything he had and bought that field.h
45gAgain, the kingdom from heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46When he found a very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.h
47gAgain, the kingdom from heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea that gathered all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen hauled it ashore. Then they sat down, sorted the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away. 49That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, cull out the evil people from among the righteous ones, 50and will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.h
51gDo you understand all these things?h
They told him, gYes.h
52Then he told them, gThat is why every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom from heaven is like the master of a household who brings both new and old things out of his treasure chest.h
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place. 54He went to his hometown and began teaching the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were amazed and asked, gWhere did this man get this wisdom and these miracles? 55This is the builderfs son, isnft it? His mother is named Mary, isnft she? His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, arenft they? 56And his sisters are all with us, arenft they? So where did this man get all these things?h 57And they were offended by him.
But Jesus told them, gA prophet is without honor only in his hometown and in his own home.h 58He did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Chapter 14
1At that time Herod the tetrarch, hearing about the fame of Jesus, 2told his servants, gThis is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and thatfs why these miracles are being done by him.h 3Herod had arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipfs wife.
4John had been telling him, gIt is not lawful for you to have her.h 5Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John as a prophet.
6But when Herodfs birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests. She pleased Herod 7so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, gGive me, right here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.h 9Under pressure because of his promises and his assembled guests, the king ordered that it be done. 10So he sent word and had John beheaded in prison. 11His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. 12When Johnfs disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighboring towns. 14When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them and healed their sick. 15When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, gThis is a deserted place, and itfs already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.h
16But Jesus told them, gThey donft need to go away. You give them something to eat.h
17They told him, gWe donft have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish.h
18He said, gBring them to me.h 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21Now those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.
22Jesus immediately had the disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him, while he sent the crowds away. 23After dismissing the crowds, he went up on a hillside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24By this time the boat was in the middle of the sea and was being battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25Shortly before dawn Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out, gItfs a ghost!h And they screamed in terror.
27gHave courage!h Jesus immediately told them. gItfs me. Stop being afraid!h
28Peter answered him, gLord, if itfs you, order me to come to you on the water.h
29Jesus said, gCome on!h So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus.
30But when he noticed the strong wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, gLord, save me!h
31At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, gYou who have so little faith, why did you doubt?h 32As they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.
33Then the men in the boat began to worship Jesus, saying, gYou certainly are the Son of God!h
34They crossed over and came ashore at Gennesaret. 35When the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word throughout that region and brought him everyone who was sick. 36They kept begging him to let them touch just the tassel of his garment, and everyone who touched it was completely healed.
Chapter 15
1Then some Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked, 2gWhy do your disciples disregard the tradition of the elders? They donft wash their hands when they eat.h
3But he answered them, gWhy do you also disregard the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4Because God said, eHonor your father and your mother,f and, eWhoever curses father or mother must certainly be put to death.f 5But you say, eWhoever tells his father or his mother, gWhatever support you might have received from me has been given to God,h 6does not have to honor his father.f Because of your tradition, then, you have disregarded the authority of Godfs word. 7You hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said,
8eThese people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9Their worship of me is empty,
because they teach human rules as doctrines.fh
10Then calling out to the crowd, he addressed them, gListen and understand! 11It is not what goes into the mouth that makes a person unclean. It is what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean.h
12Then the disciples came and asked him, gDo you realize that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?h
13He replied, gEvery plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. 14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If one blind person leads another blind person, both will fall into a ditch.h
15Then Peter told him, gExplain to us this parable.h
16Jesus said, gAre you still so ignorant? 17Donft you know that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and then is expelled as waste? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is those things that make a person unclean. 19It is out of the heart that evil thoughts come, as well as murder, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, false testimony, and slander. 20These are the things that make a person unclean. But eating with unwashed hands doesnft make a person unclean.h
21Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22Suddenly, a Canaanite woman from that territory came near and began to shout, gHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed!h 23But he didnft answer her at all.
Then his disciples came up and kept urging him, gSend her away, because she keeps on screaming as she follows us.h
24But he replied, gI was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.h
25Then she came and fell down before him, saying, gLord, help me!h
26He replied, gItfs not right to take the childrenfs bread and throw it to the puppies.h
27She said, gYes, Lord. But even the puppies eat the crumbs that fall from their mastersf tables.h
28Then Jesus answered her, gLady, your faith is great! What you want is granted.h That very hour her daughter was healed.
29Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a hillside and sat down. 30Large crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, those unable to talk, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he healed them. 31As a result, the crowd was amazed to see those who were unable to talk speaking, the crippled healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. So they praised the God of Israel.
32Then Jesus called his disciples and said, gI have compassion for the crowd because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I donft want to send them away without food, or they may faint on the road.h
33The disciples asked him, gWhere in the wilderness are we to get enough bread to feed such a crowd?h
34Jesus asked them, gHow many loaves of bread do you have?h
They said, gSeven, and a few small fish.h
35Ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks. Then he broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37All of them ate until they were filled, then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces\seven baskets full. 38Now those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39After he sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Chapter 16
1When the Pharisees and Sadducees arrived, in order to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He replied to them, gYou say,
eRed sky at night,
what a delight!
3Red sky in the morning,
cloudy and storming.f
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, yet you canft interpret the signs of the times? 4An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.h Then he left them and went away.
5When his disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to take any bread along. 6Jesus told them, gWatch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!h
7As they began to discuss this among themselves, they kept saying, gWe didnft bring along any bread.h
8Knowing this, Jesus asked them, gYou who have little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you donft have any bread? 9Donft you understand yet? Donft you remember the five loaves for the 5,000 and how many baskets you collected, 10or the seven loaves for the 4,000 and how many baskets you collected? 11How can you fail to understand that I wasnft talking to you about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!h
12Then they understood that he did not say to beware of the yeast used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13When Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, gWho do people say the Son of Man is?h
14They said, gSome say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.h
15He asked them, gBut who do you say I am?h
16Simon Peter answered, gYou are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!h
17Then Jesus told him, gHow blessed you are, Simon son of Jonah, since flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, though my Father in heaven has. 18I tell you that you are Peter, and it is on this rock that I will build my congregation, and the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19I will give you the keys to the kingdom from heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.h
20Then he strictly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer a great deal because of the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, gGod be merciful to you, Lord! This must never happen to you!h
23But Jesus turned and told Peter, gGet behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, because you are not thinking Godfs thoughts but human thoughts!h
24Then Jesus told his disciples, gIf anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually. 25Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it, 26because what profit will a person have if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 27The Son of Man is going to come with his angels in his Fatherfs glory, and then he will repay everyone according to what he has done. 28I tell all of you with certainty, some people standing here will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.h
Chapter 17
1Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2His appearance was changed in front of them, his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.
4Then Peter told Jesus, gLord, itfs good that wefre here! If you want, Ifll set up three shelters\one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.h 5He was still speaking when a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them.
A voice from the cloud said, gThis is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him. Keep on listening to him!h
6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
7But Jesus came up to them and touched them, saying, gGet up, and stop being afraid.h 8When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus all by himself.
9On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, gDonft tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.h
10So the disciples asked him, gWhy, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?h
11He answered them, gElijah is indeed coming and will restore all things. 12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet people did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.h 13Then the disciples understood that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptist.
14As they approached the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, knelt down in front of him, 15and said, gSir, have mercy on my son, because he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. Often he falls into fire and often into water. 16I brought him to your disciples, but they couldnft heal him.h
 17Jesus replied, gYou unbelieving and perverted generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!h 18Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed that very hour.
19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, gWhy couldnft we drive it out?h
20He told them, gBecause of your lack of faith. I tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, eMove from here to there,f and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. 21But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.h
 22While they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus told them, gThe Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands. 23They will kill him, but he will be raised on the third day.h Then they were filled with grief.
24When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came up to Peter and asked, gYour teacher pays the temple tax, doesnft he?h
25He answered, gYes.h
When Peter went home, Jesus spoke to him first and asked him, gWhat do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects, or from foreigners?h
26gFrom foreigners,h he replied.
So Jesus told him, gIn that case, the subjects are exempt. 27However, so that we donft offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you.h
Chapter 18
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, gWho, then, is the greatest in the kingdom from heaven?h
2Calling a little child forward, he had him stand among them. 3Then he said, gI tell all of you with certainty, unless you change and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom from heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom from heaven, 5and whoever receives a little child like this in my name receives me.h
6gIf anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea. 7How terrible it will be for the world due to its temptations to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!
8gSo if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life injured or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell fire.
10gSee to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, because I tell you, their angels in heaven always have access to my Father in heaven. 11For the Son of Man came to save the lost.h
12gWhat do you think? If a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays, he leaves the 99 in the hills and goes to look for the one that has strayed, doesnft he? 13If he finds it, I tell all of you with certainty that he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that havenft strayed. 14In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.h
15gIf your brother sins against you, go and confront him while the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. 16But if he doesnft listen, take one or two others with you so that eevery word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.f 17If, however, he ignores them, tell it to the congregation. If he also ignores the congregation, regard him as an unbeliever and a tax collector.
18gI tell all of you with certainty, whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven. 19Furthermore, I tell all of you with certainty that if two of you agree on earth about anything you request, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven, 20because where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.h
21Then Peter came up and asked him, gLord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? Seven times?h
22Jesus told him, gI tell you, not just seven times, but 77 times! 23gThat is why the kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he had begun to settle the accounts, a person who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him. 25Because he couldnft pay, his master ordered him, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned to be sold so that payment could be made. 26Then the servant fell down and bowed low before him, saying, eBe patient with me, and I will repay you everything!f 27The master of that servant had compassion and released him, canceling his debt.
28gBut when that servant went away, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, seized him by the throat, and said, ePay what you owe!f 29Then his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, eBe patient with me and I will repay you!f 30But he refused and went and had him thrown into prison until he could repay the debt.
31gWhen his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very disturbed and went and reported to their master everything that had occurred. 32Then his master sent for him and told him, eYou evil servant! I canceled that entire debt for you because you begged me. 33Shouldnft you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?f 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers until he could repay the entire debt. 35This is how my heavenly Father will treat each one of you unless you forgive your brother from your hearts.h
Chapter 19
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3Some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, gIs it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?h
4He answered them, gHavenft you read that the one who made them at the beginning emade them male and femalef 5and said, eThat is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one fleshf? 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must never separate.h
7They asked him, gWhy, then, did Moses order us eto give a certificate of divorce and divorce herf?h
8He told them, gIt was because of your hardness of heart that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives. But from the beginning it was not this way. 9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.h
10His disciples asked him, gIf that is the relationship of a man with his wife, itfs not worth getting married!h
11 gNot everyone can accept this saying,h he replied, gexcept those to whom celibacy has been granted, 12because some men are celibate from birth, while some are celibate because they have been made that way by others. Still others are celibate because they have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom from heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.h
13Then some little children were brought to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14Jesus, however, said, gLet the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom from heaven belongs to people like these.h 15When he had laid his hands on them, he went on from there.
16Just then a man came up to Jesus. gTeacher,h he asked, gwhat good deed should I do to have eternal life?h
17Jesus asked him, gWhy ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to get into that life, you must keep the commandments.h
18The young man asked him, gWhich ones?h
Jesus said, geYou must not murder, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,f and, eyou must love your neighbor as yourself.fh
20The young man told him, gI have kept all of these. What do I still lack?h
21Jesus told him, gIf you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.h 22But when the young man heard this statement he went away sad, because he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus told his disciples, gI tell all of you with certainty, it will be hard for a rich person to get into the kingdom from heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.h
25When the disciples heard this, they were completely astonished. gWho, then, can be saved?h they asked.
26Jesus looked at them intently and said, gFor humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.h
27gLook!h Peter replied. gWe have left everything and followed you. So what will we get?h
28Jesus told them, gI tell all of you with certainty, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the renewed creation, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, governing the twelve tribes of Israel. 29In fact, everyone who has left his homes, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.h
Chapter 20
1gThe kingdom from heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing to pay the workers one denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine ofclock, he saw others standing in the marketplace without work. 4He told them, eYou go into the vineyard, too, and I will pay you whatever is right.f 5So off they went. He went out again about noon and about three ofclock and did the same thing. 6About five ofclock he went out and found some others standing around. He asked them, eWhy are you standing here all day long without work?f 7They told him, eBecause no one has hired us.f He told them, eYou go into the vineyard as well.f
8gWhen evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his manager, eCall the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.f 9Those who were hired at five ofclock came, and each received a denarius.
10gWhen the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each received a denarius as well. 11When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner, 12eThese last fellows worked only one hour, but you paid them the same as us, and wefve been working all day, enduring the scorching heat!f
13gBut he told one of them, eFriend, Ifm not treating you unfairly. You did agree with me for a denarius, didnft you? 14Take what is yours and go. I want to give this last man as much as I gave you. 15I am allowed to do what I want with my own money, am I not? Or are you envious because Ifm generous?f
16gIn the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen.h
17When Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and told them as they were walking along, 18gSee, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the high priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. 19Then they will hand him over to unbelievers to be mocked, whipped, and crucified, but on the third day he will be raised.h
20Then the mother of Zebedeefs sons came to Jesus with her sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor. 21He asked her, gWhat do you want?h
She told him, gPromise that in your kingdom these two sons of mine will sit on your right and on your left.h
22Jesus replied, gYou donft realize what youfre asking. Can you drink from the cup that Ifm going to drink from?h
They told him, gWe can.h
23He told them, gYou will indeed drink from my cup. But itfs not up to me to grant you a seat at my right hand or at my left. These positions have already been prepared for others by my Father.h
24When the ten heard this, they became furious with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called the disciples and said, gYou know that the rulers of the unbelievers lord it over them and their superiors act like tyrants over them. 26Thatfs not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. 28Thatfs the way it is with the Son of Man. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.h
29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus. 30When two blind men who were sitting by the roadside heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, gHave mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!h 31When the crowd told them harshly to be silent, they shouted even louder, gHave mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!h
32Jesus stopped and called them, saying, gWhat do you want me to do for you?h
33They told him, gLord, we want to be able to see!h 34Then Jesus, deeply moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and at once they could see again. So they followed him.
Chapter 21
1When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead and 2told them, gGo into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them, and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him, eThe Lord needs them,f and that person will send them at once.h
4Now this happened to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet when he said,
5gTell the daughter of Zion,
eLook, your king is coming to you!
He is humble and mounted on a donkey,
even on a colt of a donkey.fh
6So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and put their coats on them, and he sat upon them. 8Many people in the crowd spread their own coats on the road, while others began cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9Both the crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed him kept shouting,
gHosanna to the Son of David!
How blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!h
10When he came into Jerusalem, the whole city was trembling with excitement. The people were asking, gWho is this?h
11The crowds kept saying, gThis is the prophet Jesus, the man from Nazareth in Galilee.h
12Then Jesus went into the Temple, threw out everyone who was selling and buying in the Temple, and overturned the moneychangersf tables and the chairs of those who sold doves. 13He told them, gIt is written, eMy house is to be called a house of prayer,f but you are turning it into a hideout for bandits!h
14Blind and lame people came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15But when the high priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he had done and the children shouting in the Temple, gHosanna to the Son of David,h they became furious 16and asked him, gDo you hear what these people are saying?h
Jesus told them, gYes! Havenft you ever read, eFrom the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have created praisef?h 17Then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
18In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the roadside, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. He told it, gMay fruit never come from you again!h And immediately the fig tree dried up.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. gHow did the fig tree dry up so quickly?h they asked.
21Jesus answered them, gI tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you be able to do what has been done to the fig tree, but you will also say to this mountain, eBe removed and thrown into the sea,f and it will happen. 22You will receive whatever you ask for in prayer, if you believe.h
23Then Jesus went into the Temple. While he was teaching, the high priests and the elders of the people came to him and asked, gBy what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?h
24Jesus answered them, gI, too, will ask you one question. If you answer it for me, I will also tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25Where did Johnfs authority to baptize come from? From heaven or from humans?h
They began discussing this among themselves, saying, gIf we say, eFrom heaven,f he will say to us, eThen why didnft you believe him?f 26But if we say, eFrom humans,f we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet.h 27So they told Jesus, gWe donft know.h
He in turn told them, gThen I wonft tell you by what authority I am doing these things.h
28gBut what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, eSon, go and work in the vineyard today.f 29His son replied, eI donft want to,f but later he changed his mind and went. 30Then the father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, eI will, sir,f but he didnft go. 31Which of the two did the fatherfs will?h
They answered, gThe first one.h
Jesus told them, gI tell all of you with certainty, tax collectors and prostitutes will get into Godfs kingdom ahead of you! 32John came to you living a righteous life, and you didnft believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didnft change your minds at last and believe him.h
33gListen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a wall around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went abroad. 34When harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenant farmers to collect his produce. 35But the farmers took his servants and beat one, killed another, and attacked another with stones. 36Again, he sent other servants to them, a greater number than the first, but the tenant farmers treated them the same way. 37Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, eThey will respect my son.f 38But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they told one another, eThis is the heir. Come on, letfs kill him and get his inheritance!f 39So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those farmers?h
41They told him, gHe will put those horrible men to a horrible death. Then he will lease the vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at harvest time.h
42Jesus asked them, gHave you never read in the Scriptures,
eThe stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This was the Lordfs doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes.f?
43That is why I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce fruit for it. 44The person who falls over this stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush anyone on whom it falls.h
 45When the high priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was talking about them. 46Although they wanted to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
Chapter 22
1Again Jesus spoke to them in parables. He said, 2gThe kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding, but they refused to come. 4So he sent other servants, saying, eTell those who have been invited, gLook, Ifve prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened calves have been slaughtered. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding!hf 5But they paid no attention to this and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6The rest grabbed the kingfs servants, treated them brutally, and then killed them. 7Then the king became outraged. He sent his troops, and they destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8gThen he told his servants, eThe wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9So go into the roads leading out of town and invite as many people as you can find to the wedding.f 10Those servants went out into the streets and brought in everyone they found, evil and good alike, and the wedding hall was packed with guests.
11gWhen the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12He asked him, eFriend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?f But the man was speechless. 13Then the king told his servants, eTie his hands and feet, and throw him into the darkness outside!f In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, 14because many are invited, but few are chosen.h
15Then the Pharisees went and planned how to trap Jesus in conversation. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. They said, gTeacher, we know that you are sincere and that you teach the way of God truthfully. You donft favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. 17So tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?h
18Recognizing their wickedness, Jesus asked, gWhy are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.h
They brought him a denarius. 20Then he asked them, gWhose face and name is this?h
21They told him, gCaesarfs.h
So he told them, gThen give back to Caesar the things that are Caesarfs, and to God the things that are Godfs.h
22When they heard this, they were amazed. Then they left him and went away.
23That same day some Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him, 24gTeacher, Moses said, eIf a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for his brother.f 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his widow to his brother. 26The same thing happened with the second brother, and then the third, and finally with the rest of the brothers. 27Finally, the woman died, too. 28Now in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be, since all of them had married her?h
29Jesus answered them, gYou are mistaken because you donft know the Scriptures or Godfs power, 30because in the resurrection, people neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 31As for the resurrection from the dead, havenft you read what was spoken to you by God when he said, 32eI am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacobf? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.h
33When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.
34When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they met together in the same place. 35One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him by asking, 36gTeacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?h
37Jesus told him, geYou must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.f 38This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39The second is exactly like it: eYou must love your neighbor as yourself.f 40All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.h
41While the Pharisees were still gathered, Jesus asked them, 42gWhat do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?h
They told him, gDavidfs.h
43He asked them, gThen how can David by the Spirit call him eLordf when he says,
44eThe Lord told my Lord,
gSit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.hf?
45If David calls him eLordf, how can he be his son?h
46No one could answer him at all, and from that day on no one dared to ask him another question.
Chapter 23
1Then Jesus told the crowds and his disciples, 2gThe scribes and the Pharisees administer the authority of Moses, 3So do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they donft do what they say. 4They tie up burdens that are heavy and unbearable and lay them on peoplefs shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to remove them.
5gThey do everything to be seen by people. They increase the size of their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6They love to have the places of honor at festivals, the best seats in the synagogues, 7to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to be called eRabbif by people.
8gBut you are not to be called eRabbi,f because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. 9And donft call anyone on earth eFather,f because you have only one Father, the one in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called eTeachers,f because you have only one teacher, the Messiah! 11The person who is greatest among you must be your servant. 12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom from heaven in peoplefs faces. You donft go in yourselves, and you donft allow those who are trying to enter to go in.
14gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widowsf houses and say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation!
15gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make a single convert, and when this happens you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
16gHow terrible it will be for you, blind guides! You say, eWhoever swears an oath by the sanctuary is excused, but whoever swears an oath by the gold of the sanctuary must keep his oath.f 17You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the sanctuary that made the gold holy? 18Again you say, eWhoever swears an oath by the altar is excused, but whoever swears by the gift that is on it must keep his oath.f 19You blind men! Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20Therefore, the one who swears an oath by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21The one who swears an oath by the sanctuary swears by it and by the one who lives there. 22And the one who swears an oath by heaven swears by Godfs throne and by the one who sits on it.
23gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your mint, dill, and cummin, but have neglected the more important matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others. 24You blind guides! You filter out a gnat, yet swallow a camel!
25gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but on the inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that its outside may also be clean.
27gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead peoplefs bones and every kind of impurity. 28In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29gHow terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30Then you say, eIf we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.f 31Therefore, you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32Then finish what your ancestors started! 33You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell?
34gThat is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. 35As a result, you will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36I tell all of you with certainty, all these things will happen to those living today.h
37gO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look! Your house is left abandoned! 39I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, eHow blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!fh
Chapter 24
1As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to point out to him the Temple buildings. 2But he told them, gYou see all these things, donft you? I tell all of you with certainty, there isnft a single stone here that will be left standing on top of another. They will all be torn down.h
3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, gTell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?h
4Jesus answered them, gSee to it that no one deceives you, 5because many will come in my name and say, eI am the Messiah,f and they will deceive many people. 6You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasnft come yet, 7because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains.h
9gThen they will hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name. 10Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, 12and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. 13But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.h
15gSo when you see the destructive desecration, mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader take note), 16then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17Anyone whofs on the housetop must not come down to get what is in his house, 18and anyone whofs in the field must not turn back to get his coat.
19gHow terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! 20Pray that it may not be in winter or on a Sabbath when you flee, 21because at that time there will be great suffering, the kind that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and certainly will never happen again. 22If those days had not been limited, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be limited.
23gAt that time, if anyone says to you, eLook! Here is the Messiah!f or eThere he is!f, donft believe it, 24because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and display great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25Remember, I have told you this beforehand. 26So if they say to you, eLook! Hefs in the wilderness,f donft go out looking for him. And if they say, eLook! Hefs in the storeroom,f donft believe it, 27because just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever therefs a corpse, there the vultures will gather.
29gImmediately after the troubles of those days,
eThe sun will be darkened,
the moon will not give its light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.f
30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all ethe tribes of the land will mournf when they see ethe Son of Man coming on the clouds of heavenf with power and great glory. 31He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another.h
32gNow learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near. 33In the same way, when you see all these things, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door. 34I tell all of you with certainty, this generation will not disappear until these things happen. 35Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.h
36gNo one knows when that day or hour will come\not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, 37because just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 38In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. 39They were unaware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. Thatfs how it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40At that time two people will be in the field. One will be taken, and one will be left behind. 41Two women will be grinding grain at the mill. One will be taken, and one will be left behind.
42gSo keep on watching, because you donft know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But be sure of this: if the owner of the house had known when during the night the thief would be coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44So you, too, must be ready, because at an hour you are not expecting him the Son of Man will come.h
45gWho, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others their food at the right time? 46How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! 47I tell all of you with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property.
48gBut if that wicked servant says to himself, eMy master has been delayed,f 49and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunks, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesnft expect him and at an hour that he doesnft know. 51Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.h
Chapter 25
1gAt that time, the kingdom from heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise, 3because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didnft take any oil with them. 4But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down.
6gBut at midnight there came a shout: eThe groom is here! Come out to meet him!f 7Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. 8But the foolish ones told the wise, eGive us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!f 9But the wise ones replied, eNo! There will never be enough for us and for you. Youfd better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.f
10gWhile they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed. 11Later, the other bridesmaids arrived and said, eLord, lord, open up for us!f 12But he replied, eI tell all of you with certainty, I donft know you!f 13So keep on watching, because you donft know the day or the hour.h
14gSimilarly, it is like a man going on a trip who called his servants and turned his money over to them. 15To one man he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip.
16gThe one who received five talents went out at once and invested them and earned five more. 17In the same way, the one who had two talents earned two more. 18But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his masterfs money.
19gAfter a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The one who had received five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, eMaster, you gave me five talents. See, Ifve earned five more talents.f 21His master told him, eWell done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you have been trustworthy with a small amount, I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your masterfs joy!f
22gThe one with two talents also came forward and said, eMaster, you gave me two talents. See, Ifve earned two more talents.f 23His master told him, eWell done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you have been trustworthy with a small amount, I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your masterfs joy!f
24gThen the one who had received one talent came forward and said, eMaster, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you havenft planted and gathering where you havenft scattered any seed. 25Being afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what is yours!f
26gHis master answered him, eYou evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I havenft planted and gathered where I havenft scattered any seed? 27Then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest.f 28Then the master said, eTake the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents, 29because to everyone who has something, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.fh
31gWhen the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be assembled in front of him, and he will cull them out, one from another, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.
34gThen the king will say to those on his right, eCome, you who have been blessed by my Father! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. 36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.f
37gThen the righteous will say to him, eLord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?f
40The king will answer them, eI tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.f
41gThen he will say to those on his left, eGet away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42Herefs why: I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. 43I was a stranger, and you didnft welcome me. I was naked, and you didnft clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you didnft visit me.f
44gThen they will reply, eLord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didnft help you?f
45Then he will say to them, eI tell all of you with certainty, since you didnft do it for one of the least important of these, you didnft do it for me.f 46These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.h
Chapter 26
1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 2gYou know that the Passover will take place in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.h
3Then the high priests and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. 4They conspired to arrest Jesus by treachery and to kill him. 5But they kept saying, gThis must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, therefll be a riot among the people.h
6While Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head while he sat at the table. 8But when the disciples saw this they became irritated and said, gWhy this waste? 9Surely this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the destitute.h
10But knowing this, Jesus asked them, gWhy are you bothering the woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11You will always have the destitute with you, but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she was preparing me for burial. 13I tell all of you with certainty, wherever this gospel is proclaimed throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her.h
14Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests 15and inquired, gWhat are you willing to give me if I betray Jesus to you?h They offered him 30 pieces of silver, 16and from then on he began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and asked, gWhere do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover meal?h
18He said, gGo to a certain man in the city and say to him, eThe Teacher says, gMy time is near. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.hfh 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
20When evening came, Jesus was sitting at the table with the Twelve. 21While they were eating, he said, gI tell all of you with certainty, one of you is going to betray me.h
22Feeling deeply distressed, each one began to ask him, gSurely I am not the one, Lord?h
23He replied, gThe man who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man is going away, just as it has been written about him. How terrible it will be for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.h
25Then Judas, who was going to betray him, asked, gRabbi, Ifm not the one, am I?h
Jesus told him, gYou have said so.h
26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to the disciples, saying, gTake this and eat it. This is my body.h
27Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, gDrink from it, all of you, 28because this is my blood of the new covenant that is being poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell all of you I will never again drink the product of the vine until that day when I drink it with you once again in my Fatherfs kingdom.h
30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31Then Jesus told them, gAll of you will turn against me this very night, because it is written,
eI will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.f
32However, after I have been raised, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.h
33But Peter told him, gEven if everyone else turns against you, I certainly wonft!h
34Jesus told him, gI tell you with certainty, before a rooster crows this very night, you will deny me three times.h
35Peter told him, gEven if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!h And all the disciples said the same thing.
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He told the disciples, gSit down here while I go over there and pray.h 37Taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, he began to be grieved and troubled. 38Then he told them, gIfm so deeply grieved that I feel Ifm about to die. Wait here and stay awake with me.h
39Going on a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, gO my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not what I want but what you want.h
40When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He told Peter, gSo, you men couldnft stay awake with me for one hour, could you? 41All of you must stay awake and pray that you wonft be tempted. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body is weak.h
42He went away a second time and prayed, gMy Father, if this cup cannot go away unless I drink it, let your will be done.h 43Then he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44After leaving them again, he went away and prayed again for the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he came back to the disciples and told them, gYou might as well keep on sleeping and resting. Look! The time is near for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up! Letfs go! See, the one who is betraying me is near!h
47Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A large crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests and elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, gThe one I kiss is the man. Arrest him.h
49So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, gHello, Rabbi!h and kissed him tenderly.
50Jesus asked him, gFriend, why are you here?h Then the other men surged forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
51Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priestfs servant, cutting off his ear. 52Jesus told him, gPut your sword back in its place! Everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword. 53Donft you think that I could call on my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels now? 54How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?h
55At this point, Jesus asked the crowds, gHave you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the Temple, yet you didnft arrest me. 56But all of this has happened so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.h
Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away.
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. 58Peter, however, followed him at a distance as far as the high priestfs courtyard. He went inside and sat down with the servants to see how this would end.
59Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death. 60But they couldnft find any, even though many false witnesses had come forward. At last two men came forward 61and stated, gThis man said, eI can destroy the sanctuary of God and rebuild it in three days.fh
62At this, the high priest stood up and asked Jesus, gDonft you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?h 63But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest told him, gI command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!h
64Jesus told him, gYou have said so. Nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see ethe Son of Man seated at the right hand of Powerf and ecoming on the clouds of heaven.fh
65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, gHe has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Listen! You yourselves have just heard the blasphemy! 66What is your verdict?h
They replied, gHe deserves to die!h
67Then they spit in his face and hit him. Some slapped him, 68saying, gProphesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?h
69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him and said, gYou, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.h
70But he denied it in front of them all, saying, gI donft know what youfre talking about.h
71As he went out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, gThis man was with Jesus from Nazareth.h
72Again he denied it and swore with an oath, gI donft know the man!h
73After a little while, the people who were standing there came up and told Peter, gObviously youfre also one of them, because your accent gives you away.h
74Then he began to curse violently. gI donft know the man!h he swore solemnly. Just then a rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered the words of Jesus when he said, gBefore a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.h Then he went outside and cried bitterly.
Chapter 27
1When morning came, all the high priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put him to death. 2They bound him with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
3Then Judas, who had betrayed him, regretted what had happened when he saw that Jesus was condemned. He brought the 30 pieces of silver back to the high priests and elders, 4saying, gI have sinned by betraying innocent blood.h
But they replied, gWhat do we care? Attend to that yourself.h 5Then he flung the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and went outside. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6The high priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, gIt is not lawful to put this into the Temple treasury, because it is blood money.h 7So they decided to use the money to buy the Potterfs Field as a burial ground for foreigners. 8That is why that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what had been declared through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled when he said,
gThey took the 30 pieces of silver,
the value of the man on whom a price had been set by the Israelis,
10and they gave them for the potterfs field,
as the Lord commanded me.h
11Meanwhile, Jesus was made to stand in front of the governor. The governor asked him, gAre you the king of the Jews?h
Jesus said, gYou say so.h
12While Jesus was being accused by the high priests and elders, he made no reply. 13Then Pilate asked him, gDonft you hear how many charges theyfre bringing against you?h 14But Jesus did not reply at all, so that the governor was very surprised.
15At every festival the governor had a custom of releasing to the crowd any prisoner whom they wanted. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17So when the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, gWhich man do you want me to release for you\Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?h 18He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy.
19While he was sitting on the judgefs seat, his wife sent him a message. It said, gHave nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him.h
20But the high priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to demand that Jesus be put to death. 21So the governor asked them, gWhich of the two men do you want me to release for you?h
 gBarabbas!h they replied.
22Pilate asked them, gThen what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?h
They all said, gLet him be crucified!h
23He asked, gWhat has he done wrong?h
But they kept shouting louder and louder, gLet him be crucified!h
24Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, gI am innocent of this manfs blood. Attend to that yourselves.h
25All the people answered, gLet his blood be on us and our children!h 26Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.
27Then the governorfs soldiers took Jesus into the imperial headquarters and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29Twisting some thorns into a victorfs crown, they placed it on his head and put a stick in his right hand. They knelt down in front of him and began making fun of him, saying, gLong live the king of the Jews!h 30Then they spit on him and took the stick and hit him repeatedly on his head.
31When they had finished making fun of him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32As they were leaving, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry Jesusf cross. 33When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means gSkull Placeh), 34they offered him a drink of wine mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. 35After they had crucified him, they determined who would get his clothes by throwing dice for them. 36Then they sat down there and continued guarding him. 37Above his head they placed the charge against him. It read, gThis is Jesus, the king of the Jews.h
38At that time two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. 39Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, 40and saying, gYou who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days\save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!h
41In the same way the high priests, along with the scribes and elders, were also making fun of him. They kept saying, 42gHe saved others but canft save himself! He is the king of Israel. Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him, if he wants to do so now. After all, he said, eI am the Son of God.fh
44In a similar way, the bandits who were being crucified with him kept insulting him.
45From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46About three ofclock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, gEli, eli, lema sabachthani?h, which means, gMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?h
47When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, gHefs calling for Elijah.h 48So one of the men ran off at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink.
49But the others kept saying, gWait! Letfs see if Elijah will come and save him.h
50Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice again and died. 51Suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split open, 52tombs were opened, and many saints who had died were brought back to life. 53After his resurrection, they came out of their tombs and went into the Holy City and appeared to many people.
54When the centurion and those guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things that were taking place, they were terrified and said, gThis man certainly was the Son of God!h
55Now many women were also there, watching from a distance. They had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had ministered to him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedeefs sons.
57Later that evening, a rich man arrived from Arimathea. His name was Joseph, and he had become a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be done. 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60Then he placed it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. After rolling a large stone across the door of the tomb, he left, 61but Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained there, sitting in front of the tomb.
62The following day (that is, after the Day of Preparation), the high priests and Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, gSir, we remember how that impostor said while he was still alive, eAfter three days I will be raised.f 64Therefore, order the tomb to be secured until the third day, or his disciples may go and steal him and then tell the people, eHe has been raised from the dead.f Then the last deception would be worse than the first one.h
65Pilate told them, gYou have a military guard. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how.h 66So they went and secured the tomb by putting a seal on the stone in the presence of the guards.
Chapter 28
1After the Sabbaths, around dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to take a look at the burial site. 2Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, approached the stone, rolled it away, and was sitting on top of it. 3His appearance was bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4Trembling from fear, even the guards themselves became catatonic.
5Responding to the women, the angel said, gStop being frightened! I know youfre looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!h
8So they quickly left the tomb, terrified but also ecstatic, and ran to tell Jesusf disciples. 9Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, gGreetings!h They went up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus told them, gStop being frightened! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.h
11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. 12So they met with the elders and agreed on a plan to give the soldiers a large amount of money. 13They said, gSay that Jesusf disciples came at night and stole him while you were sleeping. 14If this is reported to the governor, wefll personally persuade him to keep you out of trouble.h 15So the soldiers took the money, did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
16The eleven disciples went into Galilee to the hillside to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him, though some had doubts.
18Then Jesus came up and told them, gAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to obey everything that Ifve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.h
Mark
Chapter 1
1This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. 2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
gSee! I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way.
3He is a voice calling out in the wilderness:
ePrepare the way for the Lord!
Make his paths straight!fh
4John was baptizing in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism about repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, being baptized by him while they confessed their sins. 6Now John was dressed in camelfs hair with a leather belt around his waist. He ate grasshoppers and wild honey. 7He kept proclaiming, gThe one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. 8I baptized you with water, but it is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.h
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11Then a voice came from heaven: gYou are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you!h
12At once the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by Satan. He was among wild animals, and angels were ministering to him.
14Now after John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God. 15He said, gThe time is now! The kingdom of God is near! Repent, and keep believing the gospel!h
16While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. 17Jesus told them, gFollow me, and I will make you fishers of people!h 18So immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19Going on a little farther he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat repairing their nets. 20He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
21Then they went to Capernaum. As soon as it was the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were utterly amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one with authority and not like their scribes. 23Suddenly there was a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit. He screamed, 24gWhat do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are\the Holy One of God!h
25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, gBe quiet, and come out of him!h 26At this, the unclean spirit shook the man, cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27All the people were so stunned that they kept saying to each other, gWhat is this? A new teaching with authority! He tells even the unclean spirits what to do, and they obey him!h 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
29After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. 30Now Simonfs mother-in-law was lying in bed, sick with a fever, so they promptly told Jesus about her. 31He went up to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began serving them.
 32When evening came, after the sun had set, people started bringing to him everyone who was sick or possessed by demons. 33In fact, the whole city gathered at the door. 34He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. However, he wouldnft allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was.
35In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place and prayed there. 36Simon and his companions searched frantically for him. 37When they found him, they told him, gEveryonefs looking for you.h
38gLetfs go to the neighboring town,h he replied, gso I can preach there, too, because thatfs why I came.h 39So he went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40Then a leper came to Jesus and began pleading with him. He fell on his knees and told him, gIf you want to, you can make me clean.h
41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and told him, gI do want to. Be made clean!h 42Instantly the leprosy left him, and he was clean.
43Then Jesus sternly warned him and encouraged him to go at once, 44saying to him, gBe sure that you donft tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest, and then offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as proof to the authorities.h 45But when the man left, he began to proclaim it freely. He spread the news so widely that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but had to stay out in deserted places. Still, people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Chapter 2
1Several days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. 2Such a large crowd gathered that there wasnft room for them, even in front of the door. Jesus was speaking his message to them 3when some people came and brought him a paralyzed man being carried by four men. 4Since they couldnft bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where he was. They dug through it and let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.
5When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralyzed man, gSon, your sins are forgiven.h
6Now some scribes were sitting there, arguing among themselves, 7gWhy does this man talk this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?h
8At once, Jesus knew in his spirit what they were saying to themselves. gWhy are you arguing about such things among yourselves?h he asked them. 9gWhich is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, eYour sins are forgiven,f or to say, eGet up, pick up your mat, and walkf? 10But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
Then he told the paralyzed man, 11gI say to you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!h 12So the man got up, immediately picked up his mat, and went out in front of all of them.
As a result, all of the people were amazed and began to glorify God, saying, gWe have never seen anything like this!h
13Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd kept coming to him, and he kept teaching them. 14As he was walking along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collectorfs desk. Jesus told him, gFollow me!h So Levi got up and followed him.
15Later, he was having dinner at Levifs house. Many tax collectors and sinners were also eating with Jesus and his disciples, because there were many who were following him. 16When the scribes and the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, gWhy does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?h
17When Jesus heard that, he told them, gHealthy people donft need a physician, but sick ones do. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners.h
18Now Johnfs disciples and the Pharisees would fast regularly. Some people came and asked Jesus, gWhy do Johnfs disciples and the Phariseesf disciples fast, but your disciples donft fast?h
19Jesus replied, gThe wedding guests canft fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they canft fast. 20But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.h
21gNo one patches an old garment with a piece of unshrunk cloth. If he does, the patch pulls away from it\the new from the old\and a worse tear is made. 22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.h
23Jesus happened to be going through the grain fields on a Sabbath. As they made their way, his disciples began picking the heads of grain. 24The Pharisees asked him, gLook! Why are they doing what is not lawful on Sabbath days?h
25He asked them, gHavenft you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26How was it that he went into the House of God during the lifetime of Abiathar the high priest and ate the Bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and gave some of it to his companions?h
27Then he told them, gThe Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. 28Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.h
Chapter 3
1Jesus went into the synagogue again, and a man with a paralyzed hand was there. 2The people watched Jesus closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, intending to accuse him of doing something wrong. 3He told the man with the paralyzed hand, gCome forward.h 4Then he asked them, gIs it lawful to do good or to do evil on Sabbath days, to save a life or to destroy it?h But they remained silent.
5Jesus looked around at them in anger, deeply hurt because of their hard hearts. Then he told the man, gHold out your hand.h The man held it out, and his hand was restored to health. 6Immediately the Pharisees and Herodians went out and began to plot how to kill him.
7So Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea. A large crowd from Galilee, Judea, 8Jerusalem, Idumea, from across the Jordan, and from the region around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they kept hearing about everything he was doing. 9Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that the crowd wouldnft crush him, 10because he had healed so many people that everyone who had diseases kept crowding up against him in order to touch him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they would fall down in front of him and scream, gYou are the Son of God!h 12But he sternly ordered them again and again not to tell people who he was.
13Then Jesus went up on a hillside and called to himself those whom he had decided on, and they approached him. 14He appointed the Twelve, whom he called apostles, to accompany him, to be sent out to preach, 15and to have the authority to drive out demons. 16He appointed the Twelve: Simon (whom he named Peter), 17Zebedeefs sons James and his brother John (whom he named Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananaean, 19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
20Then he went home. Such a large crowd gathered again that Jesus and his disciples couldnft even eat. 21When his family heard about it, they went to restrain him, because they kept saying, gHefs out of his mind!h
22The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem kept repeating, gHe has Beelzebul,h and, gHe drives out demons by the ruler of demons.h
23So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables. gHow can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not stand. 26So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot stand. Indeed, his end has come. 27No one can go into a strong manfs house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man. Then he can ransack his house. 28I tell all of you with certainty, people will be forgiven their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven, but is guilty of eternal sin.h
30For they had been saying, gHe has an unclean spirit.h
31Then his mother and his brothers arrived. Milling around outside, they sent for him, continually summoning him. 32A crowd was sitting around him. They told him, gLook! Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.h
33He answered them, gWho are my mother and my brothers?h 34Then looking at the people sitting around him, he said, gHere are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.h
Chapter 4
1Then Jesus began to teach again beside the sea. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the entire crowd remained beside the sea on the shore. 2He began teaching them many things in parables. While he was teaching them he said, 3gListen! A farmer went out to sow. 4As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. 5Others fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasnft deep. 6But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up. 7Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes came up and choked them out, and they did not produce anything. 8But others fell on good soil and produced a crop. They grew up, increased in size, and produced 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown.h 9He added, gLet the person who has ears to hear, listen!h
10When he was alone with the Twelve and those around him, they began to ask him about the parables. 11He told them, gThe secret about the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside, everything comes in parables 12so that
ethey may see clearly but not perceive,
and they may hear clearly but not understand,
otherwise they might turn around and be forgiven.fh
13Then he told them, gYou donft understand this parable, so how can you understand any of the parables? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. When they hear it, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others are like the seeds sown on the stony ground. When they hear the word, at once they joyfully accept it, 17but since they donft have any roots, they last for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall away. 18Still others are like the seeds sown among the thorn bushes. These are the people who hear the word, 19but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word so that it canft produce a crop. 20Others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops\30, 60, or 100 times what was sown.h
21Then Jesus told them, gA lamp isnft brought indoors to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Itfs to be put on a lamp stand, isnft it? 22Nothing is hidden except for the purpose of having it revealed, and nothing is secret except for the purpose of having it come to light. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen!
24He went on to say to them, gPay attention to what youfre hearing! You will be evaluated by the same standard with which you do your evaluating, and still more will be given to you, 25because whoever has something, will have more given to him. But whoever has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.h
26He was also saying, gThe kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. 27He sleeps and gets up night and day while the seeds sprout and grow, although he doesnft know how. 28The ground produces grain by itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, he immediately starts cutting with his sickle because the harvest time has come.h
30He was also saying, gHow can we show what the kingdom of God is like, or what parable can we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. Although it is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32when it is planted it comes up and becomes larger than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that the birds in the sky can nest in its shade.h
33With many other parables like these, Jesus kept speaking his message to them according to their ability to understand. 34He did not tell them anything without using a parable, though he explained everything to his disciples in private.
35That day, when evening had come, he told them, gLetfs cross to the other side.h 36So they left the crowd and took him away in a boat without making any special preparations. Other boats were with him. 37A violent windstorm came up, and the waves began breaking into the boat, so that the boat was rapidly becoming swamped.
38But Jesus was in the back of the boat, asleep on a cushion. So they woke him up and asked him, gTeacher, donft you care that wefre going to die?h
39Then he got up, rebuked the wind, and told the sea, gCalm down! Be still!h Then the wind stopped blowing, and there was a great calm. 40He asked them, gWhy are you such cowards? Donft you have any faith yet?h
41Overcome with fear, they kept saying to one another, gWho is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!h
Chapter 5
1They arrived at the other side of the sea in the territory of the Gerasenes. 2Just as Jesus stepped out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3He lived among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, not even with a chain. 4He had often been restrained with shackles and chains but had snapped the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one could tame him. 5Night and day he kept screaming among the tombs and on the mountainsides and kept cutting himself with stones.
 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell down in front of him, 7screaming in a loud voice, gWhat do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you in the name of God never to torment me!h
8Jesus had been saying to him, gCome out of the man, you unclean spirit!h 9Then Jesus asked him, gWhatfs your name?h
He told him, gMy name is Legion, because there are many of us.h 10He kept pleading with Jesus not to send them out of that region.
 11Now a large herd of pigs was grazing on a hillside nearby. 12So the demons begged him, gSend us among the pigs, so that we can go into them!h 13So he let them do this. The unclean spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned there.
14Now when those who had been taking care of the pigs ran away, they reported what had happened in the city and countryside. So the people went to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there dressed and in his right mind, they were frightened. 16The people who had seen it told them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17So they began to beg Jesus to leave their territory.
18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging him to let him go with him. 19But Jesus wouldnft let him. Instead, he told him, gGo home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you.h 20So the man left and began proclaiming in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was utterly amazed.
21When Jesus again had crossed to the other side in a boat, a large crowd gathered around him by the seashore. 22Then a synagogue leader named Jairus arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and begged him urgently, saying, gMy little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.h 24So Jesus went with him. A huge crowd kept following him and jostling him.
25Now there was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. 26Although she had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all of her money, she had not been helped at all but rather grew worse. 27Since she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his robe, 28because she had been saying, gIf I can just touch his robe, I will get well.h 29Her bleeding stopped at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her illness.
30Immediately Jesus became aware that power had gone out of him. So he turned around in the crowd and asked, gWho touched my clothes?h
31His disciples asked him, gYou see the crowd jostling you, and yet you ask, eWho touched me?fh 32But he kept looking around to see the woman who had done this. 33So the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came forward fearfully, fell down trembling in front of him, and told him the whole truth.
34He told her, gDaughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed from your illness.h
35While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leaderfs home and said, gYour daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?h
36But when Jesus heard what they said, he told the synagogue leader, gStop being afraid! Just keep on believing.h 37Jesus allowed no one to go further with him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw mass confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He entered the house and asked them, gWhy all this confusion and crying? The child isnft dead. Shefs sleeping.h 40They laughed and laughed at him. But when he had driven all of them outside, he took the childfs father and mother, along with the men who were with him, and went into the room where the child was.
41He took her by the hand and told her, gTalitha koum,h which means, gYoung lady, I tell you, get up!h 42The young lady got up at once and started to walk. She was twelve years old. Instantly they were overcome with astonishment. 43But Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about this. He also told them to give her something to eat.
Chapter 6
1Jesus left that place and went back to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were utterly amazed. gWhere did this man get all these things?h they asked. gWhat is this wisdom that has been given to him? What great miracles are being done by his hands! 3This is the builder, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, isnft it? His sisters are here with us, arenft they?h And they were offended by him.
4Jesus was telling them, gA prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home.h 5He couldnft perform a miracle there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6He was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around to the villages and continued teaching.
7He called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. 8He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick\no bread, no traveling bag, nothing in their moneybag. 9They could wear sandals but not take along an extra shirt. 10He told them repeatedly, gWhenever you go into a home, stay there until you leave that place. 11If any place will not welcome you and the people refuse to listen to you, when you leave, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them.h 12So they went and preached that people should repent. 13They also kept driving out many demons and anointing with oil many who were sick, and healing them.
14King Herod heard about this, because Jesusf name had become well-known. He was saying, gJohn the Baptist has been raised from the dead! Thatfs why he is able to do these miracles.h
15Others were saying, gHe is Elijah.h
Still others were saying, gHe is a prophet like one of the other prophets.h
16But when Herod heard about it, he said, gJohn, whom I beheaded, has been raised,h 17because Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipfs wife, whom Herod had married.
18John had been telling Herod, gItfs not lawful for you to have your brotherfs wife.h 19So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she couldnft do it 20because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him.
21An opportunity came during Herodfs birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee. 22When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, gAsk me for anything you want, and Ifll give it to you.h 23He swore with an oath to her, gIfll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.h
24So she went out and asked her mother, gWhat should I ask for?h
Her mother replied, gThe head of John the Baptist.h
25Immediately the girl hurried back to the king with her request, gI want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.h
26The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her. 27So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring Johnfs head. The soldier went and beheaded him in prison. 28Then he brought Johnfs head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When Johnfs disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb.
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 31He told them, gCome away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while,h because so many people were coming and going that they didnft even have time to eat. 32So they went away in a boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33But when many people saw them leave and recognized them, they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
35When it was quite late, his disciples came to him and said, gThis is a deserted place, and itfs already late. 36Send the crowds away so that they can go to the neighboring farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.h
37But he answered them, gYou give them something to eat.h
They asked him, gShould we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?h
38He asked them, gHow many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.h
They found out and told him, gFive loaves and two fish.h
39Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42All of them ate and were filled. 43Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover bread and fish. 44There were 5,000 men who had eaten the loaves.
45Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away. 46After saying goodbye to them, he went up on a hillside to pray. 47When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, while he was alone on the land. 48He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them, 49but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and began to scream. 50All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately he told them, gHave courage! It is I. Stop being afraid!h
51Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded, 52because they didnft understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
53When they had crossed over, they came ashore at Gennesaret and anchored the boat. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. 55They ran all over the countryside and began carrying the sick on their mats to any place where they heard he was. 56Wherever he went, whether into villages, towns, or farms, people would place their sick in the marketplaces and beg him to let them touch even the tassel of his garment, and everyone who touched it was healed.
Chapter 7
1The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. 2They noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. 3(The Pharisees\and indeed all the Jewish people\donft eat unless they wash their hands properly, following the tradition of their elders. 4They donft eat anything from the marketplace unless they dip it in water. They also observe many other traditions, such as the proper washing of washing cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.)
5So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, gWhy donft your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with unclean hands.h
6He told them, gIsaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. As it is written,
eThese people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7Their worship of me is worthless,
because they teach human rules as doctrines.f
8You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.h
9Then he told them, gYou have such a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your own tradition! 10Because Moses said, eHonor your father and your mother,f and, eWhoever curses his father or mother must certainly be put to death.f 11But you say, eIf anyone tells his father or mother, gWhatever support you might have received from me is Corban,hf (that is, an offering to God) 12eyou no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.f 13You are destroying the word of God through your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other things like that.h
14Then he called to the crowd again and told them, gListen to me, all of you, and understand! 15Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. Itfs what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean. 16If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen!h
17When he had left the crowd and gone home, his disciples began asking him about the parable. 18He asked them, gAre you so ignorant? Donft you know that nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean? 19Because it doesnft go into his heart but into his stomach, and is expelled as waste.h (By this he declared all foods clean.) 20He continued, gItfs what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean, 21because itfs from within, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come, as well as sexual immorality, stealing, murder, 22adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. 23All these things come from inside and make a person unclean.h
24Jesus left that place and went to the territory of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house, not wanting anyone to know he was there. However, it couldnft be kept a secret. 25In fact, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him and came and fell down at his feet. 26Now the woman happened to be a Greek, born in Phoenicia in Syria. She kept asking him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27But he kept telling her, gFirst let the children be filled. It is not right to take the childrenfs bread and throw it to the puppies.h
28But she answered him, gYes, Lord. Yet even the puppies under the table eat some of the childrenfs crumbs.h
29Then he told her, gBecause you have said this, go! The demon has left your daughter.h 30So she went home and found her child lying in bed, and the demon was gone.
31Then Jesus left the territory of Tyre and passed through Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the territory of the Decapolis. 32Some people brought him a deaf man who also had a speech impediment. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 33Jesus took him away from the crowd to be alone with him. Putting his fingers into the manfs ears, he touched the manfs tongue with saliva.
34Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and told him, gEphphatha,h that is, gBe opened!h 35The manfs hearing and speech were restored at once, and he began to talk normally. 36Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone, but the more he kept ordering them, the more they kept spreading the news.
37Amazed beyond measure, they kept on saying, gHe does everything well! He even makes deaf people hear and mute people talk!h
Chapter 8
1At that time, after a large crowd again had gathered together with nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples and told them, 2gI have compassion for the crowd because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them away to their homes hungry, they will faint on the road. Some of them have come a long distance.h
4His disciples answered him, gWhere could anyone get enough bread to feed these people out here in the wilderness?h
5He asked them, gHow many loaves of bread do you have?h
gSeven,h they said.
6So he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to distribute. So they served them to the crowd. 7They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be distributed. 8The people ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up the leftover pieces\seven large baskets full. 9Now about 4,000 men were there. Then he sent them on their way. 10Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11The Pharisees arrived and began arguing with Jesus. They tested him by demanding from him a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply in his spirit and remarked, gWhy do those living today demand a sign? I tell all of you with certainty, no sign will be given to this generation.h 13Leaving them, he got into a boat again and crossed to the other side.
14Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread along, but they had one loaf with them in the boat. 15Jesus had been warning them, gWatch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!h
16So they were discussing with one another the fact that they didnft have any bread. 17Knowing this, Jesus asked them, gWhy are you discussing the fact that you donft have any bread? Donft you understand or perceive yet? Are your hearts hardened? 18Do you have eyes but fail to see? Do you have ears but fail to hear? Donft you remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?h
They told him, gTwelve.h
20gWhen I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?h
They told him, gSeven.h
21Then he asked them, gDonft you understand yet?h
22As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him. 23Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. He spit into his eyes, placed his hands on him, and asked him, gDo you see anything?h
24The man looked up and said, gI see people, but they look like trees walking around.h 25Then Jesus placed his hands on the manfs eyes again, and he saw clearly. His sight was restored, and he saw everything perfectly even from a distance.
26Then Jesus sent him home, saying, gDonft go into the village or tell anyone in the village.h
27Then Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he was asking his disciples, gWho do people say I am?h
28They answered him, gSome say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets.h
29Then he began to ask them, gBut who do you say I am?h
Peter answered him, gYou are the Messiah!h 30Jesus sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
31Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he would be killed, but after three days he would rise again. 32He was speaking about this matter quite openly.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, gGet behind me, Satan, because youfre not thinking Godfs thoughts but human thoughts!h
34Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, gIf anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually, 35because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 36What profit will a person have if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? 37Indeed, what can a person give in exchange for his life? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes with the holy angels in his Fatherfs glory.h
Chapter 9
1Then he told them, gI tell all of you with certainty, some people standing here will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.h
2Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain to be alone with him. His appearance was changed in front of them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. 4Then Elijah appeared to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5Then Peter told Jesus, gRabbi, itfs good that wefre here! Letfs set up three shelters\one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.h 6(Peter didnft know how to respond, because they were terrified.)
7Then a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, gThis is my Son, whom I love. Keep on listening to him!h 8Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus alone.
9On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves but argued about what grising from the deadh meant. 11So they asked him, gDonft the scribes say that Elijah must come first?h
12He told them, gElijah is indeed coming first and will restore all things. Why, then, is it written that the Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be treated shamefully? 13But I tell you that Elijah has come, yet people treated him just as they pleased, as it is written about him.h
14As they approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 15The whole crowd was very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.
16He asked the scribes, gWhat are you arguing about with them?h
17A man in the crowd answered him, gTeacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that wonft let him talk. 18Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they didnft have the power.h
19Jesus told them, gYou unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!h
20So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground and kept rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21Then Jesus asked his father, gHow long has this been happening to him?h He said, gSince he was a child. 22The spirit has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!h
23Jesus told him, geIf you are able?f Everything is possible for the person who believes!h
24With tears flowing, the childfs father at once cried out, gI do believe! Help my unbelief!h
25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, gYou spirit that wonft let him talk or hear\I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!h 26The spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy was like a corpse, and many said that he was dead. 27But Jesus took his hand and helped him up, and he stood up.
28When Jesus came home, his disciples asked him privately, gWhy couldnft we drive the spirit out?h
29He told them, gThis kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.h
30Then they left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus didnft want anyone to find out about it, 31because he was teaching his disciples, gThe Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, but after being dead for three days he will be raised.h 32They didnft understand what this statement meant, and they were afraid to ask him.
33Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, gWhat were you arguing about on the road?h 34But they kept silent, because they had argued on the road with one another about who was the greatest.
35So he sat down, called the Twelve, and told them, gIf anyone wants to be first he must be last of all and servant of all.h 36Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He took him in his arms and told them, 37gWhoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.h
38John told Jesus, gTeacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasnft a follower like us.h
39But Jesus said, gDonft stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name can slander me soon afterwards. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah will never lose his reward.h
42gIf anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life injured than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out. 44In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.
45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 46In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.
47And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.
49Because everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. 50Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how can you restore its flavor? Keep on having salt among yourselves, and live in peace with one another.h
Chapter 10
1Then Jesus left that place and went into the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Crowds gathered around him as usual, and he began to teach them again as was his custom. 2Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, gIs it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?h
3He answered them, gWhat did Moses command you?h
4They said, gMoses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to divorce her.h
5But Jesus told them, gIt was because of your hardness of heart that he wrote this command for you. 6But from the beginning of creation, eGod made them male and female.f 7gThat is why ea man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh.f So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore, what God has joined together, man must never separate.h
 10Back in the house, the disciples asked him about this again. 11So he told them, gWhoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.h
13Some people were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, gLet the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 15I tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesnft receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.h 16Then after he had hugged the children, he tenderly blessed them as he laid his hands on them.
17As Jesus was setting out again, a man ran up to him, knelt down in front of him, and asked him, gGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?h
18gWhy do you call me good?h Jesus asked him. gNobody is good except for one\God. 19You know the commandments: eNever murder.f eNever commit adultery.f eNever steal.f eNever give false testimony.f eNever cheat.f eHonor your father and mother.fh
20The man replied to him, gTeacher, I have obeyed all of these since I was a young man.h
21Jesus looked at him and loved him. Then he told him, gYoufre missing one thing. Go and sell everything you own, give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.h 22Shocked at this statement, the man went away sad, because he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus looked around and told his disciples, gHow hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!h 24The disciples were startled by these words, but Jesus told them again, gChildren, how hard it is for those who trust in their wealth to get into the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.h
26The disciples were utterly amazed and asked one another, gThen who can be saved?h
27Jesus looked at them intently and said, gFor humans it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.h
28Then Peter began to say to him, gSee, we have left everything and followed you.h 29Jesus said, gI tell all of you with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the gospel 30who will not receive a hundred times as much here in this world\homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecution\as well as eternal life in the age to come. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.h
32Now Jesus and his disciples had been on the road going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus walking ahead of them. They were astonished, and the others who followed were afraid.
Once again, Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33gSee, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the high priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the unbelievers, 34and they will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will be raised.h
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus and told him, gTeacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you.h
36He asked them, gWhat do you want me to do for you?h
37They asked him, gLet us sit in your glory, one on your right and one on your left.h
38But Jesus told them, gYou donft realize what youfre asking. Can you drink from the cup that Ifm going to drink from or be baptized with the baptism with which Ifm going to be baptized?h
39They told him, gWe can.h
Jesus told them, gYou will drink from the cup that Ifm going to drink and be baptized with the baptism with which Ifm going to be baptized. 40But itfs not up to me to grant you a seat at my right or my left. Those positions have already been prepared for others.h
 41When the ten other disciples heard this, they began to be furious with James and John. 42Jesus called his disciples and told them, gYou know that those who are recognized as rulers among the unbelievers lord it over them, and their superiors act like tyrants over them. 43Thatfs not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to everyone, 45because even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.h
46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, gJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!h 48Many people sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, gSon of David, have mercy on me!h
49So Jesus stopped and said, gCall him!h
So they called the blind man and told him, gHave courage! Get up. Hefs calling you.h 50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.
51Then Jesus asked him, gWhat do you want me to do for you?h
The blind man told him, gRabbouni, I want to see again.h
52Jesus told him, gGo. Your faith has made you well.h At once the man could see again, and he began to follow Jesus down the road.
Chapter 11
1When they came near Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead 2and told them, gGo into the village ahead of you. As soon as you go into it, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. Untie it, and bring it along. 3If anyone asks you, eWhy are you doing this?,f say, eThe Lord needs it,f and he will send it back here at once.h
4So they went and found the colt outside in the street tied up next to a doorway. While they were untying it, 5some men standing there asked them, gWhat are you doing untying that colt?h 6The disciples told them what Jesus had said, and the men let them go.
7They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their coats upon it, and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their coats on the road, while others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed him were shouting,
gHosanna!
How blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord!
10How blessed is the coming kingdom
of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!h
11Then Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the Temple and looked around at everything. Since it was already late, he went out with the Twelve to Bethany.
12The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus became hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree covered with leaves, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves because it wasnft the season for figs. 14So he told it, gMay no one ever eat fruit from you again!h Now his disciples were listening to this.
15When they came to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were selling and those who were buying in the Temple. He overturned the moneychangersf tables and the chairs of those who sold doves. 16He wouldnft even let anyone carry a vessel through the Temple.
17Then he began to teach them: gIt is written, is it not, eMy house is to be called a house of prayer for all nationsf? But you have turned it into a hideout for bandits!h 18When the high priests and elders heard this, they began to look for a way to kill him, because they were afraid of him, since the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19When evening came, Jesus and his disciples would leave the city.
20While they were walking along early the next morning, they saw the fig tree dried up to its roots. 21Remembering what Jesus had said, Peter pointed out to him, gRabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up!h
22Jesus told his disciples, gHave faith in God! 23I tell all of you with certainty, if anyone says to this mountain, eBe lifted up and thrown into the sea,f if he doesnft doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24That is why I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
 25gWhenever you stand up to pray, forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins. 26But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.h
27Then they went into Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking in the Temple, the high priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28and asked him, gBy what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority to do them?h
29Jesus told them, gI will ask you one question. Answer me, and then I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30Was Johnfs authority to baptize from heaven or from humans? Answer me.h
31They began discussing this among themselves. gIf we say, eFrom heaven,f he will say, eThen why didnft you believe him?f 32But if we say, eFrom humansfc?h They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone really thought John was a prophet.
33So they answered Jesus, gWe donft know.h
Then Jesus told them, gThen I wonft tell you by what authority I am doing these things.h
Chapter 12
1Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables. gA man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went abroad. 2At the right time, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect from them a share of the produce from the vineyard. 3But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him, and sent him back empty-handed. 4Again, the man sent another servant to them. They beat the servant over the head and treated him shamefully. 5Then the man sent another, and that one they killed. So it was with many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed. 6He still had one more person to send, a son whom he loved. Finally, he sent him to them, saying, eThey will respect my son.f 7But those farmers told one another, eThis is the heir. Come on, letfs kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!f 8So they grabbed him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
 9gNow what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, execute the farmers, and give the vineyard to others. 10Havenft you ever read this Scripture:
eThe stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
11This was the Lordfs doing,
and it is amazing in our eyesf?h
12They were trying to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. Realizing that he had spoken this parable against them, they left him alone and went away.
13Then they sent some Pharisees and some Herodians to him, intending to trap him in what he said. 14They came and told him, gTeacher, we know that you are sincere. You donft favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or should we not?h
15Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus replied to them, gWhy are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.h
16So they brought one. Then he asked them, gWhose face and name are on this?h
They told him, gCaesarfs.h
17So Jesus told them, gGive back to Caesar the things that are Caesarfs, and to God the things that are Godfs.h And they were utterly amazed at him.
18Then some Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him, 19gTeacher, Moses wrote for us that if a manfs brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, he should marry the widow and have children for his brother. 20There were seven brothers. The first one married and died without having children. 21Then the second married her and died without having children, and so did the third. 22None of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died, too. 23In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since all seven had married her?h
24Jesus answered them, gArenft you mistaken because you donft know the Scriptures or Godfs power? 25When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 26As for the dead being raised, havenft you read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said, eI am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacobf? 27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!h
28Then one of the scribes came near and heard the Sadducees arguing with one another. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, gWhich commandment is the most important of them all?h
29Jesus answered, gThe most important is, eHear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, 30and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.f 31The second is this: eYou must love your neighbor as yourself.f No other commandment is greater than these.h
32Then the scribe told him, gWell said, Teacher! You have told the truth that eGod is one, and there is no other besides him.f 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.h
34When Jesus saw how wisely the man answered, he told him, gYou are not far from the kingdom of God.h After that, no one dared to ask him another question.
35While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, gHow can the scribes say that the Messiah is Davidfs son? 36David himself said by the Holy Spirit,
eThe Lord told my Lord,
gSit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.hf
37David himself calls him eLord,f so how can he be his son?h And the large crowd kept listening to him with delight.
38As he taught, he said, gBeware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widowsf houses and say long prayers to cover it up. They will receive greater condemnation!h
41As Jesus sat facing the offering box, he watched how the crowd was dropping their money into it. Many rich people were dropping in large amounts. 42Then a destitute widow came and dropped in two small copper coins, worth about a cent. 43He called his disciples and told them, gI tell all of you with certainty, this destitute widow has dropped in more than everyone who is contributing to the offering box, 44because all of them contributed out of their surplus, but out of her poverty she has given everything she had to live on.h
Chapter 13
1As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples told him, gLook, Teacher, what large stones and what beautiful buildings!h
2gDo you see these large buildings?h Jesus responded. gNot one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down.h
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were asking him privately, 4gTell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?h
5Jesus began to say to them, gSee to it that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name and say, eI AM,f and they will deceive many people. 7But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasnft come yet, 8because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains.h
9gAs for yourselves, be on your guard! People will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me. 10But first, the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations.
11gWhen they take you away and hand you over for trial, donft worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it wonft be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.h
14gSo when you see the destructive desecration standing where it should not be (let the reader take note), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15The one who is on his housetop must not come down and go into his house to take anything out of it, 16and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.
17gHow terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! 18Pray that it may not be in winter, 19because those days will be a time of suffering, a kind that has not happened from the beginning of Godfs creation until now, and certainly will never happen again. 20If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect whom he has chosen, he has shortened those days.
21gAt that time, if anyone says to you, eLook! Here is the Messiah!f, or, eLook! There he is!f, donft believe it, 22because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect. 23So be on your guard! Ifve told you everything before it happens.h
24gBut after the suffering of those days,
eThe sun will be darkened,
the moon will not give its light,
25the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.f
26Then people will see ethe Son of Man coming in cloudsf with great power and glory. 27He will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.h
28gNow learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near. 29In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door. 30I tell all of you with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.h
32gNo one knows when that day or hour will come\not the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. 33Be careful! Watch out! Because you donft know when the time will come. 34Itfs like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge, each with his own work, and he ordered the doorkeeper to be alert. 35So keep on watching, because you donft know when the master of the house is coming\whether in the evening, at three ofclock in the morning, or at dawn. 36Otherwise, he may come suddenly and find you asleep. 37Ifm telling you what Ifm telling everyone: Be alert!h
Chapter 14
1Now it was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus secretly and to have him put to death, 2because they kept saying, gThis must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, therefll be a riot among the people.h
3While Jesus was in Bethany sitting at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman arrived with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4Irritated, some who were there asked one another, gWhy was the perfume wasted like this? 5This perfume could have been sold for more than 300 denarii and the money given to the destitute.h So they got extremely angry with her.
 6But Jesus said, gLeave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me, 7because you will always have the destitute with you and can help them whenever you want, but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could. She poured perfume on my body in preparation for my burial. 9I tell all of you with certainty, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her.h
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Jesus to them. 11After they had listened to him, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he began to look for a good opportunity to betray him.
12On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesusf disciples asked him, gWhere do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover meal?h
13He sent two of his disciples, telling them, gGo into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 14When he goes into a house, say to its owner that the Teacher asks, eWhere is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?f 15Then he will show you a large upstairs room that is furnished and ready. Get everything ready for us there.h 16So the disciples left and went into the city. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, gI tell all of you with certainty, one of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me.h
19They began to be very sad and asked him, one after the other, gSurely I am not the one, am I?h
20He told them, gItfs one of you Twelve, the one who is dipping his bread into the bowl with me. 21For the Son of Man is going away, just as it has been written about him, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.h
22While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to them, saying, gTake some. This is my body.h 23Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24He told them, gThis is my blood of the covenant that is being poured out for many people. 25I tell all of you with certainty, I will never again drink the product of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.h
26After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27Then Jesus told them, gAll of you will turn against me, because it is written,
eI will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.f
28However, after I have been raised, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.h
29But Peter told him, gEven if everyone else turns against you, I certainly wonft.h
30Jesus told him, gI tell you with certainty, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.h
31But Peter kept saying emphatically, gEven if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!h And all the others kept saying the same thing.
32Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, gSit down here while I pray.h 33He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to feel distressed and troubled. 34So he told them, gI am deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Wait here and stay awake.h
35Going on a little farther, he fell to the ground and kept praying that if it were possible the hour might pass from him. 36He kept repeating, gAbba! Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want.h
37When he went back, he found his disciples asleep. gSimon, are you asleep?h he asked Peter. gYou couldnft stay awake for one hour, could you? 38All of you must stay awake and pray that you wonft be tempted. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body is weak.h
39He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didnft even know what they should say to him.
41He came back a third time. gAre you still sleeping and resting?h he asked. gEnough of that! The time has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Get up! Letfs go! See, the one who is betraying me is near!h
43Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, gThe one I kiss is the man. Arrest him, and lead him safely away.h 45So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, gRabbi,h and kissed him tenderly.
46Then the men took hold of Jesus and arrested him. 47But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priestfs servant, cutting off his ear. 48Jesus asked them, gHave you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? 49Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching, yet you didnft arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.h 50Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away.
51A certain young man, who was wearing nothing but a linen sheet, was following Jesus. When the men grabbed him, 52he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.
53Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. 54Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priestfs courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire.
 55Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldnft find any. 56Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didnft agree.
 57Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58gWe ourselves heard him say, eI will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.fh 59But even on this point their testimony didnft agree.
60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, gDonft you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?h 61But he kept silent and didnft answer at all. The high priest asked him again, gAre you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?h
62Jesus said, gI AM, and
eyou will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Powerf
and ecoming with the clouds of heaven.fh
63Then the high priest tore his clothes. gWhy do we still need witnesses?h he asked. 64gYou have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?h All of them condemned him as deserving death.
65Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, gProphesy!h Even the servants took him and slapped him around.
66While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priestfs servant girls came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, gYou, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth.h
68But he denied it, saying, gI donft know\or even understand\what youfre talking about!h Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed.
69The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, gThis man is one of them!h 70Again he denied it.
After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, gObviously youfre one of them, because you are a Galilean!h
71Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, gI donft know this man youfre talking about!h 72Just then a rooster crowed a second time.
Peter remembered that Jesus told him, gBefore a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.h Then he broke down and cried.
Chapter 15
1As soon as it was morning, the high priests convened a meeting with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. They bound Jesus with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2Pilate asked him, gAre you the king of the Jews?h
Jesus answered him, gYou say so.h
3The high priests kept accusing him of many things. 4So Pilate asked him again, gDonft you have any answer? Look how many accusations theyfre bringing against you!h 5But since Jesus no longer answered, Pilate was astonished.
6At every festival, Pilate would release any one prisoner whom the people requested. 7Now there was a man in prison named Barabbas. He had been with the insurgents who had committed murder during the rebellion. 8So the crowd came and began to request that Pilate do for them what he always did. 9Pilate answered them, gDo you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?h 10because he knew that the high priests had handed him over due to jealousy.
11But the high priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12So Pilate asked them again, gThen what should I do with the man you call ethe King of the Jewsf?h
13They shouted back, gCrucify him!h
14Pilate asked them, gWhy? What has he done wrong?h
But they shouted even louder, gCrucify him!h
15So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.
16The soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governorfs headquarters) and called out the whole guard. 17They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted some thorns into a victorfs crown, and placed it on his head. 18They began to greet him, gLong live the king of the Jews!h 19They kept hitting him on the head with a stick, spitting on him, kneeling in front of him, and worshiping him. 20When they had finished making fun of him, they stripped him of the purple robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him.
21They forced a certain passer-by named Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who happened to be coming in from the country, to carry Jesusf cross. 22They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means Skull Place. 23They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he wouldnft accept it.
24Then they crucified him. They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get. 25It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26The written notice of the charge against him read, gThe king of the Jews.h 27They crucified two bandits with him, one on his right and the other on his left. 28- 29Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, and saying, gHa! You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days\ 30save yourself and come down from the cross!h
31In the same way, the high priests, along with the scribes, were also making fun of him among themselves. They kept saying, gHe saved others but canft save himself! 32Let the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, since seeing is believing!h Even the men who were crucified with him kept insulting him.
33At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34At three ofclock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, gEloi, eloi, lema sabachthani?h, which means, gMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?h
35When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, gListen! Hefs calling for Elijah!h
36So someone ran and soaked a sponge in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink, saying, gWait! Letfs see if Elijah comes to take him down!h
37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion who stood facing Jesus saw how he had cried out and breathed his last, he said, gThis man certainly was the Son of God!h
40Now there were women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of young James and Joseph, and Salome. 41They used to accompany him and care for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with him were there, too.
42It was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath. Since it was already evening, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Council, who was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate was amazed to hear that Jesus had already died, so he summoned the centurion to ask him if he was in fact dead. 45When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he let Joseph have the corpse. 46Joseph bought some linen cloth, took the body down, wrapped it in the cloth, laid it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47Now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph observed where the body had been laid.
Chapter 16
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus. 2Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had just come up, they were going to the tomb. 3They kept saying to one another, gWho will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?h 4Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. (It was a very large stone.)
5As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were utterly astonished. 6But he told them, gStop being astonished! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 7But go and tell his disciples, especially Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.h
8So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didnft say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.
9After Jesus had risen early on the first day of that week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with Jesus and who now were grieving and crying. 11When they heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, they refused to believe Mary.
12After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two disciples as they were walking into the country. 13They went back and told the others, who didnft believe them, either.
14Finally he appeared to his eleven disciples while they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen. 15Then he told them, gAs you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesnft believe will be condemned.
 17gThese are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; even if they drink any deadly poison it will not hurt them; and they will place their hands on the sick, and they will recover.h
19So the Lord Jesus, after talking with his disciples, was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20Then his disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it.
Luke
Chapter 1
1Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, 2just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, 3I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old.
8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in Godfs presence, 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned.
11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. 13But the angel told him, gStop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15because he will be great in the Lordfs presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring many of Israelfs descendants back to the Lord their God. 17He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord.h
18Then Zechariah asked the angel, gHow can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?h
19The angel answered him, gI am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. 20But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens.h
21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. 22But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. 23When the days of his service were over, he went home.
24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, 25gThis is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace.h
26Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virginfs name was Mary. 28The angel came to her and said, gGreetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!h 29Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. 30Then the angel told her, gStop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.h
34Mary asked the angel, gHow can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?h
35The angel answered her, gThe Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. 36And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. 37Nothing is impossible with respect to any of Godfs promises.h
38Then Mary said, gTruly I am the Lordfs servant. Let everything you have said happen to me.h Then the angel left her.
39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. 40She went into Zechariahfs home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Maryfs greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and she loudly exclaimed, gHow blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb! 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!h
46Then Mary said,
gMy soul praises the greatness of the Lord!
47My spirit exults in God, my Savior,
48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant.
From now on, all generations will call me blessed,
49because the Almighty has done great things for me.
His name is holy.
50His mercy lasts from generation to generation
for those who fear him.
51He displayed his mighty power with his arm.
He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart.
52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones
and lifted up humble people.
53He filled hungry people with good things
and sent rich people away with nothing.
54He helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful,
55according to the promise he made to our ancestors\
to Abraham and his descendants forever.h
56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother said, gAbsolutely not! He must be named John.h
61Their friends told her, gNone of your relatives has that name.h
62So they motioned to the babyfs father to see what he wanted to name him. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, gHis name is John.h And everyone was amazed.
64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, gWhat will this child become?h because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.
67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68gBlessed be the Lord God of Israel!
He has taken care of his people and has set them free.
69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us
from the family of his servant David,
70just as he promised long ago
through the mouth of his holy prophets
71that he would save us from our enemies
and from the grip of all who hate us.
72He has shown mercy to our ancestors
and remembered his holy covenant,
73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.
He granted us 74deliverance from our enemiesf grip
so that we could serve him without fear
75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days.
76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way
77and to give his people knowledge of salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78Because of the tender mercy of our God,
his light from on high has visited us,
79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in deathfs shadow,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.h
80Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel.
Chapter 2
1Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered. 2This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered.
4Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was a descendant of the household and family of David. 5He went there to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.
6While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby, 7and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters.
8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10Then the angel told them, gStop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. 11Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the city of David. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.h
13Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, 14gGlory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!h
15When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, gLetfs go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about.h 16So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough. 17When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child. 18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them. 20Then the shepherds returned to their flock, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
21After eight days had passed, the infant was circumcised and named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23as it is written in the Law of the Lord, gEvery firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord.h 24They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified in the Law of the Lord: ga pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.h
25Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lordfs Messiah.
27Led by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law, 28Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying,
29gMaster, now you are dismissing your servant in peace
according to your promise.
30Because my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you prepared for all people to see\
32a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers
and bring glory to your people Israel.h
33Jesusf father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, gThis infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed. 35Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed.h
36Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer. 38Just then she came forward and began to thank God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39After doing everything required by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and Godfs favor rested upon him.
41Every year Jesusf parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual. 43When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him. 46Three days later, they found him in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them. 47All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. 48When Jesusf parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, gSon, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!h
49He asked them, gWhy were you looking for me? Didnft you know that I had to be in my Fatherfs house?h 50But they did not understand what he told them. 51Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart. 52Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man.
Chapter 3
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2and Annas and Caiaphas high priests, a message from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3John went throughout the entire Jordan region, proclaiming a baptism about repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
gHe is a voice calling out in the wilderness:
ePrepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!
5Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled.
The crooked ways will be made straight,
and the rough roads will be made smooth.
6Everyone will see the salvation
that God has provided.fh
7John would say to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, gYou children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Donft begin to say to yourselves, eWe have father Abraham!f because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! 9The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.h
10The crowds kept asking him, gWhat, then, should we do?h
11He answered them, gThe person who has two coats must share with the one who doesnft have any, and the person who has food must do the same.h
12Even some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, gTeacher, what should we do?h
13He told them, gStop collecting more money than the amount you are told to collect.h
14Even some soldiers were asking him, gAnd what should we do?h
He told them, gNever extort money from anyone by threats or blackmail, and be satisfied with your pay.h
15Now the people were filled with expectation, and all of them were wondering if John was perhaps the Messiah. 16John replied to all of them, gI am baptizing you with water, but one is coming who is more powerful than I, and Ifm not worthy to untie his sandal straps. It is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor. He will gather the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire.h
18With many other exhortations John continued to proclaim the good news to the people. 19Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brotherfs wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done. 20Added to all this, Herod locked John up in prison.
21When all the people had been baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized. While he was praying, heaven opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him, appearing in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, gYou are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you!h
23Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was (so it was thought) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Chapter 4
1Then Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2where he was being tempted by the devil for 40 days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry.
3The devil told him, gSince you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.h
4Jesus answered him, gIt is written,
eOne must not live on bread alone,
but on every word of God.fh
5The devil also took him to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 6He told Jesus, gI will give you all this authority, along with their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7So if you will worship me, all this will be yours.h
8But Jesus answered him, gIt is written,
 eYou must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.fh
9The devil also took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple. He told Jesus, gSince you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10because it is written,
eGod will put his angels in charge of you
to watch over you carefully.
11With their hands they will hold you up,
so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.fh
12Jesus answered him, gIt has been said, eYou must not tempt the Lord your God.fh
13After the devil had finished tempting Jesus in every possible way, he left him until another time.
14Then Jesus returned to Galilee by the power of the Spirit. Meanwhile, the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was continuously receiving praise from everyone.
16Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been raised. As was his custom, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. When he stood up to read, 17the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,
18gThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has anointed me to tell
the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set oppressed people free,
19and to announce the year of the Lordfs favor.h
20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. While the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him, 21he began to say to them, gToday this Scripture has been fulfilled, as youfve heard it read aloud.h
22All the people began to speak well of him and to wonder at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth. They said, gThis is Josephfs son, isnft it?h
23So he told them, gYou will probably quote this proverb to me, eDoctor, heal yourself! Do everything here in your hometown that we hear you did in Capernaum.fh
24He added, gI tell all of you with certainty, a prophet is not accepted in his hometown. 25Ifm telling you the truth\there were many widows in Israel in Elijahfs time, when it didnft rain for three years and six months and there was a severe famine everywhere in the land. 26Yet Elijah wasnft sent to a single one of those widows except to one at Zarephath in Sidon. 27There were also many lepers in Israel in the prophet Elishafs time, yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.h
28All the people in the synagogue became furious when they heard this. 29They got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the edge of the hill on which their city was built, intending to throw him off. 30But he walked right through the middle of them and went away.
31Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and began teaching the people on Sabbath days. 32They were utterly amazed at what he taught, because his message was spoken with authority.
 33In the synagogue was a man who had a demon. He screamed with a loud voice, 34gOh, no! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are\the Holy One of God!h
35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, gBe quiet, and come out of him!h At this, the demon threw the man down in the middle of the synagogue and came out of him without hurting him.
36Overwhelmed with amazement, they all kept saying to one another, gWhat kind of statement is this?\because with authority and power he gives orders to unclean spirits, and they come out!h 37So news about him spread to every place in the surrounding region.
38Then Jesus got up to leave the synagogue and went into Simonfs house. Now Simonfs mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, so they asked Jesus about her. 39He bent over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began serving them.
40When the sun was setting, everyone who had any friends suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and began healing them. 41Even demons came out of many people, screaming, gYou are the Son of God!h But Jesus rebuked them and ordered them not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
42At daybreak he left and went to a deserted place, while the crowds kept looking for him. When they came to him, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43But he told them, gI have to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God in other cities, because I was sent to do that also.h 44So he continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.
Chapter 5
1One day, as the crowd was pressing in on him to listen to Godfs word, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2He saw two boats lying on the shore, but the fishermen had stepped out of them and were washing their nets. 3So Jesus got into one of the boats (the one that belonged to Simon) and asked him to push out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and began to teach the crowds from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he told Simon, gPush out into deep water, and lower your nets for a catch.h
5Simon answered, gMaster, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, Ifll lower the nets.h 6After the men had done this, they caught so many fish that the nets began to tear. 7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats until the boats began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesusf knees and said, gLeave me, Lord! I am a sinful man!h\ 9because Simon and all the people who were with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught, 10and so were James and John, Zebedeefs sons and Simonfs partners.
Then Jesus told Simon, gStop being afraid. From now on you will be catching people.h 11So when they brought the boats to shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
12One day, while Jesus was in one of the cities, a man covered with leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face, begging him, gLord, if you want to, you can make me clean.h
13So Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying, gI do want to. Be clean!h Instantly the leprosy left him. 14Then Jesus ordered him, gDonft tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as proof to the authorities.h 15But the news about Jesus spread even more, and many crowds began gathering to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. 16However, he continued his habit of retiring to deserted places and praying.
17One day, as Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law happened to be sitting nearby. The people had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18Some men were bringing a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to take him into the house and place him in front of Jesus. 19When they couldnft find a way to get him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on his stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the room, right in front of Jesus. 20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, gMister, your sins are forgiven.h
21The scribes and the Pharisees began to argue among themselves, saying, gWho is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?h
22Because Jesus knew that they were arguing, he asked them, gWhy are you arguing about this among yourselves? 23Which is easier: to say, eYour sins are forgiven,f or to say, eGet up and walkf? 24But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.h
Then he told the paralyzed man, gI say to you: Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home!h 25So the man immediately stood up in front of them and picked up what he had been lying on. Then he went home, praising God.
26Amazement seized all the people, and they began to praise God. They were filled with fear and declared, gWe have seen wonderful things today!h
27After that, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collectorfs desk. He told him, gFollow me!h 28So Levi left everything behind, got up, and followed him.
29Then Levi gave a large banquet at his home for Jesus. A large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30The Pharisees and their scribes started complaining to Jesusf disciples, gWhy do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?h
31But Jesus answered them, gHealthy people donft need a physician, but sick people do. 32I have not come to call righteous people, but sinners, to repentance.h
33Then they told him, gJohnfs disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do those of the Pharisees. But your disciples keep right on eating and drinking.h
34But Jesus told them, gYou canft force the wedding guests to fast while the groom is still with them, can you? 35But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and at that time they will fast.h
36Then he told them a parable: gNo one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old garment. If he does, the new cloth will tear, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will make the skins burst, the wine will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. 38Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh wineskins. 39No one who has been drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, eThe old wine is good enough!fh
Chapter 6
1One time Jesus was walking through some grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2Some of the Pharisees asked, gWhy are you doing what is not lawful on Sabbath days?h
3Jesus answered them, gHavenft you read what David did when he and his companions became hungry? 4How was it that he went into the house of God, took the Bread of the Presence and ate it, which was not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and then gave some of it to his companions?h
5Then he told them, gThe Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.h
6Once, on another Sabbath, Jesus went into a synagogue and began teaching. A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there. 7The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find a way of accusing him of doing something wrong. 8But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, gGet up, and stand in the middle of the synagogue.h So he got up and stood there.
9Then Jesus asked them, gI ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?h
10He looked around at all of them and then told the man, gHold out your hand.h The man did so, and his hand was restored to health. 11The others were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.
12Now it was in those days that Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13When daylight came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also called apostles: 14Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the Zealot), 16Judas (the son of James), and Judas Iscariot (who became a traitor).
17Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, along with many of his disciples and a large gathering of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. 18They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Even those who were being tormented by unclean spirits were being healed. 19The entire crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing all of them.
20Then Jesus looked at his disciples and said,
gHow blessed are you who are destitute,
because the kingdom of God is yours!
21How blessed are you who are hungry now,
because you will be satisfied!
How blessed are you who are crying now,
because you will laugh!
22gHow blessed are you whenever people hate you, avoid you, insult you, and slander you because of the Son of Man! 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because your reward in heaven is great! Thatfs the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.
24gBut how terrible it will be for you who are rich,
because you have had your comfort!
25How terrible it will be for you who are full now,
because you will be hungry!
How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now,
because you will mourn and cry!
26gHow terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because thatfs the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets!h
27gBut I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who insult you. 29If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one as well, and if someone takes your coat, donft keep back your shirt, either. 30Keep on giving to everyone who asks you for something, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not insist on getting it back. 31Whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them.
32gIf you love those who love you, what thanks do you deserve? Why, even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you deserve? Even sinners do that. 34If you lend to those from whom you expect to get something back, what thanks do you deserve? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back what they lend. 35Rather, love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind even to ungrateful and evil people. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.h
37gStop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap, because you will be evaluated by the same standard with which you evaluate others.h
 39He also told them a parable: gOne blind person canft lead another blind person, can he? Both will fall into a ditch, wonft they? 40A disciple is not better than his teacher. But everyone who is fully-trained will be like his teacher.
41gWhy do you see the speck in your brotherfs eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, eBrother, let me take the speck out of your eye,f when you donft see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then youfll see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brotherfs eye.h
43gA good tree doesnft produce rotten fruit, and a rotten tree doesnft produce good fruit, 44because every tree is known by its own fruit. People donft gather figs from thorny plants or pick grapes from a thorn bush. 45A good person produces good from the good treasure of his heart, and an evil person produces evil from an evil treasure, because the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.h
46gWhy do you keep calling me eLord, Lord,f but donft do what I tell you? 47I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48They are like a person building a house, who dug a deep hole to lay the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house but couldnft shake it, because it had been founded on the rock. 49But the person who hears what I say but doesnft act on it is like someone who built a house on the ground without any foundation. When the floodwaters pushed against it, that house quickly collapsed, and the resulting destruction of that house was extensive.h
Chapter 7
1After Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people who were there listening, he went to Capernaum. 2There a centurionfs servant, whom he valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and save his servantfs life. 4So they went to Jesus and begged him repeatedly, gHe deserves to have this done for him, 5because he loves our people and built our synagogue for us.h
6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus, gSir, stop troubling yourself, because Ifm not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7Thatfs why I didnft presume to come to you. But just say the word, and let my servant be healed, 8because I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one eGof and he goes, to another eComef and he comes, and to my servant eDo thisf and he does it.h
9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, gI tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!h 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant in perfect health.
11Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were going along with him. 12As he approached the entrance to the city, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his motherfs only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.
13When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her. He told her, gYou can stop crying.h 14Then he went up and touched the bier, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, gYoung man, I say to you, get up!h 15The man who had been dead sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16Fear gripped everyone, and they began to praise God, saying, gA great prophet has appeared among us,h and gGod has helped his people.h 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding countryside.
18Johnfs disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples 19and sent them to the Lord to ask, gAre you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?h
20When the men had come to Jesus, they said, gJohn the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, eAre you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?fh
21At that time Jesus had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits and had given sight to many who were blind. 22So he answered them, gGo and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. 23How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!h
 24When Johnfs messengers had gone, Jesus began to ask the crowds about John. gWhat did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27This is the man about whom it is written,
eSee, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.f
28I tell you, no one has ever been born who is greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he.h
29By having been baptized with Johnfs baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged Godfs justice. 30But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected Godfs plan for themselves by refusing to be baptized by John.
31Jesus continued, gTo what may I compare the people living today? 32They are like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,
eA wedding song we played for you,
the dance you simply scorned.
A woeful dirge we chanted, too,
but then you did not mourn.f
33Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, eHe has a demon!f 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, eLook! Hefs a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!f 35Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.h
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So he went to the Phariseefs home and took his place at the table. 37There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Phariseefs home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume 38and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.
39Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and told himself, gIf this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. Shefs a sinner!h
40Jesus told him, gSimon, I have something to ask you.h
gTeacher,h he replied, gask it.h
41gTwo men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. 42When they couldnft pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?h
43Simon answered, gI suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled.h
Jesus told him, gYou have answered correctly.h
44Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, gDo you see this woman? I came into your house. You didnft give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You didnft give me a kiss, but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You didnft anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume. 47So Ifm telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and thatfs why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.h
48Then Jesus told her, gYour sins are forgiven!h
49Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, gWho is this man who even forgives sins?h
50But Jesus told the woman, gYour faith has saved you. Go in peace.h
Chapter 8
1After this, Jesus traveled from one city and village to another, preaching and spreading the good news about Godfs kingdom. The Twelve were with him, 2as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and illnesses: Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3Joanna, the wife of Herodfs household manager Chuza; Susanna; and many others. These women continued to support them out of their personal resources.
4Now while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from every city, he said in a parable: 5gA farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and birds from the sky ate them up. 6Others fell on stony ground, and as soon as they came up, they dried up because they had no moisture. 7Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew with them and choked them. 8But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced 100 times as much as was planted.h As he said this, he called out, gLet the person who has ears to hear, listen!h
9Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant. 10So he said, gYou have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given in parables, so that
ethey might look but not see,
and they might listen but not understand.fh
11gNow this is what the parable means. The seed is Godfs word. 12The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13The ones on the stony ground are the people who joyfully welcome the word when they hear it. But since they donft have any roots, they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away. 14The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesnft mature. 15But the ones on the good soil are the people who hear the word but also hold on to it with good and honest hearts, producing a crop through endurance.h
16gNo one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light. 17There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing secret that will not become known and come to light. 18So pay attention to how you listen, because to the one who has something, more will be given. However, from the one who doesnft have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.h
19His mother and his brothers came to him, but they couldnft get near him because of the crowd. 20Jesus was told, gYour mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you.h
21But he answered those people, gMy mother and my brothers are those who hear a message from God and heed it.h
22One day, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. He told them, gLetfs cross to the other side of the lake.h So they started out.
23Now as they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A violent storm swept over the lake, and they were taking on water and were in great danger. 24So his disciples went to him, woke him up, and kept telling him, gMaster! Master! Wefre going to die!h He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. They stopped, and there was calm.
25Then he asked the disciples, gWherefs your faith?h
Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, gWho is this man? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!h
26They landed in the region of the Gerasenes, which is just across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped out on the shore, a man from the city met him. This man was controlled by demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he screamed, fell down in front of him, and cried out in a loud voice, gWhat do you want from me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me!h 29because Jesus was in the process of ordering the unclean spirit to come out of the man. On many occasions the unclean spirit had seized the man, and though he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, he would break the chains and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
30Jesus asked the man, gWhatfs your name?h
He answered, gLegion,h because many demons had gone into him. 31Then the demons began begging Jesus not to order them to go into the bottomless pit.
32Now a large herd of pigs was grazing there on the hillside. So the demons begged Jesus to let them go into those pigs, and he consented to that. 33Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.
34Now when those who had been taking care of the pigs saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. 35So the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at Jesusf feet, dressed and in his right mind, they were frightened. 36The people who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37Then all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were terrified. So he got into a boat and started back.
38Now the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Jesus to let him go with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39gGo home and tell what God has done for you.h So the man left and kept proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
40When Jesus came back, the crowd welcomed him, because everyone was expecting him. 41Just then a synagogue leader by the name of Jairus arrived. He fell at Jesusf feet and kept begging him to come to his home, 42because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. While Jesus was on his way, the crowds continued to press in on him.
43A woman was there who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had spent all she had on doctors, no one could heal her. 44She came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel of his garment, and her bleeding stopped at once.
45Jesus asked, gWho touched me?h
While everyone was denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, gMaster, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you.h
46Still Jesus said, gSomebody touched me, because I know that power has gone out of me.h
47When the woman saw that she couldnft hide, she came forward trembling. Bowing down in front of him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched Jesus and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he told her, gDaughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.h
49While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leaderfs home and told him, gYour daughter is dead. Stop bothering the teacher anymore.h
50But when Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, gStop being afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.h
51When he arrived at the manfs house, he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the young girlfs father and mother. 52Now everyone was crying and wailing for her. But Jesus said, gStop crying! Shefs not dead. Shefs sleeping.h 53They laughed and laughed at him, because they knew she was dead. 54But he took her hand and called out, gYoung lady, get up!h 55So her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then Jesus directed that she be given something to eat. 56Her parents were amazed, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Chapter 9
1Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3He told them, gDonft take anything along on your trip\no walking stick, traveling bag, bread, money, or even an extra shirt. 4When you visit a home and stay there, and go out from there, 5if people donft welcome you, when you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them.h 6So they left and went from village to village, spreading the good news and healing diseases everywhere.
7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening. He was puzzled because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. 9Herod said, gI beheaded John. But who is this man Ifm hearing so much about?h So Herod kept trying to see Jesus.
10The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida. 11But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing.
12As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, gSend the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place.h
13But he told them, gYou give them something to eat.h
They replied, gWe have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish\unless we go and buy food for all these people.h
14Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, gHave them sit down in groups of about 50.h 15They did this and got all of them seated. 16Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd. 17All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.
18One day, while Jesus was praying privately and the disciples were with him, he asked them, gWho do the crowds say I am?h
19They answered, gSome say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the ancient prophets who has come back to life.h
20He asked them, gBut who do you say I am?h
gGodfs Messiah,h Peter replied.
21He gave them strict orders, commanding them not to tell this to anyone. 22He said, gThe Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he must be killed, but on the third day he will be raised.h
23Then he told all of them, gIf anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow me continually, 24because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25What profit will a person have if he gains the whole world, but destroys himself or is lost? 26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27I tell you with certainty, some people who are standing here will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God.h
28Now about eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray. 29While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes turned dazzling white. 30Suddenly, two men were talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah. 31They had a glorified appearance, and were discussing Jesusf departure that he would shortly bring about in Jerusalem.
32Now Peter and the men with him had been overcome by sleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesusf glory and the two men standing with him. 33Just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter told Jesus, gMaster, itfs good that wefre here! Letfs set up three shelters\one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.h (Peter didnft know what he was saying.) 34But while he was saying this, a cloud appeared and surrounded them, and they became terrified as they were being overshadowed by the cloud.
35Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, gThis is my Son, whom I have chosen. Keep listening to him!h 36After the voice had spoken, Jesus was alone. The disciples kept silent and at that time told no one about what they had seen.
37The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38Suddenly, a man in the crowd shouted, gTeacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he is my only child. 39Without warning a spirit takes control of him, and he suddenly screams, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. The spirit mauls him and refuses to leave him. 40I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldnft.h
41Jesus answered, gYou unbelieving and perverted generation! How much longer must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!h 42Even while the boy was coming, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
43All the people continued to be amazed at the greatness of God. Indeed, everyone was astonished at all the things Jesus was doing. So he told his disciples, 44gListen carefully to these words. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.h 45But they didnft know what this meant. Indeed, the meaning was hidden from them so that they didnft understand it; and they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
46Later, an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. 47But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he told them, gWhoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, because the one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest.h
49John said, gMaster, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasnft a follower like us.h
50Jesus told him, gDonft stop him! Because whoever is not against you is for you.h
51When the days grew closer for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he was determined to continue his journey to Jerusalem. 52So he sent messengers on ahead of him. On their way they went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 53But the people would not welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John observed this rejection, they asked, gLord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?h 55But he turned and rebuked them, 56and they all went on to another village.
57While they were walking along the road, a man told him, gI will follow you wherever you go.h
58Jesus told him,
gFoxes have holes and birds have nests,
but the Son of Man has no place to rest.h
59He told another man, gFollow me.h
But he said, gLord, first let me go and bury my father.h
60But he told him, gLet the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.h
61Still another man said, gI will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those at home.h
62Jesus told him, gNo one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.h
Chapter 10
1After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples and was about to send them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place that he intended to go. 2So he instructed them, gThe harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest. 3Get going! See, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Donft carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and donft greet anyone on the way.
5gWhatever house you go into, first say, eMay there be peace in this house.f 6If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting of peace will remain with him. But if thatfs not the case, your greeting will come back to you. 7Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they provide, because the worker deserves his pay. Donft move from house to house.
8gWhenever you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you, 9heal the sick that are there, and tell them, eThe kingdom of God is near you!f 10But whenever you go into a town and people donft welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11eWe are wiping off your townfs dust that clings to our feet in protest against you! But realize this: the kingdom of God is near!f 12I tell you, on the last day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town!h
13gHow terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14It will be easier for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you!
15And you, Capernaum! You wonft be lifted up to heaven, will you? Youfll go down to Hell! 16The person who listens to you listens to me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.h
17The 70 disciples came back and joyously reported, gLord, even the demons are submitting to us in your name!h
18He told them, gI watched Satan falling from heaven like lightning. 19Look! I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to destroy all the enemyfs power, and nothing will ever hurt you. 20However, stop rejoicing because the spirits are submitting to you. Rather, rejoice because your names are written in heaven.h
21At that moment, the Holy Spirit made Jesus extremely joyful, so Jesus said, gI praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you.
22gAll things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.h
23Then turning to his disciples in private, he told them, gHow blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24Because I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didnft see them, and to hear the things you hear but didnft hear them.h
25Just then an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus. He asked, gTeacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?h
26Jesus answered him, gWhat is written in the Law? What do you read there?h
27He answered, gYou must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor as yourself.h
28Jesus told him, gYou have answered correctly. eDo this, and you will live.fh
29But the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, gAnd who is my neighbor?h
30After careful consideration, Jesus replied, gA man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of bandits. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went by on the other side. 32Similarly, a descendant of Levi came to that place. When he saw the man, he also went by on the other side. 33But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, eTake good care of him. If you spend more than that, Ifll repay you when I come back.f
 36gOf these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the bandits?h
37He said, gThe one who showed mercy to him.h
Jesus told him, gGo and do what he did.h
38Now as they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lordfs feet and kept listening to what he was saying. 40But Martha was worrying about all the things she had to do, so she came to him and asked, gLord, you do care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself, donft you? Then tell her to help me.h
41The Lord answered her, gMartha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. 42But therefs only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her.h
Chapter 11
1Once Jesus was praying in a certain place. After he had finished, one of his disciples told him, gLord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.h
2So he told them, gWhenever you pray you are to say,
eFather, may your name be kept holy.
May your kingdom come.
3Keep giving us every day our daily bread,
4and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive everyone who sins against us.
And never bring us into temptation.fh
5Then he told them, gSuppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, eFriend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6A friend of mine on a trip has dropped in on me, and I donft have anything to serve him.f 7Suppose he answers from inside, eStop bothering me! The door is already locked, and my children are here with us in the bedroom. I canft get up and give you anything!f 8I tell you, even though that man doesnft want to get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
9So I say to you: Keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you, 10because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened.
 11gWhat father among you, if his son asks for bread, would give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of the fish? 12Or if he asks for an egg, would he give him a scorpion? 13So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking him!h
14Jesus was driving a demon out of a man who was unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. 15But some of them said, gHe drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.h 16Others, wanting to test Jesus, kept asking him for a sign from heaven.
17Since he knew what they were thinking, he told them, gEvery kingdom divided against itself is devastated, and a divided household collapses. 18Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! 20But if I drive out demons by the power of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21gWhen a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe. 22But when a stronger man than he attacks and defeats him, the stronger man strips off that manfs armor in which he trusted and then divides his plunder.
23gThe person who isnft with me is against me, and the person who doesnft gather with me scatters.h
24gWhenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest but doesnft find any. So it says, eI will go back to my home that I left.f 25When it gets back home, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person is worse than the first.h
27As Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and told him, gHow blessed is the womb that gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you!h
28But he said, gRather, how blessed are those who hear Godfs word and obey it!h
29Now as the crowds continued to throng around Jesus, he went on to say, gThis people living today are an evil generation. It craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, 30because just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. 31The queen of the south will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look, something greater than Solomon is here! 32The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look, something greater than Jonah is here!h
33gNo one lights a lamp and puts it in a hiding place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see its light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. But when it is evil, your body is full of darkness. 35Therefore, be careful that the light in you isnft darkness. 36Now if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.h
37After Jesus had said this, a Pharisee invited him to have a meal with him. So Jesus went and took his place at the table. 38The Pharisee was surprised to see that he didnft first wash before the meal. 39But the Lord told him, gNow you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and evil. 40You fools! The one who made the outside made the inside, too, didnft he? 41So give what is inside to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you.
42gHow terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.
43How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to have the places of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces.
44How terrible it will be for you! You are like unmarked graves\people walk on them without realizing it.h
45Then one of the experts in the Law told him, gTeacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too.h
46Jesus said, gHow terrible it will be for you experts in the Law, too! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you donft even lift a finger to ease those burdens.
47How terrible it will be for you! You build monuments for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them! 48So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed those for whom you are building monuments. 49That is why the Wisdom of God said, eI will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them and persecute others,f 50so those living today will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world, 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation!
52How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didnft go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in.h
53As Jesus was leaving, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely, interrogating him about many things. 54They watched him closely in an effort to trap him in something he might say.
Chapter 12
1Meanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. gWatch out for the yeast\that is, the hypocrisy\of the Pharisees! 2There is nothing covered up that will not be exposed and nothing secret that will not be made known. 3Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.h
4gBut I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that canft do anything more. 5Ifll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him!
6gFive sparrows are sold for two pennies, arenft they? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.h
8gBut I tell you, the Son of Man will acknowledge before Godfs angels everyone who acknowledges me before people. 9But whoever denies me before people will be denied before Godfs angels. 10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11When people bring you before synagogue leaders, rulers, or authorities, donft worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.h
13Then someone in the crowd told him, gTeacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.h
14But Jesus asked him, gMister, who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?h 15Then he told them, gBe careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a personfs life doesnft consist of the amount of possessions he has.h
16Then he told them a parable. He said, gThe land of a certain rich man produced good crops. 17So he began to think to himself, eWhat should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?f 18Then he said, eThis is what Ifll do. Ifll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and Ifll store all my grain and goods in them. 19Then Ifll say to myself, gYoufve stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.hf 20But God told him, eYou fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things youfve accumulated?f 21Thatfs how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God.h
22Then Jesus told his disciples, gThatfs why Ifm telling you to stop worrying about your life\what you will eat\or about your body\what you will wear, 23because life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the crows. They donft plant or harvest, they donft even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25Can any of you add an hour to the length of your life by worrying? 26So if you canft do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27Consider how the lilies grow. They donft work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 28Now if thatfs the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you\you who have little faith?
29gSo stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed, 30because it is the unbelievers who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! 31Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well. 32Stop being afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33gSell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that donft wear out\a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything. 34Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.h
35gYou must keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. 36Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. 37How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them. 38How blessed they will be if their master comes in the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them awake! 39But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. 40So be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at a time when you donft expect him.h
41Peter asked, gLord, are you telling this parable just for us or for everyone?h
42The Lord said, gWho, then, is the faithful and careful servant manager whom his master will put in charge of giving all his other servants their share of food at the right time? 43How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! 44I tell you with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property.
 45gBut if that servant says to himself, eMy master is taking a long time to come back,f and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesnft expect him and at an hour that he doesnft know. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people. 47That servant who knew what his master wanted but didnft prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. 48But the servant who did things that deserved a beating without knowing it will receive a light beating. Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted.h
49gIfve come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and what stress I am under until itfs completed!
51gDo you think that I came to bring peace on earth? Not at all, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on, five people in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.h
54Then Jesus told the crowds, gWhen you see a cloud coming in the west, you immediately say, eTherefs going to be a storm,f and thatfs what happens. 55When you see a south wind blowing, you say, eItfs going to be hot,f and so it is. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you donft know how to interpret the present time?h
57gWhy donft you judge for yourselves what is right? 58For example, when you go with your opponent in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him on the way there. Otherwise, you will be dragged in front of the judge, and the judge will hand you over to an officer, and the officer will throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out of there until you pay back the last penny!h
Chapter 13
1At that time, some people who were there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, gDo you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this? 3Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you donft repent, then you, too, will all die. 4What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you donft repent, then you, too, will all die.h
6Then Jesus told them this parable: gA man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but didnft find any. 7So he told the gardener, eLook here! For three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this tree but havenft found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?f 8But the gardener replied, eSir, leave it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9Maybe next year itfll bear fruit. If not, then cut it down.fh
10Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11A woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years. She was hunched over and completely unable to stand up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, gWoman, you are free from your illness.h 13Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
14But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, told the crowd, gThere are six days when work is to be done. So come on those days to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.h
15The Lord replied to him, gYou hypocrites! Doesnft each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey and lead it out of its stall to give it some water? 16Shouldnft this woman, a descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?h 17Even as he was saying this, all of his opponents were blushing with shame. But the rest of the crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.
18So Jesus went on to say, gWhat is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.h
 20Again he said, gWhat can I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.h
22Then Jesus taught in one town and village after another as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, gLord, are only a few people going to be saved?h
He told them, 24gKeep on struggling to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you that many people will try to enter, but wonft be able to do so. 25After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, you can stand outside, knock on the door, and say again and again, eLord, open the door for us!f But he will answer you, eI donft know where you come from.f 26Then you will say, eWe ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.f 27But he will tell you, eI donft know where you come from. Get away from me, all you who practice evil!f 28In that place there will be crying and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves being driven away on the outside. 29People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30You see, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.
31At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus, gLeave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!h
32He told them, gGo and tell that fox, eListen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work. 33But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day, because itfs not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.f
34gO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling! 35Look! Your house is left vacant to you. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, eHow blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!fh
Chapter 14
1One Sabbath, Jesus went to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal. The guests were watching Jesus closely. 2A man whose body was swollen with fluid suddenly appeared in front of him. 3So Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the Law, gIs it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?h 4But they kept silent. So he took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him away.
5Then he asked them, gIf your son or ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, you would pull him out immediately, wouldnft you?h 6And they couldnft argue with him about this.
7When Jesus noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8gWhen you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, donft sit down at the place of honor in case someone more important than you was invited by the host. 9Then the host who invited both of you would come to you and say, eGive this person your place.f In disgrace, you would have to take the place of least honor. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, eFriend, move up higher,f and you will be honored in the presence of everyone who eats with you. 11Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.h
12Then he told the man who had invited him, gWhen you give a luncheon or a dinner, stop inviting only your friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return and you would be repaid. 13Instead, when you give a banquet, make it your habit to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14Then you will be blessed because they canft repay you. And you will be repaid when the righteous are resurrected.h
15Now one of those eating with him heard this and told him, gHow blessed is the person who will eat in the kingdom of God!h
16Jesus told him, gA man gave a large banquet and invited many people. 17When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, eCome! Everything is now ready.f 18Every single one of them began asking to be excused. The first told him, eI bought a field, and I need to go out and inspect it. Please excuse me.f 19Another said, eI bought five pairs of oxen, and Ifm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.f 20Still another said, eI recently got married, so I canft come.f
21gSo the servant went back and reported all this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and told his servant, eGo quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.f 22The servant said, eSir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.f 23Then the master told the servant, eGo out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in, so that my house may be full. 24Because I tell all of you, none of those men who were invited will taste anything at my banquet.fh
25Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned and told them, 26gIf anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he canft be my disciple. 27Whoever doesnft carry his cross and follow me canft be my disciple.
28gSuppose one of you wants to build a tower. He will first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough money to finish it, wonft he? 29Otherwise, if he lays a foundation and canft finish the building, everyone who watches will begin to ridicule him 30and say, eThis person started a building but couldnft finish it.f
31gOr suppose a king is going to war against another king. He will first sit down and consider whether with 10,000 men he can fight the one coming against him with 20,000 men, wonft he? 32If he canft, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other king is still far away. 33In the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.h
34gNow, salt is good. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can its flavor be restored? 35It is suitable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. People throw it away. Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!h
Chapter 15
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, gThis man welcomes sinners and eats with them.h 3So he told them this parable:
4gSuppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesnft he? 5When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, eRejoice with me, because Ifve found my lost sheep!f 7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who donft need to repent.h
8gOr suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesnft she? 9When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, eRejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!f 10In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of Godfs angels over one sinner who repents.h
11Then Jesus said, gA man had two sons. 12The younger one told his father, eFather, give me my share of the estate.f So the father divided his property between them. 13A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living. 14After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went out to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.
17gThen he came to his senses and said, eHow many of my fatherfs hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! 18I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, gFather, I have sinned against heaven and you. 19I donft deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.hf
20gSo he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately. 21Then his son told him, eFather, I have sinned against heaven and you. I donft deserve to be called your son anymore.f 22But the father told his servants, eHurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and letfs eat and celebrate! 24Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.f And they began to celebrate.
25gNow the fatherfs older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. 27The servant told him, eYour brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.f
28gThen the older son became angry and wouldnft go into the house. So his father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, eListen! All these years Ifve worked like a slave for you. Ifve never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet youfve never given me so much as a young goat for a festival so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!f
31gHis father told him, eMy child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.fh
Chapter 16
1Now Jesus was saying to the disciples, gA rich man had a servant manager who was accused of wasting his assets. 2So he called for him and asked him, eWhatfs this I hear about you? You canft be my manager any longer. Now give me a report about your management!f
 3gThen the servant manager told himself, eWhat should I do? My master is taking my position away from me. Ifm not strong enough to plow, and Ifm ashamed to beg. 4I know what Ifll do so that people will welcome me into their homes when Ifm dismissed from my job.f
5gSo he called for each of his masterfs debtors. He asked the first, eHow much do you owe my master?f 6The man replied, eA hundred jars of olive oil.f The manager told him, eGet your bill. Sit down quickly and write g50.hf 7Then he asked another debtor, eHow much do you owe?f The man replied, eA hundred containers of wheat.f The manager told him, eGet your bill and write g80.hf 8The master praised the dishonest servant manager for being so clever, because worldly people are more clever than enlightened people in dealing with their own.
9gIfm telling you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they will welcome you into eternal homes. 10Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot. 11So if you havenft been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? 12And if you havenft been faithful with what belongs to foreigners, who will give you what is your own?
13gNo servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth!h
14Now the Pharisees, who love money, had been listening to all this and began to ridicule Jesus. 15So he told them, gYou try to justify yourselves in front of people, but God knows your hearts, because what is highly valued by people is detestable to God.
16gThe Law and the Prophets remained until John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone entering it is under attack. 17However, it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be dropped. 18Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.h
19gOnce there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day. 20A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate. 21He was always trying to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich manfs table. Even the dogs used to come and lick his sores.
22gOne day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abrahamfs side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In the afterlife, where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. 24So he shouted, eFather Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.f
25gBut Abraham said, eMy child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, while Lazarus received hardships. But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. 26Besides all this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.f
27gThe rich man said, eThen I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my fatherfs house\ 28because I have five brothers\to warn them, so that they wonft end up in this place of torture, too.f
29gAbraham said, eThey have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them!f
30gBut the rich man replied, eNo, father Abraham! But if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.f
31gThen Abraham told him, eIf your brothers do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.fh
Chapter 17
1Jesus told his disciples, gIt is inevitable that temptations to sin will come, but how terrible it will be for the person through whom they come! 2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
3gWatch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day and comes back to you seven times and says, eI repent,f you must forgive him.h
5Then the apostles told the Lord, gGive us more faith!h
6The Lord replied, gIf you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, eBe uprooted and planted in the sea,f and it would obey you!
7gSuppose a man among you has a servant plowing or watching sheep. Would he say to him when he comes in from the field, eCome at once and have something to eatf? 8Of course not. Instead, he would say to him, eGet dinner ready for me, and put on your apron and wait on me until I eat and drink. Then you can eat and drink.f 9He doesnft praise the servant for doing what was commanded, does he? 10Thatfs the way it is with you. When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, eWe are worthless servants. We have done only what we ought to have done.fh
11One day, Jesus was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee on the way to Jerusalem. 12As he was going into a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance 13and shouted, gJesus, Master, have mercy on us!h
14When Jesus saw them, he told them, gGo and show yourselves to the priests.h While they were going, they were made clean. 15But one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, came back and praised God with a loud voice. 16He fell on his face at Jesusf feet and thanked him. Now that man was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, gTen men were made clean, werenft they? Where are the other nine? 18Except for this foreigner, were any of them found to return and give praise to God?h 19Then he told the man, gGet up, and go home! Your faith has made you well.h
20Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, gThe kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display. 21People wonft be saying, eLook! Here it is!f or eThere it is!f because now the kingdom of God is among you.h
22Then Jesus told the disciples, gThe time will come during which you will long to see one of these days when the Son of Man is with you, but you will not see it. 23People will say to you, eLook! There he is!f or eLook! Here he is!f But donft go and chase after him. 24Because just as lightning flashes and shines from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his time. 25But first he must suffer a great deal and be rejected by those living today.
26gJust as it was in Noahfs time, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28So it was in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed all of them. 30The day when the Son of Man is revealed will be like that.
31gThe person who is on the housetop that day must not come down to get his belongings out of his house. The person in the field, too, must not turn back to whatfs left behind. 32Remember Lotfs wife! 33Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34I tell you, two will be seated on the same couch that night. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind. 35Two women will be grinding grain together. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind.h
36-
37Then they asked him, gWhere, Lord, will this take place?h
He told them, gWherever therefs a corpse, there the vultures will gather.h
Chapter 18
1Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up. 2He said, gIn a city there was a judge who didnft fear God or respect people. 3In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, eGrant me justice against my adversary.f 4For a while the judge refused. But later, he told himself, eI donft fear God or respect people, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.fh
 6Then the Lord added, gListen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7Wonft God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them? 8I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?h
9Jesus also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else: 10gTwo men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, eO God, I thank you that Ifm not like other people\thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.f
13gBut the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, eO God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!f 14I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.h
15Now some people were even bringing their infants to Jesus to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people not to do that. 16Jesus, however, called for the children and said, gLet the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 17I tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesnft receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all.h
18Then an official asked Jesus, gGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?h
19gWhy do you call me good?h Jesus asked him. gNobody is good except for one\God. 20You know the commandments: eNever commit adultery. Never murder. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.fh
21The official replied, gI have kept all of these since I was a young man.h
22When Jesus heard this, he told him, gYou still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.h 23But when the official heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.
24So when Jesus saw how sad he was, he said, gHow hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.h
26Those who were listening to Jesus asked, gThen who can be saved?h
27Jesus replied, gThe things that are impossible for people are possible for God.h
28Then Peter said, gSee, we have left everything we have and followed you.h
29Jesus told them, gI tell all of you with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God 30who will not receive many times as much in this world, as well as eternal life in the age to come.h
31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, gPay attention! Wefre going up to Jerusalem. Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled, 32because he will be handed over to the unbelievers, and will be mocked, insulted, and spit on. 33After they have whipped him, they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.h 34But they didnft understand any of this. What he said was hidden from them, and they didnft know what he meant.
35As Jesus was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him that Jesus from Nazareth was coming by. 38So he shouted, gJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!h 39The people at the front of the crowd sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, gSon of David, have mercy on me!h
40Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41gWhat do you want me to do for you?h
He said, gLord, I want to see again!h
42So Jesus told him, gSee again! Your faith has made you well.h 43Immediately the man could see again and began to follow Jesus, glorifying God. All the people saw this and gave praise to God.
Chapter 19
1As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it, 2a man named Zacchaeus appeared. He was a leading tax collector, and a rich one at that! 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he couldnft do so due to the crowd, since he was a short man. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way.
5When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and said, gZacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.h 6Zacchaeus came down quickly and was glad to welcome him into his home.
7But all the people who saw this began to complain: gJesus is going to be the guest of a notorious sinner!h
8Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, gLord, Ifll give half of my possessions to the poor. Ifll pay four times as much as I owe if I have cheated anyone in any way.h
9Then Jesus told him, gToday salvation has come to this home, because this man is also a descendant of Abraham, 10and the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.h
11As they were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and because the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12So he said, gA prince went to a distant country to be appointed king and then to return. 13He called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He told them, eInvest this money until I come back.f 14But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation to follow him and to announce, eWe donft want this man to rule over us!f
15gAfter he was appointed king, the prince came back. He ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called so he could find out what they had earned by investing. 16The first servant came and said, eSir, your coin has earned ten more coins.f 17The king told him, eWell done, good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.f
18gThe second servant came and said, eYour coin, sir, has earned five coins.f 19The king told him, eYou take charge of five cities.f
20gThen the other servant came and said, eSir, look! Herefs your coin. Ifve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping 21because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didnft deposit and harvest what you didnft plant.f 22The king told him, eI will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, and that I withdraw what I didnft deposit and harvest what I didnft plant? 23Then why didnft you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.f
24gSo the king told those standing nearby, eTake the coin away from him and give it to the man who has the ten coins.f 25They answered him, eSir, he already has ten coins!f 26eI tell you, to everyone who has something, more will be given, but from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine who didnft want me to be their king\bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!fh
28After Jesus had said this, he traveled on and went up to Jerusalem. 29When he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead 30and said, gGo into the village ahead of you. As you enter, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. Untie it, and bring it along. 31If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say this: eThe Lord needs it.fh
32So those who were sent went off and found it as Jesus had told them. 33While they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, gWhy are you untying the colt?h
34The disciples answered, gThe Lord needs it.h 35Then they brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and Jesus sat upon it.
36As he was riding along, people kept spreading their coats on the road. 37He was now approaching the descent from the Mount of Olives. The whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice because of all the miracles they had seen. 38They said,
gHow blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!h
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus, gTeacher, tell your disciples to be quiet.h
40He replied, gI tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!h
41When he came closer and saw the city, he began to grieve over it: 42gIf you had only known today what could have brought you peace! But now it is hidden from your sight, 43because the days will come when your enemies will build walls around you, surround you, and close you in on every side. 44They will level you to the ground\you and those who live within your city limits. They will not leave one stone on another within your walls, because you didnft recognize the time when God came to help you.h
45Then Jesus went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were selling things. 46He told them, gIt is written, eMy house is to be called a house of prayer,f but you have turned it into a hideout for bandits!h
 47Then he began teaching in the Temple every day. The high priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, 48but they couldnft find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.
Chapter 20
1One day, while Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple and telling them the good news, the high priests and the scribes came with the elders 2and asked him, gTell us: By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?h
3He answered them, gI, too, will ask you a question. Tell me: 4Was Johnfs authority to baptize from heaven or from humans?h
5They discussed this among themselves: gIf we say, eFrom heaven,f he will ask, eThen why didnft you believe him?f 6But if we say, eFrom humans,f all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.h 7So they answered that they didnft know where it was from.
8Then Jesus told them, gThen I wonft tell you by what authority I am doing these things.h
9Then he began to tell the people this parable: gA man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went abroad for a long time. 10At the right time he sent a servant to the farmers in order to get his share of the produce of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him back empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, and they beat him, too, treated him shamefully, and sent him back empty-handed. 12Then he sent a third, and they wounded him and threw him out, too.
13gThen the owner of the vineyard said, eWhat should I do? Ifll send my son whom I love. Maybe theyfll respect him.f 14But when the farmers saw him, they talked it over among themselves and said, eThis is the heir. Letfs kill him so that the inheritance will be ours!f 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others.h
Those who heard him said, gThat must never happen!h
17But Jesus looked at them and asked, gWhat does this text mean:
eThe stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstonef?
18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.h
19When the scribes and the high priests realized that Jesus had told this parable about them, they wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the crowd.
20So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction of the governor. 21So they asked him, gTeacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you donft favor any individual, but teach the way of God truthfully. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?h
23But he discerned their craftiness and responded to them, 24gShow me a denarius. Whose face and name does it have?h
gCaesarfs,h they replied.
25So he told them, gThen give back to Caesar the things that are Caesarfs, and to God the things that are Godfs.h
26So they couldnft catch him before the people in what he said. Amazed at his answer, they became silent.
27Now some Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection, came to Jesus 28and asked him, gTeacher, Moses wrote for us that if a manfs brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, the man should marry the widow and have children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died childless. 30Then the second 31and the third married her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. 32Finally, the woman died, too. 33Now in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be, since the seven had married her?h
34Jesus told them, gThose who belong to this age marry and are married, 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Nor can they die anymore, because they are like the angels and, since they share in the resurrection, are Godfs children. 37Even Moses demonstrated in the story about the bush that the dead are raised, when he calls the Lord, ethe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.f 38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, because he considers all people to be alive to him.h
39Then some of the scribes replied, gTeacher, you have given a fine answer.h 40Then they no longer dared to ask him another question.
41Then he asked them, gHow can people say that the Messiah is Davidfs son? 42Because David himself in the book of Psalms says,
eThe Lord told my Lord,
gSit at my right hand,
43until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.hf
44So David calls him eLord.f Then how can he be his son?h
45While all the people were listening, he told his disciples, 46gBeware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47They devour widowsf houses and say long prayers to cover it up. They will receive greater condemnation!h
Chapter 21
1Now Jesus looked up and saw rich people dropping their gifts into the offering box. 2Then he saw a destitute widow drop in two small copper coins. 3He said, gI tell you with certainty, this destitute widow has dropped in more than all of them, 4because all the others contributed to the offering out of their surplus, but she, in her poverty, dropped in everything she had to live on.h
5Now while some people were talking about the Temple\how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God\he said, 6gAs for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be knocked down.h
7Then they asked him, gTeacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?h
8He said, gBe careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, eI AMf and, eThe time has come.f Donft follow them. 9When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end wonft come right away.h
 10Then he went on to say to them, gNation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven.h
12gBut before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my namefs sake. 13It will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, 15because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
16gYou will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. 18And yet not a hair on your head will be lost. 19By your endurance you will protect your lives.h
20gWhen you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then understand that its devastation is approaching. 21Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in the countryside must not go into it, 22because these are the days of vengeance when all that is written will be fulfilled.
23gHow terrible it will be for those women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! Because there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be carried off as captives among all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the unbelievers until the times of the unbelievers are fulfilled.h
25gThere will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and there will be distress on earth among the nations that are confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. 26People will faint from fear and apprehension because of the things that are to come on the inhabited world, because the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27Then they will see ethe Son of Man coming in a cloudf with power and great glory.
28gNow when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is approaching.h
29Then he told them a parable: gLook at the fig tree and all the trees. 30As soon as they produce leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near.
32gI tell all of you with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 33Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.h
34gConstantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise 35like a trap, because it will come on everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36So be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.h
37Now during the day Jesus would teach in the Temple, but when evening came he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. 38And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple.
Chapter 22
1Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2So the high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the crowd.
3But Satan went into Judas called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve. 4So he went off and discussed with the high priests and the Temple police how he could betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted, and agreed to give him money. 6Judas accepted their offer and began to look for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them when no crowd was present.
7Then the day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. 8So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, gGo and make preparations for us to eat the Passover meal.h
9They asked him, gWhere do you want us to prepare it?h
10He told them, gJust after you go into the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters 11and say to the owner of the house, eThe Teacher asks you, gWhere is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?hf 12Then he will show you a large upstairs room that is furnished. Get things ready for us there.h 13So they went and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
14Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, along with his apostles. 15He told them, gI have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer, 16because I tell all of you, I will never eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God.h
17Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, gTake this and share it among yourselves, 18because I tell you, from now on I will never drink the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.h
19Then he took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it in pieces, and handed it to them, saying, gThis is my body, which is given for you. Keep on doing this in memory of me.h
20He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, gThis cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood, which is being poured out for you. 21Yet look! The hand of the man who is betraying me is with me on the table! 22The Son of Man is going away, just as it has been determined, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom he is betrayed!h 23Then they began to discuss among themselves which one of them was going to do this.
24Now an argument sprang up among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25But he told them, gThe kings of the unbelievers lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26But you are not to do so. On the contrary, the greatest among you should become like the youngest, and the one who leads should become like the one who serves. 27Because who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? It is the one at the table, isnft it? But I am among you as one who serves.
28gYou are the ones who have always stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred a kingdom on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit down on thrones to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.h
31gSimon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.h
33Peter told him, gLord, I am ready even to go to prison and to die with you!h
34But Jesus said, gI tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.h
35Then Jesus asked his disciples, gWhen I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didnft lack anything, did you?h
They replied, gNothing at all.h
36Then he told them, gBut now whoever has a wallet must take it along, and his traveling bag, too. And the one who has no sword must sell his coat and buy one. 37Because I tell you, what has been written about me must be fulfilled: eHe was counted among the criminals.f Indeed, what is written about me must be fulfilled.h
38So they said, gLord, look! Here are two swords.h
He answered them, gEnough of that!h
39Then he left and went to the Mount of Olives, as usual. The disciples went with him. 40When he arrived, he told them, gKeep on praying that you may not be tempted.h 41Then he withdrew from them about a stonefs throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42gFather, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.h
43Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like large drops of blood falling on the ground.
45When he got up from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them asleep from sorrow. 46He asked them, gWhy are you sleeping? Get up and keep on praying that you may not be tempted.h
47While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them, and he came close to Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus asked him, gJudas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?h
49When those who were around Jesus saw what was about to take place, they asked, gLord, should we attack with our swords?h 50Then one of them struck the high priestfs servant, cutting off his right ear.
51But Jesus said, gNo more of this!h So he touched the wounded manfs ear and healed him.
52Then Jesus told the high priests, the Temple police, and the elders, who had come for him, gHave you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53While I was with you day after day in the Temple, you didnft lay a hand on me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns!h
54Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priestfs house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. 56A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, gThis man was with him, too.h
57But he denied it, saying, gI donft know him, woman!h
58A little later, a man looked at him and said, gYou are one of them, too.h
But Peter said, gMister, I am not!h
59About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, gThis man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!h
60But Peter said, gMister, I donft know what youfre talking about!h Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, gBefore a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.h 62So he went outside and cried bitterly.
63Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. 64They blindfolded him and asked him over and over again, gProphesy! Who is the one who hit you?h 65And they kept insulting him in many other ways.
66As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council. 67They said, gIf you are the Messiah, tell us.h
But he told them, gIf I tell you, you wonft believe me, 68and if I ask you a question, you wonft answer me. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.h
70Then they all asked, gAre you, then, the Son of God?h
He answered them, gYou said it, I AM.h
71gWhy do we need any more testimony?h they asked. gWe have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!h
Chapter 23
1Then the whole crowd got up and took him to Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, gWe found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is the Messiah, a king.h
3Then Pilate asked him, gAre you the king of the Jews?h
He answered, gYou say so.h
4Then Pilate told the high priests and crowds, gI do not find anything chargeable in this man.h
5But they kept insisting, gHe is stirring up the people with what he teaches all over Judea, from where he started in Galilee to this place.h
6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned with certainty that Jesus came from Herodfs jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
8Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, because he had been wanting to see him for a long time on account of what he had heard about him. He was also hoping to see some sign done by him. 9So he continued to question him for a long time, but Jesus gave him no answer at all.
10Meanwhile, the high priests and the scribes stood nearby and continued to accuse him vehemently. 11Even Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and made fun of him. He put a magnificent robe on Jesus and sent him back to Pilate. 12So Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. Before this they had been enemies.
13Then Pilate called the high priests, the other leaders, and the people together 14and told them, gYou brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him gNot Guiltyh of the charges you make against him. 15Nor does Herod, because he sent him back to us. Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death. 16So I will punish him and let him go.h 17Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival.
18But they all shouted out together, gAway with this man! Release Barabbas for us!h 19(This man had been put in prison for murder and for a revolt that had taken place in the city.) 20But Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he appealed to them again, 21but they continued to shout, gCrucify him! Crucify him!h
22Then he spoke to them a third time: gWhat has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go.h 23But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail.
24Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out. 25So he released the man who had been put in prison for revolt and murder\the man whose release they continued to demand\but he let them have their way with Jesus.
26As they led Jesus away, they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people followed him, including some women who kept mourning and wailing for him.
28But Jesus turned to them and said, gWomen of Jerusalem, stop crying for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children, 29because the time is surely coming when people will say, eHow blessed are the women who couldnft bear children and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!f 30Then people will begin to say to the mountains, eFall on us!f, and to the hills, eCover us up!f 31And if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?h
32Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus. 33When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Jesus kept saying, gFather, forgive them, because they donft know what theyfre doing.h Then they divided his clothes among them by throwing dice.
35Meanwhile, the people stood looking on. The leaders were mocking him by saying, gHe saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah of God, the chosen one!h
36The soldiers also made fun of Jesus by coming up and offering him sour wine, 37saying, gIf you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!h 38There was also an inscription over him written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: gThis is the King of the Jews.h
39Now one of the criminals hanging there kept insulting him, gYou are the Messiah, arenft you? Save yourself and us!h
40But the other criminal rebuked him, gArenft you afraid of God, since you are suffering the same penalty? 41We have been condemned justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.h 42Then he went on to plead, gJesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!h
43Jesus told him, gI tell you with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise.h
44It was already about noon, and the whole land became dark until three in the afternoon 45because the sun had stopped shining. And the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. 46Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, gFather, into your hands I entrust my spirit.h After he said this, he breathed his last.
47When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, gThis man certainly was righteous!h 48When all the crowds who had come together for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they beat their chests and left. 49But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance watching these things.
50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and righteous man\ 51he had not voted for their plan and action\from the Jewish town of Arimathea; and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb cut in the rock, in which no one had yet been laid.
54It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was just beginning. 55So the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee, following close behind, saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they went back and prepared spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Chapter 24
1But at early dawn on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they didnft find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4While they were puzzling over this, two men in dazzling robes suddenly stood beside them. 5While the women remained terrified, bowing their faces to the ground, the men asked them, gWhy are you looking among the dead for someone who is living? 6He is not here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee: 7eThe Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day.fh
8Then the women remembered Jesusf words. 9They returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven disciples and all the others. 10The women who told the apostles about it were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some others. 11But what they said seemed nonsense to them, so they did not believe them. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. He stooped down and saw only the linen cloths. Then he went home, wondering about what had happened.
13On the same day, two of Jesusf followers were walking to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about all these things that had taken place. 15While they were discussing and analyzing what had happened, Jesus himself approached and began to walk with them, 16but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
17He asked them, gWhat are you discussing with each other as youfre walking along?h They stood still and looked gloomy.
18The one whose name was Cleopas answered him, gAre you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesnft know what happened there in the past few days?h
19He asked them, gWhat things?h
They answered him, gThe events involving Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in what he said and did before God and all the people, 20and how our high priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and had him crucified. 21But we kept hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel. What is more, this is now the third day since these things occurred. 22Even some of our women have startled us by what they told us. They were at the tomb early this morning 23and didnft find his body there, so they came back and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who were saying that he was alive. 24Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. However, they didnft see him.h
25Then Jesus told them, gO, how foolish you are! How slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 26The Messiah had to suffer these things and then enter his glory, didnft he?h 27Then, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them all the passages of Scripture about himself.
28As they came near the village where the two men were headed, Jesus acted as though he were going farther. 29But they strongly urged him, gStay with us, because it is almost evening and the daylight is nearly gone.h So he went in to stay with them.
30While he was at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it in pieces, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they knew who he was. And he vanished from them.
32Then they asked each other, gOur hearts kept burning within us as he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us, didnft they?h
33They got up right away, went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven disciples and their companions all together. 34They kept saying, gThe Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!h 35Then the two men began to tell what had happened on the road and how they had recognized him when he broke the bread in pieces.
36While they were all talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and told them, gPeace be with you.h
37They were startled and terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. 38But Jesus told them, gWhatfs frightening you? And why are you doubting? 39Look at my hands and my feet, because itfs really me. Touch me and look at me, because a ghost doesnft have flesh and bones as you see that I have.h 40After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41Even though they were still skeptical due to their joy and astonishment, Jesus asked them, gDo you have anything here to eat?h
42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44Then he told them, gThese are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you\that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.h
45Then he opened their minds so that they might understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, gThis is how it is written: the Messiah was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and then repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.h
50Later, he led them out as far as Bethany, lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53They were continually in the Temple, blessing God.
John
Chapter 1
1In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He existed in the beginning with God. 3Through him all things were made, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity. 5And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe because of him. 8John was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9This was the true light that enlightens every person by his coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not recognize him.
11He came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him. 12However, to all who received him, those believing in his name, he gave authority to become Godfs children, 13who were born, not merely in a genetic sense, nor from lust, nor from manfs desire, but from the will of God.
14The Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Fatherfs unique Son, who is full of grace and truth. 15John told the truth about him when he cried out, gThis is the person about whom I said, eThe one who comes after me ranks higher than me, because he existed before me.fh 16We have all received one gracious gift after another from his abundance, 17because while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah. 18No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Fatherfs side, has revealed him.
19This was Johnfs testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and descendants of Levi to him from Jerusalem to ask him, gWho are you?h
20He spoke openly and, remaining true to himself, admitted, gI am not the Messiah.h
21So they asked him, gWell then, are you Elijah?h
John said, gI am not.h
gAre you the Prophet?h
He answered, gNo.h
22gWho are you?h they asked him. gWe must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?h
23He replied, gI am
eca voice crying out in the wilderness,
gPrepare the Lordfs highway,hf
as the prophet Isaiah said.h
 24Now those men had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, gWhy, then, are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?h
26John answered them, gI am baptizing with water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie.h 28This happened in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, gLook, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one about whom I said, eAfter me comes a man who ranks above me, because he existed before me.f 31I didnft recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.h
32John also testified, gI saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I didnft recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, eThe person on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.f 34I have seen this and have testified that this is the Son of God.h
35The next day, John was standing there again with two of his disciples. 36As he watched Jesus walk by, he said, gLook, the Lamb of God!h 37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38But when Jesus turned around and saw them following, he asked them, gWhat are you looking for?h
They asked him, gRabbi,h (which is translated gTeacherh), gwhere are you staying?h
39He told them, gCome and see!h So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four ofclock in the afternoon.
40Andrew, Simon Peterfs brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, gWe have found the Anointed One!h (which is translated gMessiahh).
42He led Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him intently and said, gYou are Simon, Johnfs son. You will be called Cephas!h (which is translated gPeterh).
43The next day, Jesus decided to go away to Galilee, where he found Philip and told him, gFollow me.h 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.
45Philip found Nathaniel and told him, gWe have found the man about whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote\Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.h
46Nathaniel asked him, gOut of Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?h
Philip told him, gCome and see!h
47Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said about him, gLook, a genuine Israeli, in whom there is no deceit!h
48Nathaniel asked him, gHow do you know me?h
Jesus answered him, gBefore Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.h
49Nathaniel replied to him, gRabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!h
50Jesus told him, gDo you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.h 51Then he told him, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, you will see heaven standing open and the angels of God going up and coming down to the Son of Man.h
Chapter 2
1On the third day of that week there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesusf mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine ran out, Jesusf mother told him, gThey donft have any more wine.h
4gHow does that concern us, dear lady?h Jesus asked her. gMy time hasnft come yet.h
5His mother told the servants, gDo whatever he tells you.h
6Now standing there were six stone water jars used for the Jewish rites of purification, each one holding from 20 to 30 gallons. 7Jesus told the servants, gFill the jars with water.h So they filled them up to the brim. 8Then he told them, gNow draw some out and take it to the man in charge of the banquet.h So they did.
9When the man in charge of the banquet tasted the water that had become wine (without knowing where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called for the bridegroom 10and told him, gEveryone serves the best wine first, and the cheap kind when people are drunk. But you have kept the best wine until now!h 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
12After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum\he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples\and they remained there for a few days.
13The Jewish Passover was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the Temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as moneychangers sitting at their tables. 15After making a whip out of cords, he drove all of them out of the Temple, including the sheep and the cattle. He scattered the coins of the moneychangers and knocked over their tables.
16Then he told those who were selling the doves, gTake these things out of here! Stop making my Fatherfs house a marketplace!h 17His disciples remembered that it was written, gZeal for your house will consume me.h
18Then the Jewish leaders asked him, gWhat sign can you show us as authority for doing these things?h
19Jesus answered them, gDestroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will rebuild it.h
20The Jewish leaders said, gThis sanctuary has been under construction for 46 years, and youfre going to rebuild it in three days?h 21But the sanctuary he was speaking about was his own body. 22After he had been raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scripture and the statement that Jesus had made.
23While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, many people believed in him because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24Jesus, however, did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and didnft need anyone to tell him what people were like, because he himself knew what was in every person.
Chapter 3
1Now there was a man from the Pharisees, a leader of the Jews, whose name was Nicodemus. 2He came to Jesus at night and told him, gRabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, because no one can perform these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.h
3Jesus replied to him, gTruly, I tell you emphatically, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.h
4Nicodemus asked him, gHow can a person be born when he is old? He canft go back into his motherfs womb a second time and be born, can he?h
5Jesus answered, gTruly, I tell you emphatically, unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Donft be astonished that I told you, eAll of you must be born from above.f 8The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you donft know where it comes from or where it is going. Thatfs the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.h
9Nicodemus asked him, gHow can that be?h
10Jesus answered him, gYoufre a teacher of Israel, and you canft understand this? 11Truly, I tell you emphatically, we know what wefre talking about, and we testify about what wefve seen. Yet you people do not accept our testimony. 12If I have told you people about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
13gNo one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16gFor this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life. 17Because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of Godfs unique Son. 19And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil. 20Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may become evident that his actions have Godfs approval.h
22After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside. He spent some time there with them and began baptizing. 23John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People kept coming and were being baptized, 24since John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25Then a controversy about ritual purification sprang up between a certain Jew and Johnfs disciples, 26so they went to John and told him, gRabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one about whom you testified\look, hefs baptizing, and everyone is going to him!h
27John replied, gNo one can receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, eI am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.f 29It is the bridegroom who gets the bride, yet the bridegroomfs friend, who merely stands by and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroomfs voice. Thatfs why this joy of mine is now complete. 30He must become more important, but I must become less important.h
31The one who comes from above is superior to everything. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to everything. 32He testifies about what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33The person who has accepted his testimony has acknowledged that God is truthful. 34The one whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God does not give the Spirit in limited measure to him. 35The Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands. 36The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Chapter 4
1Now when Jesus realized that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John\ 2although it was not Jesus who did the baptizing but his disciples\ 3he left Judea and went back to Galilee. 4Now it was necessary for him to go through Samaria. 5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacobfs Well was also there, and Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus told her, gPlease give me a drink,h 8since his disciples had gone off into town to buy food.
9The Samaritan woman asked him, gHow can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?h Because Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans.
10Jesus answered her, gIf you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ePlease give me a drink,f you would have been the one to ask him, and he would have given you living water.h
11The woman told him, gSir, you donft have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this living water? 12Youfre not greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it, along with his sons and his flocks, are you?h
13Jesus answered her, gEveryone who drinks this water will become thirsty again. 14But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never become thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become a well of water for him, springing up to eternal life.h
15The woman told him, gSir, give me this water, so that I wonft get thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.h
16He told her, gGo and call your husband, and come back here.h
17The woman answered him, gI donft have a husband.h
Jesus told her, gYou are quite right in saying, eI donft have a husband,f 18because you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.h
19The woman told him, gSir, I see that you are a prophet! 20Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews say that the place where people should worship is in Jerusalem.h
21Jesus told her, gBelieve me, dear lady, the hour is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You donft know what youfre worshiping. We Jews know what wefre worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews. 23Yet the time is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.h
25The woman told him, gI know that the Anointed One is coming, who is being called eMessiahf. When that person comes, he will explain everything.h
26gI am he,h Jesus replied, gthe one who is speaking to you.h
27At this point his disciples arrived, and they were astonished that he was talking to a woman. Yet no one said, gWhat do you want from her?h or, gWhy are you talking to her?h 28Then the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She told people, 29gCome, see a man who told me everything Ifve ever done! Could he possibly be the Messiah?h 30The people left the town and started on their way to him.
31Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, gRabbi, have something to eat.h
32But he told them, gI have food to eat that you know nothing about.h
33So the disciples began to say to one another, gNo one has brought him anything to eat, have they?h
34Jesus told them, gMy food is doing the will of the one who sent me and completing his work. 35You say, donft you, eIn four more months the harvest will begin?f Look, I tell you, open your eyes and observe that the fields are ready for harvesting now! 36The one who harvests is already receiving his wages and gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who harvests may rejoice together. 37In this respect the saying is true: eOne person sows, and another person harvests.f 38I have sent you to harvest what you have not worked for. Others have worked, and you have adopted their work as your own.h
39Now many of the Samaritans of that town believed in Jesus because the woman had testified, gHe told me everything Ifve ever done.h
40So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there for two days. 41And many more believed because of what he said. 42They kept telling the woman, gIt is no longer because of what you said that we believe, because now we have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world.h
43Two days later, Jesus left for Galilee from there, 44since Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen everything that he had done in Jerusalem during the festival and because they, too, had gone to the festival. 46So Jesus returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. Meanwhile, in Capernaum there was a government official whose son was ill. 47When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him repeatedly to come down and heal his son, because he was about to die.
48Jesus told him, gUnless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.h
49The official told him, gSir, please come down before my little boy dies.h
50Jesus told him, gGo home. Your son will live.h The man believed what Jesus told him and started back home.
51While he was on his way, his servants met him and told him that his child was alive. 52So he asked them at what hour he had begun to recover, and they told him, gThe fever left him yesterday at one ofclock in the afternoon.h
53Then the father realized that this was the very hour when Jesus had told him, gYour son will live.h So he himself believed, along with his whole family.
54Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.
Chapter 5
1Later on, there was another festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem is a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew. It has five colonnades, 3and under these a large number of sick people were lying\blind, lame, or paralyzed\waiting for the movement of the water. 4At certain times an angel of the Lord would go down into the pool and stir up the water, and whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.
5One particular man was there who had been ill for 38 years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he asked him, gDo you want to get well?h
7The sick man answered him, gSir, I donft have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While Ifm trying to get there, someone else steps down ahead of me.h
8Jesus told him, gStand up, pick up your mat, and walk!h 9The man immediately became well, and he picked up his mat and started walking. Now that day was a Sabbath.
10So the Jewish leaders told the man who had been healed, gIt is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.
11But he answered them, gThe man who made me well told me, ePick up your mat and walk.fh
12They asked him, gWho is the man who told you, ePick it up and walkf?h
13But the one who had been healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away from the crowd in that place. 14Later on, Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, gSee, you have become well. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.h 15The man went off and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16So the Jewish leaders began persecuting Jesus, because he kept doing such things on the Sabbath.
17But Jesus answered them, gMy Father has been working until now, and I, too, am working.h 18So the Jewish leaders were trying all the harder to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.
19Jesus told them, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, the Son can do nothing on his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing, What the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him even greater actions than these, so that you may be amazed. 21Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those he chooses. 22The Father judges no one, but has given all authority to judge to the Son, 23so that everyone may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, whoever hears what I say and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has passed from death to life. 25Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, the time approaches, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live. 26Just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted the Son to have life in himself, 27and he has given him authority to judge, because he is the Son of Man.
28gDonft be amazed at this, because the time is approaching when everyone in their graves will hear the Son of Manfs voice 29and will come out\those who have done what is good to the resurrection that leads to life, and those who have practiced what is evil to the resurrection that ends in condemnation. 30I can do nothing on my own accord. I judge according to what I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.h
31gIf I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not trustworthy. 32There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony he gives about me is true. 33You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34I myself do not accept human testimony, but I am saying these things so that you may be saved. 35That man John was a lamp that burns and brightly shines, and for a while you were willing to rejoice in his light.
36gBut I have a greater testimony than Johnfs, because the actions that the Father has given me to complete\the very actions that I am doing\testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. 37Moreover, the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen what he looks like, 38nor do you have his word at work in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he sent. 39You examine the Scriptures carefully because you suppose that in them you have eternal life. Yet they testify about me. 40But you are not willing to come to me to have life.
41gI do not accept human praise. 42I know that you do not have the love of God in you. 43I have come in my Fatherfs name, and you do not accept me. Yet if another man comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe when you accept each otherfs praise and do not look for the praise that comes from the only God? 45Do not suppose that I will be the one to accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope, 46because if you believed Moses, you would believe me, since he wrote about me. 47But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?h
Chapter 6
1After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 3But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples.
4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he asked Philip, gWhere can we buy bread for these people to eat?h 6Jesus said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, gTwo hundred denarii worth of bread isnft enough for each of them to have a little.h
8One of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peterfs brother, told him, 9gTherefs a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?h
10Jesus said, gHave the people sit down.h Now there was plenty of grass in that area, so they sat down, numbering about 5,000 men.
11Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He also distributed as much fish as they wanted. 12When they were completely satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, gCollect the pieces that are left over so that nothing is wasted.h 13So they collected and filled twelve baskets full of pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they kept saying, gTruly this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!h 15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the hillside by himself.
16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18A strong wind was blowing, and the sea was getting rough. 19After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward their boat. They became terrified. 20But he told them, gIt is I. Stop being afraid!h 21So they were glad to take him on board, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
22The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea noticed that only one boat had been there, and no other, and that Jesus had not gotten into that boat with his disciples. Instead, his disciples had gone away by themselves. 23Other small boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
25When they had found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, gRabbi, when did you get here?h
26Jesus replied to them, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and were completely satisfied. 27Do not work for food that perishes but for food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him.h
28Then they asked him, gWhat must we do to perform the actions of God?h
29Jesus answered them, gThis is the action of God: to believe in the one whom he has sent.h
30So they asked him, gWhat sign are you going to do so that we may see it and believe in you? What actions are you performing? 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, eHe gave them bread from heaven to eat.fh
32Jesus told them, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.h
34Then they told him, gSir, give us this bread all the time.h
35Jesus told them, gI am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty. 36I told you that you have seen me, yet you donft believe. 37Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and Ifll never turn away the one who comes to me. 38I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. 39And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything that he has given me, but should raise it to life on the last day. 40This is my Fatherfs will: That everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day.h
41Then the Jewish leaders began grumbling about him because he said, gI am the bread that came down from heaven.h
42They kept saying, gThis is Jesus, the son of Joseph, isnft it, whose father and mother we know? So how can he say, eI have come down from heavenf?h
43Jesus answered them, gStop grumbling among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him to life on the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets, eAnd all of them will be taught by God.f Everyone who has listened to the Father and has learned anything comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who comes from God. This one has seen the Father. 47Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, the one who believes in me has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness and died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. And the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.h
52Then the Jewish leaders debated angrily with each other, asking, gHow can this man give us his flesh to eat?h
53So Jesus told them, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day, 55because my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. 56The person who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will also live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not the kind that your ancestors ate. They died, but the one who eats this bread will live forever.h 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
60When many of his disciples heard this, they said, gThis is a difficult statement. Who can accept it?h
61But Jesus, knowing within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, gDoes this offend you? 62What if you saw the Son of Man going up to the place where he was before? 63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But there are some among you who do not believe...h\because Jesus knew from the beginning those who werenft believing, as well as the one who would betray him. 65So he said, gThatfs why I told you that no one can come to me unless it be granted him by the Father.h 66As a result, many of his disciples turned back and no longer associated with him.
67So Jesus asked the Twelve, gYou donft want to leave, too, do you?h
68Simon Peter answered him, gLord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69Besides, we have believed and remain convinced that you are the Holy One of God.h
70Jesus answered them, gI chose you, the Twelve, didnft I? Yet one of you is a devil.h 71Now he was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, because this man was going to betray him, even though he was one of the Twelve.
Chapter 7
1After this, Jesus traveled about in Galilee, because he didnft want to travel in Judea, since the Jewish leaders there were trying to kill him. 2Now the Jewish Festival of Tents was approaching. 3So his brothers told him, gYou should leave this place and go to Judea, so that your disciples can see the actions that youfre doing, 4since no one acts in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If youfre going to do these things, you should reveal yourself to the world!h 5Not even his brothers believed in him.
6Jesus told them, gMy time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its actions are evil. 8Go up to the festival yourselves. I am not yet going to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.h 9After saying this, he remained in Galilee.
10But after his brothers had gone up to the festival, he went up himself, not openly but, as it were, in secret. 11The Jewish leaders kept looking for him at the festival, asking, gWhere is that man?h 12And there was a great deal of discussion about him among the crowds. Some were saying, gHe is a good man,h while others were saying, gNo, he is deceiving the crowds!h 13Nevertheless, no one would speak openly about him because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.
14Halfway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began teaching. 15The Jewish leaders were astonished and remarked, gHow can this man be so educated when he has never gone to school?h
16Jesus replied to them, gMy teaching is not mine but comes from the one who sent me. 17If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether this teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18The one who speaks on his own seeks his own praise. But the one who seeks the praise of him who sent him is genuine, and there is nothing false in him. 19Moses gave you the Law, didnft he? Yet none of you is keeping the Law. Why are you trying to kill me?h
20The crowd answered, gYou have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?h
21Jesus answered them, gI performed one action, and all of you are astonished. 22Moses gave you circumcision\not that it is from Moses, but from the Patriarchs\and so you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man perfectly well on the Sabbath? 24Stop judging by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment!h
25Then some of the people of Jerusalem began saying, gThis is the man they are trying to kill, isnft it? 26And look, he is speaking in public, and they are not saying anything to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? 27We know where this man comes from. But when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he comes from.h
28At this point Jesus, still teaching in the Temple, shouted, gSo you know me and know where I have come from? I have not come on my own accord. But the one who sent me is true, and he is the one you do not know. 29I know him because I have come from him and he sent me.h
30Then the Jewish leaders tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. 31However, many in the crowd believed in him, saying, gWhen the Messiah comes, he wonft do more signs than this man has done, will he?h
32The Pharisees heard the crowd debating these things about him, so the high priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus.
33Then Jesus said, gI will be with you only a little while longer, and then I am going back to the one who sent me. 34You will look for me but will not find me. And where I am, you cannot come.h
35Then the Jewish leaders asked one another, gWhere does this man intend to go that we wonft be able to find him? Surely hefs not going to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he? 36What does this statement mean that he said, eYou will look for me but will not find me,f and, eWhere I will be, you cannot comef?h
37On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, gIf anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing from his heart.h 39Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who were believing in him were to receive, because the Spirit was not yet present and Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40When they heard these words, some in the crowd were saying, gThis really is the Prophet,h 41while others were saying, gThis is the Messiah!h
But some were saying, gThe Messiah doesnft come from Galilee, does he? 42Doesnft the Scripture say that the Messiah is from Davidfs family and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?h 43So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid hands on him.
45Then the officers returned to the high priests and Pharisees, who asked them, gWhy didnft you bring him?h
46The officers answered, gNo man ever spoke like that!h
47Then the Pharisees replied to them, gYou havenft been deceived, too, have you? 48None of the authorities or Pharisees has believed in him, have they? 49But this mob that does not know the Law\theyfre under a curse!h
50One of their own, Nicodemus (the man who had previously met with Jesus), asked them, 51gSurely our Law does not condemn a person without first hearing from him and finding out what he is doing, does it?h
52They answered him, gYou arenft from Galilee, too, are you? Search and see that no prophet comes from Galilee.h 53Then all of them went to their own homes.
Chapter 8
1Jesus, however, went to the Mount of Olives. 2At daybreak he appeared again in the Temple, and all the people came to him. So he sat down and began to teach them. 3But the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. After setting her before them, 4they told him, gTeacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery. 5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women to death. What do you say?h 6They said this to test him, so that they might have a charge against him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
7When they persisted in questioning him, he straightened up and told them, gLet the person among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.h 8Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground. 9When they heard this, they went away one by one, beginning with the oldest, and he was left alone with the woman standing there. 10Then Jesus stood up and asked her, gDear lady, where are your accusers? Hasnft anyone condemned you?h
11gNo one, sir,h she replied.
Then Jesus said, gI donft condemn you, either. Go home, and from now on do not sin anymore.h
12Later on, Jesus spoke to them again, saying, gI am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.h
13The Pharisees told him, gYou are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.h
14Jesus answered them, gEven though I am testifying about myself, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15You are judging by human standards, but I am not judging anyone. 16Yet even if I should judge, my judgment would be valid, because it is not I alone who judges, but I and the one who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two people is valid. 18I am testifying about myself, and the Father who sent me is testifying about me.h
19Then they asked him, gWhere is this Father of yours?h
Jesus replied, gYou do not know me or my Father. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.h 20He spoke these words in the treasury, while he was teaching in the Temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21Later on, he told them again, gI am going away, and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.h
22So the Jewish leaders were asking, gHe isnft going to kill himself, is he? Is that why he said, eYou cannot come where I am goingf?h
23He told them, gYou are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, but I am not of this world. 24That is why I told you that you will die in your sins, for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.h
25Then they asked him, gWho are you?h
Jesus told them, gWhat have I been telling you all along? 26I have much to say about you and to condemn you for. But the one who sent me is truthful, and what I have heard from him I declare to the world.h
27They didnft realize that he was talking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus told them, gWhen you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own authority. Instead, I speak only what the Father has taught me. 29Moreover, the one who sent me is with me. He has never left me alone because I always do what pleases him.h 30While he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31So Jesus told those Jews who had believed in him, gIf you continue in my word, you are really my disciples. 32And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.h
33They replied to him, gWe are Abrahamfs descendants and have never been slaves to anybody. So how can you say, eYou will be set freef?h
34Jesus answered them, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35The slave does not remain in the household forever, but the son does remain forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!h
37gI know that you are Abrahamfs descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me because youfve not received what Ifve told you. 38I declare what I have seen in my Fatherfs presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.h
39They replied to him, gOur father is Abraham!h
Jesus told them, gIf you were Abrahamfs children, you would be doing what Abraham did. 40But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham would not have done that. 41You are doing your fatherfs actions.h
They told him, gWe are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, God himself.h
42Jesus told them, gIf God were your Father, you would have loved me, because I came from God and am here. I have not come on my own accord, but he sent me. 43Why donft you understand what Ifve said? Itfs because you canft listen to my words. 44You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood for truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But it is because I speak the truth that you do not believe me. 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why donft you believe me? 47The one who belongs to God listens to the words of God. The reason you do not listen is because you do not belong to God.h
48The Jewish leaders replied to him, gSurely we are right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, arenft we?h
49Jesus answered, gI donft have a demon. On the contrary, I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50I donft seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and he is the Judge. 51Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.h
52Then the Jewish leaders told him, gNow we really know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, eIf anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.f 53You arenft greater than our father Abraham, who died, are you? The prophets also died. Who are you making yourself out to be?h
54Jesus answered, gIf I were trying to glorify myself, my glory would mean nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, eHe is our God.f 55You donft know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I donft know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw it and was glad.h
57Then the Jewish leaders asked him, gYou are not even 50 years old, yet you have seen Abraham?h
58Jesus told them, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, before there was an Abraham, I AM!h 59At this, they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the Temple.
Chapter 9
1As he was walking along, he observed a man who had been blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, gRabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that caused him to be born blind?h
3Jesus answered, gNeither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that Godfs work might be revealed in him. 4I must do the work of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is approaching, when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.h 6After saying this, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he spread the mud on the manfs eyes 7and told him, gGo and wash in the pool of Siloamh (which is translated gSent Oneh). So he went off, washed, and came back seeing.
8Then the neighbors and those who had previously seen him as a beggar said, gThis is the man who used to sit and beg, isnft it?h
9Some were saying, gItfs him,h while others were saying, gNo, but itfs someone like him.h
He himself kept saying, gItfs me!h
10So they asked him, gHow, then, did you gain your eyesight?h
11He said, gThe man named Jesus made some mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, eGo to Siloam and wash.f So off I went and washed, and I received my sight.h
12They asked him, gWhere is that man?h
He said, gI donft know!h
13So they brought to the Pharisees the man who had once been blind. 14Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and healed his eyes. 15So the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had gained his sight. He told them, gHe put mud on my eyes, then I washed, and now I can see.h
16Some of the Pharisees began to remark, gThis man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath.h
But others were saying, gHow can a sinful man perform such signs?h And there was a division among them.
17So they asked the formerly blind man again, gWhat do you say about him, since it was your eyes he healed?h
He said, gHe is a prophet.h
18The Jewish leaders did not believe that the man had been blind and had gained sight until they summoned his parents 19and asked them, gIs this your son, the one you say was born blind? How does he now see?h
20His parents replied, gWe know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21But we donft know how it is that he now sees, and we donft know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age and can speak for himself.h 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, since the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be thrown out of the synagogue. 23Thatfs why his parents said, gHe is of age. Ask him.h
24The Jewish leaders summoned the man who had been blind a second time and told him, gGive glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.h
25But he responded, gI donft know whether he is a sinner or not. The one thing I do know is that I used to be blind and now I can see!h
26Then they asked him, gWhat did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?h
27He answered them, gIfve already told you, but you didnft listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You donft want to become his disciples, too, do you?h
28At this, they turned on him in fury and said, gYou are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from.h
30The man answered them, gThis is an amazing thing! You donft know where he comes from, yet he healed my eyes. 31We know that God doesnft listen to sinners, but he does listen to anyone who worships him and does his will. 32Ever since creation it has never been heard that anyone healed the eyes of a man who was born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he couldnft do anything like that.h
34They asked him, gYou were born a sinner and you are trying to instruct us?h And they threw him out.
35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. So when he found him, he asked him, gDo you believe in the Son of Man?h
36He answered, gAnd who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.h
37Jesus told him, gYou have seen him. He is the person who is talking with you.h
38He said, gLord, I do believe,h and worshiped him.
39Then Jesus said, gI have come into this world to judge it, so that those who are blind may see and so that those who see may become blind.h
40Some of the Pharisees who were near him overheard this and asked him, gWe arenft blind, too, are we?h
41Jesus told them, gIf you were blind, you would not have any sin. But now that you insist, eWe see,f your sin still exists.h
Chapter 10
1gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, the person who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3It is to him the gatekeeper opens the gate, and it is his voice the sheep hear. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has driven out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.h 6Jesus used this illustration with them, but they didnft understand what he was saying to them.
7So again Jesus said, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep didnft listen to them. 9I am the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11gI am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired worker, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, deserts the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf snatches them and scatters them, 13because he is a hired worker, and the sheep donft matter to him.
14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that donft belong to this fold. I must lead these also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it back again. 18No one is taking it from me; I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This is what my Father has commanded me.h
19Once again there was a division among the Jews because of what Jesus had been saying. 20Many of them were saying, gHe has a demon and is insane. Why bother listening to him?h
21Others were saying, gThese are not the words of a man who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can it?h
22Now Hanukkah was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking around in the Temple inside the open porch of Solomon. 24So the Jewish leaders surrounded him and quizzed him, gHow long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us so plainly.h
25Jesus answered them, gI have told you, but you do not believe it. The actions that I do in my Fatherfs name testify on my behalf, 26but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, they will never be lost, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is more important than anything, and no one can snatch it from the Fatherfs hand. 30I and the Father are one.h
31Again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to stone him to death.
32Jesus replied to them, gI have shown you many good actions from my Father. For which of them are you going to stone me?h
33The Jewish leaders answered him, gWe are not going to stone you for a good action, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, are making yourself God!h
34Jesus replied to them, gIs it not written in your Law, eI said, gYou are godshf? 35If he called those to whom a message from God came egodsf (and the Scripture cannot be disregarded), 36how can you say to the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, eYou are blaspheming,f because I said, eI am the Son of Godf? 37If I am not doing my Fatherfs actions, do not believe me. 38But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe me, believe the actions, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.h 39Again they tried to seize him, but he slipped away from them.
40Then he went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and he remained there. 41Many people came to him and kept saying, gJohn never performed a sign, but everything that John said about this man is true!h 42And many believed in Jesus there.
Chapter 11
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the woman who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was ill. 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, gLord, the one whom you love is ill.h
4But when Jesus heard it, he said, gThis illness is not meant to end in death. It is for Godfs glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.h 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Yet, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was for two more days.
7After this, he told the disciples, gLetfs go back to Judea.h
8The disciples told him, gRabbi, the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death, and you are going back there again?h
9Jesus replied, gThere are twelve hours in the day, arenft there? If anyone walks during the day he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if anyone walks at night he stumbles, because the light is not in him.h 11These were the things he said. Then after this, he told them, gOur friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am leaving to wake him up.h
12So the disciples told him, gLord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.h 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about resting or sleeping.
14Then Jesus told them plainly, gLazarus has died. 15For your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But letfs go to him.h
16Then Thomas, who was called the Twin, told his fellow disciples, gLetfs go, too, so that we may die with him!h
17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.
21Martha told Jesus, gLord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, he will give it to you.h
23Jesus told her, gYour brother will rise again.h
24Martha told him, gI know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.h
25Jesus told her, gI am the resurrection and the life. The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. 26Indeed, everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?h
27gYes, Lord,h she told him. gI believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world.h
28When she had said this, she went away and called her sister Mary and told her privately, gThe Teacher is here and is calling for you!h
29As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet arrived at the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jewish leaders who had been with her, consoling her in the house, saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she had gone to the tomb to cry there.
32As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet and told him, gLord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.h
33When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was greatly troubled in spirit and deeply moved. 34He asked, gWhere have you put him?h
They told him, gLord, come and see.h
35Jesus burst into tears.
36So the Jewish leaders said, gSee how much he loved him!h
37But some of them said, gSurely the one who opened the eyes of the blind man could have kept this man from dying, couldnft he?h
38Groaning deeply again, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying in front of it. 39Jesus said, gRemove the stone.h
Martha, the dead manfs sister, told him, gLord, there must be a stench by now, because hefs been dead for four days.h
40Jesus told her, gI told you that if you believed you would see Godfs glory, didnft I?h 41So they removed the stone.
Then Jesus looked upward and said, gFather, I thank you for hearing me. 42I know that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.h
43After saying this, he shouted with a loud voice, gLazarus, come out!h 44The man who had died came out, his hands and feet tied with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a handkerchief. Jesus told them, gUntie him, and let him go.h
45Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and had observed what Jesus did believed in him. 46Some of them, however, went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47So the high priests and the Pharisees assembled the Council and said, gWhat are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.h
49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, told them, gYou donft know anything! 50You donft realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.h 51Now he did not say this on his own initiative. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not only for the nation, but that he would also gather into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they resolved to put him to death.
54As a result, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness. There he remained with his disciples.
55Now the Jewish Passover was approaching, and before the Passover many people from the countryside went up to Jerusalem to purify themselves. 56They kept looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the Temple, gWhat do you think? Surely he wonft come to the festival, will he?h 57Now the high priests and the Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where he was should tell them so that they could arrest him.
Chapter 12
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany, where Lazarus lived, the man whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume made of pure nard and anointed Jesusf feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the house became filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, who was going to betray him, asked, 5gWhy wasnft this perfume sold for 300 denarii and the money given to the destitute?h 6He said this, not because he cared about the destitute, but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and would steal what was put into it.
7Then Jesus said, gLeave her alone so she can observe the day of my burial, 8because you will always have the destitute with you, but you will not always have me.h
9When the large crowd of Jews realized that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the high priests planned to kill Lazarus, too, 11since he was the reason why so many of the Jews were leaving to believe in Jesus.
12The next day, the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
gHosanna!
How blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!h
14Then Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written:
15gStop being afraid, people of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting upon a donkeyfs colt!h
16At first his disciples didnft understand these things. However, when Jesus had been glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that people had done these things to him. 17So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify to what they had seen. 18The crowd was going out to meet Jesus because they had heard that he had performed this sign. 19Then the Pharisees told one another, gYou see, there is nothing you can do. Look, the world has gone after him!h
20Now some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. 21They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, gSir, we would like to see Jesus.h
22Philip went and told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus told them, gThe hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces a lot of grain. 25The one who loves his life will destroy it, and the one who hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves me, he must follow me. And where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.h
27gNow my soul is in turmoil, and what should I say\eFather, save me from this hourf? No! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.h
Then a voice came from heaven, gI have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!h 29The crowd standing there heard this and said that it was thunder.
Others were saying, gAn angel has spoken to him.h
30Jesus replied, gThis voice is for your benefit, not for mine. 31Now is the time for the judgment of this world to begin. Now will the ruler of this world be thrown out. 32As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.h 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was about to die.
34Then the crowd answered him, gWe have learned from the Law that the Messiah remains forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?h
35Jesus replied to the crowd, gThe light is among you only for a short time. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The person who walks in the darkness is in the darkness and does not know where he is going. 36As long as you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.h After Jesus had said this, he went away and hid from them.
37Although he had performed numerous signs in their presence, they did not believe in him, 38so that what the prophet Isaiah spoke might be fulfilled when he said:
gLord, who has believed our message,
and to whom has the Lordfs power been revealed?h
39This is why they could not believe: Isaiah also said,
40gHe has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they might not perceive with their eyes,
and understand with their mind and turn,
and I would heal them.h
41Isaiah said this when he saw his glory and spoke about him. 42Yet many people, even some of the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not admit it so they would not be thrown out of the synagogue. 43For they loved the praise of human beings more than the praise of God.
44Then Jesus said loudly, gThe one who believes in me does not believe in me only, but also in the one who sent me. 45The one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in the darkness. 47If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not condemn him, because I did not come to condemn the world but to save it. 48The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has something to judge him: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day, 49because I have not spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has himself commanded me what to say and how to speak. 50And I know that what he commands brings eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.h
Chapter 13
1Now before the Passover Festival, Jesus realized that his hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2By supper time, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him. 3Because Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his control, that he had come from God, and that he was returning to God, 4therefore he got up from the table, removed his outer robe, and took a towel and fastened it around his waist. 5Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the disciplesf feet and to dry them with the towel that was tied around his waist.
 6Then he came to Simon Peter, who asked him, gLord, are you going to wash my feet?h
7Jesus answered him, gYou do not realize now what I am doing, but later on you will understand.h
8Peter told him, gYou must never wash my feet!h
Jesus answered him, gUnless I wash you, you cannot be involved with me.h
9Simon Peter told him, gLord, not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well!h
10Jesus told him, gWhoever has bathed is entirely clean. He doesnft need to wash himself further, except for his feet. And you men are clean, though not all of you.h 11For he knew who was going to betray him. Thatfs why he said, gNot all of you are clean.h
12When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer robe, he sat down again and told them, gDo you realize what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right because that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you must also wash one anotherfs feet. 15I have set an example for you, so that you may do as I have done to you. 16Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17If you understand these things, how blessed you are if you put them into practice! 18Ifm not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: eThe one who ate bread with me has turned against me.f 19Ifm telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM. 20Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, the one who receives whomever I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.h
21After saying this, Jesus was deeply troubled in spirit and declared solemnly, gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, one of you is going to betray me!h 22The disciples began looking at one another, completely mystified about whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus kept loving, had been sitting very close to him.
24So Simon Peter motioned to this man to ask Jesus about whom he was speaking. 25Leaning forward on Jesusf chest, he asked him, gLord, who is it?h
26Jesus answered, gHe is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.h
Then he took a piece of bread, dipped it, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27After he had taken the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus told him, gDo quickly what you are going to do!h 28Now no one at the table knew why Jesus said this to him. 29Some thought that, since Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the destitute. 30So Judas took the piece of bread, immediately went outside, and it was night.
31After Judas had gone out, Jesus said, gThe Son of Man is now glorified, and God has been glorified by him. 32If God has been glorified by him, God himself also will glorify the Son of Man, and he will do so quickly. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, but what I told the Jewish leaders I now tell you, eWhere I am going, you cannot come.f 34I am giving you a new commandment to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.h
36Simon Peter asked him, gLord, where are you going?h
Jesus answered him, gI am going where you cannot follow me now, though you will follow me later on.h
37gLord, why canft I follow you now?h Peter asked him. gI would lay down my life for you!h
38Jesus answered him, gWould you lay down your life for me? I tell you emphatically, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.h
Chapter 14
1gDo not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2There are many rooms in my Fatherfs house. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you? 3And if I am going away to prepare a place for you, I will come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am. 4You know where I am going, and you know the way.h
5Thomas asked him, gLord, we donft know where you are going, so how can we know the way?h
6Jesus told him, gI am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him and have seen him.h
8Philip told him, gLord, show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.h
9gHave I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?h Jesus asked him. gThe person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, eShow us the Fatherf? 10You believe, donft you, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own. It is the Father who dwells in me and who carries out his work. 11Believe me, I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of what Ifve been doing.
12gTruly, I tell all of you emphatically, the one who believes in me will also do what I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.h
15gIf you love me, keep my commandments. 16I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. 17He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, because he lives with you and will be in you. 18I am not going to forsake you like orphans. I will come back to you.
19gIn a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20At that time you will know that I am in my Father, that you are in me, and that I am in you. 21The person who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I, too, will love him and reveal myself to him.h
22Judas (not Iscariot) asked him, gLord, how is it that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?h
23Jesus answered him, gIf anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him. 24The one who does not love me does not keep my words. The words that youfre hearing me say are not mine, but come from the Father who sent me.
25gI have told you this while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you. 27I am leaving you at peace. I am giving you my own peace. I am not giving it to you as the world gives. So donft let your hearts be troubled, and donft be afraid. 28You have heard me tell you, eI am going away, but I am coming back to you.f If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 29I have told you this now, before I leave, so that when I do leave, you will believe. 30I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me. 31But I am doing what the Father has commanded me to let the world know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us leave this place.h
Chapter 15
1gI am the true vine, and my Father is the vintner. 2He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. 3You are already clean because of what Ifve spoken to you.
4gAbide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a pruned branch and dries up. People gather such branches, throw them into a fire, and they are burned up.
7gIf you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you will receive it. 8This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Fatherfs commandments and abide in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12gThis is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
16gYou have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 17I am giving you these commandments so that you may love one another.h
18gIf the world hates you, you should realize that it hated me before you. 19If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20Remember what I told you: eA servant is not greater than his master.f If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21They will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.
22gIf I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have any sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23The person who hates me also hates my Father. 24If I had not done among them the actions that no one else did, they would not have any sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But this happened so that what has been written in their Law might be fulfilled: eThey hated me for no reason.f
26gWhen the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27You will testify also, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Chapter 16
1gI have told you this to keep you from falling away. 2You will be thrown out of the synagogues. Yes, a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is serving God. 3They will do this because they have not known the Father or me. 4But I have told you this so that when the time comes you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you this in the beginning, because I was still with you.h
5gBut now I am going to the one who sent me. Yet none of you asks me, eWhere are you going?f 6But because I have told you this, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7However, I am telling you the truth. It is for your advantage that I am going away, because if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment\ 9of sin, because they do not believe in me; 10of righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11and of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12gI still have a lot to say to you, but you cannot bear it now. 13Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own accord, but will speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, eHe will take what is mine and declare it to you.f 16In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again.h
17At this point, some of his disciples asked each other, gWhat does he mean by telling us, eIn a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again,f and, ebecause I am going to the Fatherf?h 18They kept saying, gWhat is this ein a little whilef that he keeps talking about? We donft know what he means.h
19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him a question, so he asked them, gAre you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, eIn a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me againf? 20Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, you will cry and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will be deeply distressed, but your pain will turn into joy. 21When a woman is in labor she has pain, because her time has come. Yet when she has given birth to her child, she doesnft remember the agony anymore because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22Now you are having pain. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23On that day, you will not ask me for anything. Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, whatever you ask the Father for in my name, he will give it to you. 24So far you havenft asked for anything in my name. Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.h
25gI have said these things to you in figurative language. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26At that time, you will make your requests in my name, so that I will have no need to ask the Father on your behalf, 27because the Father himself loves you, and because you have loved me and believed that I came from God. 28I left the Father and came into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.h
29Jesusf disciples said, gWell, now youfre speaking plainly and not using figurative language. 30Now we know that you know everything and do not need to have anyone ask you any questions. Because of this, we believe that you have come from God.h
31Jesus answered them, gDo you now believe? 32Listen, the time is coming, indeed it has already come, when you will be scattered, each of you to his own home, and you will leave me all by myself. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous\I have overcome the world!h
Chapter 17
1After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, gFather, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you. 2For you have given him authority over all humanity so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. 3And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent\Jesus the Messiah. 4I glorified you on earth by completing the task you gave me to do.
5gSo now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed. 6I have made your name known to these men whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they realize that everything you gave me comes from you, 8because the words that you gave me I passed on to them. They have received them and know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
9gI am asking on their behalf. I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you gave me, because they are yours. 10All that is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine, and I have been glorified through them. 11I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name, the name that you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them by the authority that you gave me. I guarded them, and not one of them became lost except the one who was destined for destruction, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13gAnd now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
17gSanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. 18Just as you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19It is for their sakes that I sanctify myself, so that they, too, may be sanctified by the truth. 20I ask not only on behalf of these men, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their message, 21so that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.
22gI have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one, just as we are one. 23I am in them, and you are in me. May they be completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you have loved them as you loved me. 24Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25gRighteous Father, the world has never known you. Yet I have known you, and these men have known that you sent me. 26I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them.h
Chapter 18
1After Jesus had said this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, gWho are you looking for?h
5They answered him, gJesus from Nazareth.h
Jesus told them, gI AM.h Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.
6When Jesus told them, gI AM,h they backed away and fell to the ground. 7So he asked them again, gWho are you looking for?h
They said, gJesus from Nazareth.h
8Jesus replied, gI told you that I am the one, so if you are looking for me, let these men go.h 9This was to fulfill what he had said, gI did not lose a single one of those you gave me.h
10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priestfs servant, cutting off his right ear. The servantfs name was Malchus. 11Jesus told Peter, gPut your sword back into its sheath. Shouldnft I drink the cup that the Father has given me?h
12Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.
15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside. 17The young woman at the gate asked Peter, gYou arenft one of this manfs disciples, too, are you?h
gI am not,h he replied.
18Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm.
19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching. 20Jesus answered him, gI have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said.h
22When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, gIs that any way to answer the high priest?h
23Jesus answered him, gIf I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?h 24Then Annas sent him, with his hands tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.
25Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people asked him, gYou arenft one of his disciples, too, are you?h
He denied it by saying, gI am not!h
26Then one of the high priestfs servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, gI saw you in the garden with Jesus, didnft I?h 27Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.
28Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governorfs headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, gWhat accusation are you bringing against this man?h
30They answered him, gIf he werenft a criminal, we wouldnft have handed him over to you.h
31Pilate told them, gYou take him and try him according to your Law.h
The Jewish leaders told him, gIt is not legal for us to put anyone to death.h 32This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.
33So Pilate went back into the governorfs headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, gAre you the king of the Jews?h
34Jesus replied, gAre you asking this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?h
35Pilate replied, gI am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?h
36Jesus answered, gMy kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But for now my kingdom is not from here.h
37Pilate asked him, gSo you are a king?h
Jesus answered, gYou say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice.h
38Pilate asked him, gWhat is etruthf?h
After he said this, he went out to the Jewish leaders again and told them, gI find no basis for a charge against him. 39But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?h
40At this, they shouted out again, gNot this fellow, but Barabbas!h Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
Chapter 19
1Then Pilate had Jesus taken away and whipped. 2The soldiers twisted some thorns into a victorfs crown, put it on his head, and threw a purple robe on him. 3They kept coming up to him and saying, gLong live the king of the Jews!h Then they began to slap him on the face.
4Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, gLook, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.h 5Then Jesus came outside, wearing the victorfs crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate told them, gHere is the man!h
6When the high priests and the officials saw him, they shouted, gCrucify him! Crucify him!h
Pilate told them, gYou take him and crucify him. I find no basis for a charge against him.h
7The Jewish leaders answered Pilate, gWe have a law, and according to that Law he must die because he made himself out to be the Son of God.h
8When Pilate heard this, he became even more afraid. 9Returning to his headquarters, he asked Jesus, gWhere are you from?h
But Jesus did not answer him.
10So Pilate asked him, gArenft you going to speak to me? You realize, donft you, that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?h
11Jesus answered him, gYou have no authority over me at all, except what was given to you from above. Thatfs why the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.h
12From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, gIf you release this fellow, youfre not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!h
13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. 14Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. He told the Jewish leaders, gHere is your king!h
15Then they shouted, gTake him away! Take him away! Crucify him!h
Pilate asked them, gShould I crucify your king?h
The high priests responded, gWe have no king but Caesar!h 16Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.
17Carrying the cross all by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, along with two others, one on each side of him with Jesus in the middle. 19Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, gJesus from Nazareth, the King of the Jews.h 20Many Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
21Then the Jewish high priests told Pilate, gDonft write, eThe King of the Jews,f but that this fellow said, eI am the King of the Jews.fh
22Pilate replied, gWhat I have written I have written.h
23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier, and took his cloak as well. The cloak was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. 24So they told each other, gLetfs not tear it. Instead, letfs throw dice to see who gets it.h This was to fulfill the Scripture that says,
gThey divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they threw dice.h
So that is what the soldiers did.
25Meanwhile, standing near Jesusf cross were his mother, his motherfs sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he kept loving standing there, he told his mother, gDear lady, here is your son.h 27Then he told the disciple, gHere is your mother.h And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
28After this, when Jesus realized that everything was now completed, he said (in order to fulfill the Scripture), gIfm thirsty.h 29A jar of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30After Jesus had taken the wine, he said, gIt is finished.h Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
31Since it was the Preparation Day, the Jewish leaders did not want to leave the bodies on the crosses during the Sabbath, because that was a particularly important Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to have the menfs legs broken and the bodies removed. 32So the soldiers went and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water immediately came out. 35The one who saw this has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows he is telling the truth so that you, too, may believe, 36because these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled:
gNone of his bones will be broken.h
37In addition, another passage of Scripture says,
gThey will look on the one whom they pierced.h
38Later on, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, and he came and removed his body. 39Nicodemus, the man who had first come to Jesus at night, also arrived, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about a hundred pounds. 40They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths along with spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41A garden was located in the place where he was crucified, and in that garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. 42Because it was the Jewish Preparation Day, and because the tomb was nearby, they put Jesus there.
Chapter 20
1On the first day of the week, early in the morning and while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and noticed that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran off and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus kept loving. She told them, gThey have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we donft know where they have put him!h 3So Peter and the other disciple took off for the tomb. 4The two of them were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. 5Bending over to look inside, he noticed the linen cloths lying there but didnft go in.
6At this point Simon Peter arrived, following him, and went straight into the tomb. He observed that the linen cloths were lying there, 7and that the handkerchief that had been on Jesusf head was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up in a separate place. 8Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside, looked, and believed. 9For they did not yet understand the Scripture that said that Jesus had to rise from the dead. 10So the disciples went back to their homes.
11Meanwhile, Mary stood crying outside the tomb. As she cried, she bent over and looked into the tomb. 12She saw two angels in white clothes who were sitting down, one at the head and the other at the foot of the place where Jesusf body had been lying. 13They asked her, gLady, why are you crying?h
She told them, gBecause they have taken away my Lord, and I donft know where they have put him.h
14After she had said this, she turned around and noticed Jesus standing there, without realizing that it was Jesus.
15Jesus asked her, gDear lady, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?h
Thinking he was the gardener, she told him, gSir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away.h
16Jesus told her, gMary!h
She turned around and told him in Hebrew, gRabbouni!h (which means gTeacherh).
17Jesus told her, gDonft hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, eI am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.fh
18So Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, gI have seen the Lord!h She also told them what he had told her.
19It was the evening of the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them. He told them, gPeace be with you.h 20After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side, and when they saw the Lord the disciples were overjoyed. 21Jesus told them again, gPeace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.h 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and told them, gReceive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive peoplefs sins, they are forgiven. If you retain peoplefs sins, they are retained.h
24Thomas, one of the Twelve (called the Twin), wasnft with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples kept telling him, gWe have seen the Lord!h But he told them, gUnless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into them, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!h
26A week later, his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were shut, Jesus came, stood among them, and said, gPeace be with you.h 27Then he told Thomas, gPut your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, but believe.h
28Thomas answered him, gMy Lord and my God!h
29Jesus told him, gIs it because you have seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!h
30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not recorded in this book. 31But these have been recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that through believing you may have life in his name.
Chapter 21
1Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is what happened: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two of his other disciples were together. 3Simon Peter told them, gIfm going fishing.h
They all told him, gWefll go with you, too.h So they went out and got into the boat but didnft catch a thing that night.
4Just as dawn was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples didnft realize it was Jesus. 5Jesus asked them, gChildren, you donft have any fish, do you?h
They answered him, gNo.h
6He told them, gThrow the net on the right hand side of the boat, and youfll catch some.h So they threw it out and were unable to haul it in because it was so full of fish.
7That disciple whom Jesus kept loving told Peter, gItfs the Lord!h When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his clothes back on, because he was practically naked, and jumped into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. They were only about a hundred yards away from the shore.
9When they arrived at the shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish lying on it, and some bread. 10Jesus told them, gBring me some of the fish youfve just caught.h 11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish\153 of them. And although there were so many of them, the net was not torn.
12Then Jesus told them, gCome, have breakfast.h Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, gWho are you?h, because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus took the bread, gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead.
15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, gSimon, son of John, do you love me more than these?h
Peter told him, gYes, Lord, you know that I love you.h
Jesus told him, gFeed my lambs.h
16Then he asked him a second time, gSimon, son of John, do you love me?h
Peter told him, gYes, Lord, you know that I love you.h
Jesus told him, gTake care of my sheep.h 17He asked him a third time, gSimon, son of John, do you love me?h
Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, gDo you love me?h So he told him, gLord, you know everything. You know that I love you!h
Jesus told him, gFeed my sheep. 18gTruly, I tell you emphatically, when you were young, you would fasten your belt and go wherever you liked. But when you get old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you donft want to go.h 19Now he said this to show by what kind of death he would glorify God.
After saying this, Jesus told him, gKeep following me.h
20Peter turned around and noticed the disciple whom Jesus kept loving following them. He was the one who had put his head on Jesusf chest at the supper and had asked, gLord, who is the one who is going to betray you?h
21When Peter saw him, he said, gLord, what about him?h
22Jesus told him, gIf it is my will for him to remain until I come back, how does that concern you? You must keep following me!h 23So the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple wasnft going to die. Yet Jesus didnft say to Peter that he wasnft going to die, but, gIf it is my will for him to remain until I come back, how does that concern you?h
24This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25Of course, Jesus also did many other things, and I suppose that if every one of them were written down the world couldnft contain the books that would be written.
Acts
Chapter 1
1In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 2up to the day when he was taken up to heaven after giving orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After he had suffered, he had shown himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during a period of 40 days and telling them about the kingdom of God.
4While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, gDonft leave Jerusalem. Instead, wait for what the Father has promised, about which you heard me speak. 5For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit a few days from now.h
6Now those who had gathered together began to ask Jesus, gLord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?h 7He answered them, gIt is not for you to know what times or periods the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.h
9After saying this, Jesus was taken up while those who had gathered together were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, two men in white robes stood right beside them. 11They asked, gMen of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go up into heaven.h
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath dayfs journey away. 13When they came into the city, these men went to the upstairs room where they had been staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14With one mind all of them kept devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15At that time Peter got up among the brothers (there were about 120 people present) and said, 16gBrothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the voice of David about Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus, 17because he was one of our number and was appointed to share in this ministry.h 18(Now this man bought a field with the money he got for his crime. Falling on his face, he burst open in the middle, and all his intestines gushed out. 19This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that this field is called in their language Hakeldama, that is, gThe Field of Bloodh.) 20gFor in the Book of Psalms it is written, eLet his estate be desolate, and let no one live on it,f and, eLet someone else take over his office,f 21who was one of the men associated with us all the time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22beginning when he was baptized by John until the day he was taken up from us. Therefore, someone like this must become a witness with us to his resurrection.h
23So they nominated two men\Joseph called Barsabbas, who also was called Justus, and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, gLord, you know the hearts of all people. Show us which one of these two men you have chosen 25to serve in this office of apostle, from which Judas left to go to his own place.h
26So they drew lots for them, and when the lot fell on Matthias, he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.
Chapter 2
1When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated, all of them were together in one place. 2Suddenly, a sound like the roar of a mighty windstorm came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated, and one rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit gave them that ability.
5Now devout Jews from every nation were living in Jerusalem. 6When that sound came, a crowd quickly gathered, startled because each one heard the disciples speaking in his own language. 7Stunned and amazed, they asked, gAll of these people who are speaking are Galileans, arenft they? 8So how is it that each one of us hears them speaking in his own native language: 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the district of Libya near Cyrene, Jewish and proselyte visitors from Rome, 11Cretans, and Arabs, listening to them talk in our own languages about the great deeds of God?h
12All of them continued to be stunned and puzzled, and they kept asking one another, gWhat can this mean?h
13But others kept saying in derision, gTheyfre drunk on sweet wine!h
14Then Peter stood up among the eleven apostles and raised his voice to address them:
gMen of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand something, so pay close attention to my words. 15These men are not drunk as you suppose, for itfs only nine ofclock in the morning. 16Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17eIn the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18In those days I will even pour out my Spirit
on my slaves, men and women alike,
and they will prophesy.
19I will display wonders in the sky above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.
20The sun will become dark,
and the moon turn to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
21Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.f
22gFellow Israelis, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a man authenticated to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs that God performed through him among you, as you yourselves know. 23After he was arrested according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified this very man and killed him by the hands of lawless men. 24But God raised him up and put an end to suffering of death, since it was impossible for him to be held by it. 25For David says about him,
eI always keep my eyes on the Lord,
for he is at my right hand
so that I cannot be shaken.
26That is why my heart is glad
and my tongue rejoices,
yes, even my body still rests securely in hope.
27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades
or allow your Holy One to experience decay.
28You have made the ways of life known to me,
and you will fill me with gladness in your presence.f
29gBrothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and that his tomb is among us to this day. 30Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him with an oath to put one of his descendants on his throne, 31he looked ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah:
eHe was not abandoned to Hades,
and his flesh did not experience decay.f
32gIt was this very Jesus whom God raised, and of that we are all witnesses. 33He has been exalted to the right hand of God, has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, and has caused you to experience what you are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not go up to heaven, but he said,
eThe Lord told my Lord,
gSit at my right hand,
35until I make your enemies your footstool.hf
36gTherefore, let all the people of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!h
37When the crowd that had gathered heard this, they were pierced to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, gBrothers, what should we do?h
38Peter answered them, gEvery one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. 39For this promise belongs to you and your children, as well as to all those who are distant, whom the Lord our God may call to himself.h
40Using many different expressions, Peter continued to testify and to plead with them, saying, gBe saved from this corrupt generation!h 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to their number.
42The believers continued to devote themselves to what the apostles were teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to times of prayer. 43A sense of fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All the believers were united and shared everything with one another. 45They made it their practice to sell their possessions and goods and to distribute the proceeds to anyone who was in need. 46United in purpose, they went to the Temple every day, ate at each otherfs homes, and shared their food with glad and humble hearts. 47They were praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved.
Chapter 3
1One afternoon, Peter and John were on their way to the Temple for the three ofclock prayer time. 2Now a man who had been crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day people would lay him at what was called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from those who were going into the Temple. 3When he saw that Peter and John were about to go into the Temple, he asked them to give him something.
4Peter, along with John, looked him straight in the eye and said, gLook at us!h 5So the man watched them closely, expecting to get something from them. 6However, Peter said, gI donft have any silver or gold, but Ifll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus the Messiah from Nazareth, walk!h 7Then Peter took hold of his right hand and began to help him up. Immediately his feet and ankles became strong, 8and he sprang to his feet, stood up, and began to walk. Then he went with them into the Temple, walking, jumping, and praising God.
9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people came running to them in what was called gSolomonfs Colonnadeh. They were dumbfounded. 12When Peter saw this, he told the people: gFellow Israelis, why are you wondering about this, and why are you staring at us as if by our own power or godliness we made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob\the God of our ancestors\has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and rejected in the presence of Pilate, even though he had decided to let him go. 14You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you, 15and you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses to that. 16It is his name\that is, by faith in his name\that has healed this man whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
17gAnd now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance like your leaders. 18This is how God fulfilled what he had predicted through the voice of all the prophets\that his Messiah would suffer. 19Therefore, repent and turn to him to have your sins blotted out, 20so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and so that he may send you Jesus, whom he appointed long ago to be the Messiah. 21He must remain in heaven until the time of universal restitution, which God announced long ago through the voice of his holy prophets. 22In fact, Moses said,
eThe Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you. 23Any person who will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.f
24gIndeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who followed him, also announced these days. 25You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, eThrough your descendant all the families of the earth will be blessed.f 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways.h
Chapter 4
1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the Temple guards, and the Sadducees came to them. 2They were greatly disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. 3So they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard their message believed, and the men grew to number about 5,000.
5The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes met in Jerusalem 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the high priestfs family. 7They made Peter and John stand in front of them and began asking, gBy what power or by what name did you do this?h
8Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, told them, gRulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being questioned today for a good deed done for someone who was sick or to learn how this man was healed, 10you and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus from Nazareth, whom you crucified but God raised from the dead. 11He is
ethe stone that was rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone.f
12There is no salvation by anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.h
13Now when the Jewish leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could not say anything against them. 15So they ordered them to leave the Council and began to discuss the matter among themselves. 16They said, gWhat should we do with these men? For itfs obvious to everybody living in Jerusalem that an unmistakable sign has been done by them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep it from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in this name.h
18So they called Peter and John back in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, gYou must decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, 20for we cannot stop talking about what wefve seen and heard.h
21So they threatened Peter and John even more and then let them go. They couldnft find any way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than 40 years old.
23After they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and told them everything the high priests and the elders had said. 24When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, gMaster, you made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25You said by the Holy Spirit through the voice of our ancestor, your servant David,
eWhy do the unbelievers rage,
and the people devise useless plots?
26The kings of the earth take their stand,
and rulers meet together against the Lord
and against his Messiah.f
27For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to carry out everything that your hand and will had predetermined to take place. 29Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow your servants to speak your word boldly 30as you stretch out your hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.h
31When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak messages from God boldly.
32Now all the believers were one in heart and soul, and nobody called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was on them all. 34For none of them needed anything, because everyone who had land or houses would sell them and bring the money received for the things sold 35and lay it at the apostlesf feet. Then it was distributed to anyone who needed it. 36One man, Joseph, a descendant of Levi and a native of Cyprus, who was named Barnabas by the apostles (the name means ga son of encouragementh), 37sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostlesf feet.
Chapter 5
1But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold some property. 2With his wifefs full knowledge he kept back some of the money for himself and brought the remainder and laid it at the apostlesf feet.
3Peter asked, gAnanias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money you got for the land? 4As long as it remained unsold, wasnft it your own? And after it was sold, wasnft the money at your disposal? So how could you have thought of doing what you did? You didnft lie only to men, but also to God!h 5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized everyone who heard about it. 6The young men got up, wrapped him up, carried him outside, and buried him.
7After an interval of about three hours, Ananiasf wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8So Peter asked her, gTell me, did you sell the land for that price?h
She answered, gYes, that was the price.h
9gHow could you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?h Peter asked her. gListen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and these men will carry you outside as well.h 10She instantly fell down at Peterfs feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her next to her husband. 11And great fear seized the whole church and everyone else who heard about this.
12Now many signs and wonders were being performed by the apostles among the people, who were gathered together in Solomonfs Colonnade. 13None of the others dared join them, although the rest of the people continued to hold them in high regard. 14Nevertheless, believers were being added to the Lord in increasing numbers\both men and women. 15As a result, people kept carrying their sick into the streets and placing them on stretchers and mats so that at least Peterfs shadow might fall on some of them as he went by. 16Even from the towns around Jerusalem crowds continued coming in to bring their sick and those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
17Then the high priest and all those from the sect of the Sadducees who were with him were filled with jealousy. So they went out, 18arrested the apostles, and put them in the city jail. 19But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out. The angel told them, 20gGo, stand in the Temple, and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life they can have.h
 21After the apostles heard this, they went into the Temple at daybreak and began to teach. The high priest and those who were with him arrived, called the Council and all the elders of Israel together, and sent word to the prison to have the men brought in. 22When the Temple police got there, they did not find them in the prison. They came back and reported, 23gWe found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.h 24When the commander of the Temple guards and the high priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss as to what could have happened to them.
25Then someone came and told them, gLook! The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple and teaching the people!h 26So the commander of the Temple guards went with his men to bring them back without force, because they were afraid of being stoned to death by the people. 27When they brought them back, they made them stand before the Council, and the high priest began to question them. 28He said, gWe gave you strict orders not to teach in his name, didnft we? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this manfs blood on us!h
29But Peter and the apostles answered, gWe must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus to life after you killed him by hanging him on a tree. 31God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who keep on obeying him.h
33When the Council heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35Then he told them, gFellow Israelis, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36For in the recent past Theudas appeared, claiming that he was important, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared. 37After that man, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got people to follow him. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.
38gIfm telling you to keep away from these men for now. Leave them alone, because if this plan or movement is of human origin, it will fail. 39However, if it is from God, you wonft be able to stop them, and you may even discover that you are fighting against God!h So they were convinced by him.
40After calling in the apostles and beating them, they again ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus and let them go. 41They left the Council, rejoicing to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name. 42Every day in the Temple and from house to house they kept teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah.
Chapter 6
1In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve called the whole group of disciples together and said, gIt is not desirable for us to neglect messages from God in order to wait on tables. 3Therefore, brothers, appoint seven men among you who have a good reputation, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this work. 4Then we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.h
5This suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some men who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), as well as some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began to debate with Stephen. 10But they could neither refute the wisdom nor withstand the Spirit by which he kept speaking. 11So they secretly got some men to say, gWe have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.h 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. Then they rushed at Stephen, grabbed him, and brought him before the Council.
13They had false witnesses stand up and say, gThis man never stops saying things against this Holy Place and against the Law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.h 15Then everyone who was seated in the Council glared at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Chapter 7
1Then the high priest asked, gIs this true?h
2Stephen replied:
gListen, brothers and fathers!
gThe glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. 3God told him, eLeave your country and your relatives and go to the land I will show you.f 4So he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. Then after the death of his father, God had him move to this country where you now live. 5God gave him no property here, not even a foot of land, yet he promised to give it to him and to his descendants after him as a permanent possession, even though he had no child.
6gThis is what God promised: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and its people would enslave them and oppress them for 400 years. 7eBut I will punish the nation they serve,f said God, eand afterwards they will leave and worship me in this place.f
8Later, God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. Later, he fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. Then Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered the twelve patriarchs.
9gJosephfs brothers became jealous of him and sold Joseph as a slave in Egypt. However, God was with him 10and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler of Egypt and of his whole household.
11gBut a famine spread throughout Egypt and Canaan, and with it great suffering, and our ancestors couldnft find any food. 12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors on their first trip. 13On their second trip, Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph introduced his family to Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him in Egypt\75 persons in all. 15So Jacob went down to Egypt. Then he and our ancestors died. 16They were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought at a high price from Hamorfs descendants in Shechem.
17gNow as the time approached for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, the peoplefs population increased a great deal in Egypt. 18Eventually, a different king who had not known Joseph became ruler of Egypt. 19By shrewdly scheming against our people, he oppressed our ancestors and forced them to abandon their infants to the elements, so that they wouldnft live.
20gAt this time Moses was born. He was beautiful in the sight of God, and for three months he was cared for in his fatherfs house. 21When he was placed outside, Pharaohfs daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses learned all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man, both in words and in deeds.
23gWhen he was 40 years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel. 24When he saw one of them being mistreated, he defended him and avenged the man who was being mistreated by killing the Egyptian. 25He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was using him to rescue them, but they didnft understand. 26The next day, he presented himself to some of them while they were fighting and tried to reconcile them. He said, eMen, you are brothers. Why should you be hurting another?f
27gBut the man who was harming his neighbor pushed Moses away and said, eWho made you ruler and judge over us? 28You donft want to kill me like you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?f 29Because of this, Moses fled and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There he had two sons.
30gAfter 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached the bush to look at it, the voice of the Lord said, 32eI am the God of your ancestors\the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.f Moses became terrified and didnft dare to look. 33Then the Lord told him, eRemove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34I have surely seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.f
35gThis same Moses\whom they rejected by saying, eWho made you ruler and judge?f\was the man whom God sent to be both their ruler and deliverer with the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. 36It was he who led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for 40 years. 37It was this Moses who told the Israelis, eGod will raise up a prophet for you from among your own brothers, just as he did me.f 38This Moses is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and to our ancestors. He received living truths to give to us, 39but our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and wished to return to Egypt. 40They told Aaron, eMake gods for us who will lead us. This Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt\we donft know what happened to him!f
41gAt that time they even made a calf to be their idol, offered a sacrifice to it, and delighted in what they had made with their hands. 42So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the heavenly bodies. As it is written in the book of the Prophets:
eO house of Israel,
you didnft offer me slaughtered animals and
sacrifices those 40 years in the wilderness, did you?
43You even took along the tent of Moloch,
the star of your god Rephan,
and the images you made in order to worship them.
So I will take you into exile as far as Babylon.f
44gOur ancestors had the Tent of Testimony in the wilderness constructed, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. 45Our ancestors brought it here with Joshua when they replaced the nations that God drove out in front of our ancestors, and it was here until the time of David. 46He found favor with God and asked to design a dwelling for the house of Jacob, 47but it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48However, the Most High does not live in buildings made by human hands. As the prophet says,
49geHeaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house can you build for me,f declares the Lord,
gor what place is there in which I can rest?
50It was my hand that made all these things, wasnft it?fh
51gYou stubborn people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. 52Which of the prophets did your ancestors fail to persecute? They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. 53You received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet you havenft obeyed it!h
54While they were listening to these things, they became more and more furious and began to grind their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56He said, gLook! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!h
57But they shouted out loud, stopped listening, and together they all rushed at him, 58ran him outside of the city, and began to stone him to death. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59As they continued to stone Stephen, he kept praying, gLord Jesus, receive my spirit!h 60Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, gLord, donft hold this sin against them!h After he had said this, he died.
Chapter 8
1Now Saul heartily approved of putting Stephen to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except for the apostles was scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 2Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him. 3But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison.
4Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people. 6The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip. 7Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. 8As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city.
9Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 10Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, gThis is what we call the great power of God!h 11They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occult performances. 12But when Philip proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and about the name of Jesus the Messiah, men and women believed and were baptized. 13Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening.
14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 16Before this he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostlesf hands, he offered them money 19and said, gGive me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone, he will receive the Holy Spirit.h
20But Peter told him, gMay your money perish with you because you thought you could obtain Godfs free gift with money! 21You have no part or share in what wefre saying, because your heart isnft right with God. 22So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heartfs intent may be forgiven you. 23For I see that youfre being poisoned by bitterness and youfre a prisoner of wickedness!h
24Simon answered, gBoth of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me.h
25After they had given their testimony and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, continuing to proclaim the good news in many Samaritan villages.
26Now an angel of the Lord told Philip, gGet up and go south on the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a deserted road.h 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, who was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasures and had come up to Jerusalem to worship. 28Now he was returning home, seated in his chariot, and reading from the prophet Isaiah.
29The Spirit told Philip, gApproach that chariot and stay near it.h 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.
Philip asked, gDo you understand what youfre reading?h
31The man replied, gHow can I unless someone guides me?h So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32This was the passage of Scripture he was reading:
gLike a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered,
and like a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation, justice was denied him.
Who can describe his descendants?
For his life is taken away from the earth.h
34The eunuch asked Philip, gI ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself? Or someone else?h 35Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.
36As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, gLook, therefs some water. What keeps me from being baptized?h 37- 38So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and did not see Philip again. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through that region, he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Chapter 9
1Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lordfs disciples, Saul went to the high priest. 2He asked him for letters to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
3As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, gSaul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?h
5He asked, gWho are you, Lord?h
The voice said, gI am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.h
7Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didnft see anyone. 8When Saul got up off the ground, he couldnft see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he couldnft see, and he didnft eat or drink anything.
10Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord told him in a vision, gAnanias!h
He answered, gHere I am, Lord.h
11The Lord told him, gGet up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he is praying. 12He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again.h
13But Ananias answered, gLord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on your name.h
15But the Lord told him, gGo, since he is my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. 16For I am going to show him how much he must suffer for my namefs sake.h
17So Ananias left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, gBrother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.h 18All at once something like scales fell from Saulfs eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus.
20He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, gThis is the Son of God.h
21Everyone who heard him was astonished and said, gThis is the man who harassed those who were calling on Jesusf name in Jerusalem, isnft it? Didnft he come here to bring them in chains to the high priests?h 22But Saul grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah.
23After several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders plotted to murder Saul, 24but their plot became known to him. They were even watching the gates day and night to murder him, 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket.
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they all were afraid of him because they wouldnft believe he was a disciple. 27Barnabas, however, introduced Saul to the apostles, telling them how on the road Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28So he freely circulated among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord. 29He kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him. 30When the brothers found out about the plot, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace. As it continued to be built up and to live in the fear of the Lord, it kept increasing in numbers through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
32Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples, he also visited the saints living in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34Peter told him, gAeneas, Jesus the Messiah is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!h At once he got up, 35and all the people who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. 37At that time she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, gCome here quickly!h 39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, gTabitha, get up!h She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive. 42What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Meanwhile, Peter stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker.
Chapter 10
1Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He was a devout man who feared God, as did everyone in his home. He gave many gifts to the poor among the people and always prayed to God.
3One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision and clearly saw an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, gCornelius!h
4He stared at the angel in terror and asked, gWhat is it, Lord?h
The angel answered him, gYour prayers and your gifts to the poor have arisen as a reminder to God. 5Send men now to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. 6He is a guest of Simon, a leatherworker, whose house is by the sea.h
7When the angel who had spoken to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of those who served him regularly. 8He explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.
9Around noon the next day, while they were on their way and coming close to the town, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became very hungry and wanted to eat, and while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance 11and saw heaven open and something like a large linen sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the ground. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds of the air.
13Then a voice told him, gGet up, Peter! Kill something and eat it.h
14But Peter said, gAbsolutely not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean!h
15Again the voice came to him a second time, gYou must stop calling unclean what God has made clean.h 16This happened three times. Then the sheet was quickly taken back into heaven.
17While Peter was still at a loss to know what the vision he had seen could mean, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simonfs house and went to the gate. 18They called out and asked if Simon who was called Peter was staying there. 19Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit told him, gLook! Three men are looking for you. 20Get up, go downstairs, and donft hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.h
21So Peter went to the men and said, gIfm the man youfre looking for. Why are you here?h
22The men replied, gCornelius, a centurion and an upright and God-fearing man who is respected by the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his home to hear what you have to say.h
23So Peter welcomed them as his guests. The next day, he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him.
24The next day, they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together. 25When Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him, bowed down at his feet, and began to worship him. 26But Peter made him get up, saying, gStand up! I, too, am only a man.h
27As Peter talked with him, he went in and found that many people had gathered. 28He told them, gYou understand how wrong it is for a Jew to associate or visit with an unbeliever. But God has shown me that I should stop calling anyone common or unclean, 29and that is why I didnft hesitate when I was sent for. Now may I ask why you sent for me?h
30Cornelius replied, gFour days ago at this very hour, three ofclock in the afternoon, I was praying in my home. All at once a man in radiant clothes stood in front of me 31and said, eCornelius, your prayer has been heard. God has remembered your gifts to the poor 32so send messengers to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter, to come to you. He is a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker, by the sea.f 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say.h
34Then Peter began to speak: gNow I understand that God shows no partiality. 35Indeed, whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation. 36He has sent his word to the descendants of Israel and brought them the good news of peace through Jesus the Messiah. This man is the Lord of everyone. 37You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached. 38God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, he went around doing good and healing everyone who was oppressed by the devil. 39We are witnesses of everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews, including Jerusalem.
gThey hung him on a tree and killed him, 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear\ 41not to all the people, but to us who were chosen by God to be witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He also ordered us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify to this: everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name.h
44While Peter was still making this statement, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people who were listening to his message. 45Then the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles, too. 46For they heard them speaking in foreign languages and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47gNo one can stop us from using water to baptize these people who have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did, can they?h 48So Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Then they asked him to stay there for several days.
Chapter 11
1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who emphasized circumcision disagreed with him. 3They said, gYou went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!h
4Then Peter began to explain to them point by point what had happened. He said, 5gI was in the town of Joppa praying when in a trance I saw a vision: Something like a large linen sheet descended down from heaven, lowered by its four corners, and it came right down to me. 6When I examined it closely, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7I also heard a voice telling me, eGet up, Peter! Kill something and eat it.f 8But I replied, eAbsolutely not, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth!f 9Then the voice from heaven answered a second time, eYou must stop calling common what God has made clean!f 10This happened three times. Then everything was pulled back up to heaven.
11gAt that very moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea. 12The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitating. These six brothers went with me, too, and we entered the house of the man from Caesarea. 13Then he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his home and saying, eSend messengers to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. 14He will discuss with you how you and your entire household will be saved.f
15gWhen I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he was first given to us. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: eJohn baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.f 17Now if God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who was I to try to stop God?h
18When they heard this, they calmed down, and praised God, saying, gSo God has given repentance that leads to life even to gentiles.h
19Now the people who were scattered by the persecution that started because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20But among them were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began proclaiming the Lord Jesus even to the Hellenistic Jews. 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22When the church in Jerusalem heard this news, they sent Barnabas all the way to Antioch. 23When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what the grace of God had done, and with hearty determination he kept encouraging all of them to remain faithful to the Lord. 24For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord.
25Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he found him, he brought him to Antioch, and for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
27At that time some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus got up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world. This happened during the reign of Claudius. 29So all of the disciples decided they would send a contribution to the brothers living in Judea, as they were able, 30by sending it through Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Chapter 12
1About that time, Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church and mistreated them. 2He even had James the brother of John killed with a sword. 3When he saw how this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter, too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4When he arrested Peter, Herod put him in prison and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning to bring him out to the people after Passover season. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was being offered by the assembly.
6That very night, before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, and guards in front of the door were watching the prisoners. 7Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on his side, woke him up, and said, gGet up quickly!h His chains fell from his wrists. 8Then the angel told him, gTuck in your shirt and put on your sandals!h He did this. Then the angel told him, gPut on your coat and follow me!h 9So Peter went out and began to follow him, not realizing that what was being done by the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate that led into the city. It opened by itself for them, and they went outside and proceeded one block when the angel suddenly left him.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, gNow Ifm sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting!h
12When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where a large number of people had gathered and were praying. 13When he knocked at the outer gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14On recognizing Peterfs voice, she was so overjoyed that she didnft open the gate but ran back inside and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15The other people told her, gYoufre out of your mind!h But she kept insisting that it was so. Then they said, gItfs his angel.h
16Meanwhile, Peter kept on knocking and knocking. When they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. 17He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet, and then he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He added, gTell this to James and the brothers.h Then he left and went somewhere else.
18When morning came, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19Herod searched for him but didnft find him, so he questioned the guards and ordered them to be executed. Then he left Judea, went down to Caesarea, and stayed there for a while.
20Now Herod had been in a violent quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him as a group. After they had won over Blastus, who oversaw security for the kingfs sleeping quarters, they asked for a peace agreement because their country depended on the kingfs country for food. 21Therefore, at a set time Herod put on his royal robes, sat down on the royal seat, and made a speech to them. 22The people kept shouting, gThis is the voice of a god, not of a man!h 23Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the word of God continued to grow and spread.
25When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, bringing with them John who was also called Mark.
Chapter 13
1Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, gSet Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work for which I called them.h 3Then they fasted and prayed, laid their hands on them, and let them go. 4After they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5Arriving in Salamis, they began to preach Godfs word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John to help them.
6They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish occult practitioner and false prophet named Bar-jesus. 7He was associated with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the occult practitioner (that is the meaning of his name) continued to oppose them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked him straight in the eye 10and said, gYou are full of every form of deception and trickery, you son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right! You will never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord, will you? 11The Lord is against you now, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a while!h At that moment a dark mist came over him, and he went around looking for someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the Lordfs teaching.
13Then Paul and his men set sail from Paphos and arrived in Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and went back to Jerusalem. 14They left Perga and arrived in Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders asked them, gBrothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you may speak.h
16Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said:
gMen of Israel and you who fear God, listen! 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made them a great people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with a public display of power he led them out of there. 18After he had put up with them for 40 years in the wilderness, 19he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan. Then God gave their land to the Israelis as an inheritance 20for about 450 years.
gAfter that, he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21When they demanded a king, God gave them Kishfs son Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years. 22Then God removed Saul and made David their king, about whom he testified, eI have found that David, the son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my wishes.f 23It was from this manfs descendants that God, as he promised, brought to Israel a Savior, who is Jesus. 24Before Jesusf appearance, John had already preached a baptism of repentance to all the people in Israel. 25When John was finishing his work, he said, eWho do you think I am? I am not the Messiah. No, but he is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.f
26gMy brothers, descendants of Abrahamfs family, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the message of this salvation has been sent. 27For the people who live in Jerusalem and their leaders, not knowing who Jesus was, condemned him and so fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28Although they found no reason to sentence him to death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had finished doing everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he appeared to those who had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These are now his witnesses to the people. 32We are telling you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33he has fulfilled for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm, eYou are my Son. Today I have become your Father.f 34God raised him from the dead, never to experience decay, as he said, eI will give you the holy promises made to David.f 35In another Psalm he says, eYou will not let your Holy One experience decay.f 36For David, after he had served Godfs purpose in his own generation, died and was buried with his ancestors, and so he experienced decay. 37However, the man whom God raised did not experience decay.
38gTherefore, brothers, you must understand that through him the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and that everyone who believes in him is justified and freed from everything that kept you from being justified by the Law of Moses. 40So be careful that what the prophets said does not happen to you:
41eLook, you mockers!
Be amazed and die!
For I am performing an action in your days,
one that you would not believe
even if someone told you!fh
42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving, the people kept urging them to tell them the same things the next Sabbath. 43When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who kept talking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.
44The next Sabbath almost the whole town gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45But when the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to object to the statements made by Paul and even to abuse him.
46Then Paul and Barnabas boldly declared, gWe had to speak Godfs word to you first, but since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are now going to turn to the gentiles. 47For that is what the Lord ordered us to do: eI have made you a light to the gentiles to be the means of salvation to the very ends of the earth.fh
48When the gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. Meanwhile, all who had been destined to eternal life believed, 49and the word of the Lord began to spread throughout the whole region.
50But the Jewish leaders stirred up devout women of high social standing and the officials in the city, started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their territory. 51So Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52Meanwhile, the disciples continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 14
1In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3They stayed there a considerable time and continued to speak boldly for the Lord, who kept affirming his word of grace and granting signs and wonders to be done by them. 4But the people of the city were divided. Some were with the Jews, while others were with the apostles.
5Now when an attempt was made by both gentiles and Jews, along with their authorities, to mistreat and stone them, 6Paul and Barnabas found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding territory. 7There they kept telling the good news.
8Now in Lystra there was a man sitting down who couldnft use his feet. He had been crippled from birth and had never walked. 9He was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul watched him closely, and when he saw that he had faith to be healed, 10he said in a loud voice, gStand up straight on your feet!h Then the man jumped up and began to walk.
11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, gThe gods have become like men and have come down to us!h 12They began to call Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the main speaker. 13The priest of the temple of Zeus, which was just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates. He and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15gMen, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings with natures like yours. We are telling you the good news so youfll turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways, 17yet he has not abandoned his witness: he continues to do good, to give you rain from heaven, to give you fruitful seasons, and to fill you with food and your hearts with joy.h 18Even by saying this, it was all Paul and Barnabas could do to keep the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.
19But some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds by persuasion. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead. 20But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back to town. The next day, he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21As they were proclaiming the good news in that city, they discipled a large number of people. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, gWe must endure many hardships to get into the kingdom of God.h 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25They spoke the word in Perga and went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed. 27When they arrived, they called the church together and told them everything that God had done with them and how he had opened a door so that gentiles would believe. 28Then they spent a long time with the disciples.
Chapter 15
1Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, gUnless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you canft be saved.h 2Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. 3They were sent on their way by the church, and as they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers.
4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them. 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, gThe gentiles must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses.h
6So the apostles and the elders met to look into this claim. 7After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and told them, gBrothers, you know that in the early days, God chose me to be the one among you through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows everyonefs heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts. 10So why do you test God by putting on the disciplesf neck a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we could carry? 11We certainly believe that it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, that we are saved, just as they are.h
12The whole crowd was silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles. 13After Paul and Barnabas had finished speaking, James responded, gBrothers, listen to me: 14Simeon has explained how God first showed his concern for the gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name. 15This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
16egAfter this, I will come back
and set up Davidfs fallen tent again.
I will restore its ruined places
and set it up again
17so that the rest of the people may search for the Lord,
including all the gentiles who are called by my name,f
declares the Lord.
eHe is the one who has been doing these things
18that have been known from long ago.f
19gTherefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled, and from blood. 21After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are read aloud in the synagogues.h
22Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. 23They wrote this letter for them to deliver:
gFrom: The apostles and the elders, your brothers
To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
Greetings. 24We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you. 25So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul, 26who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements: 29to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye.h
30So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31When the people read it, they were pleased with how the letter encouraged them. 32Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting from the brothers to those who had sent them. 34- 35Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others.
36A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, gLetfs go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how theyfre doing.h 37Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark, 38but Paul did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work. 39The disagreement was so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40while Paul chose Silas and left after the brothers had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
Chapter 16
1Paul also went to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish wife whose husband was a Greek. 2Timothy was highly regarded by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted this man to go with him, so he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who lived in that region, because everyone knew that Timothyfs father was a Greek. 4As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey. 5So the churches continued to be strengthened in the faith and to increase in numbers every day.
6Because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia, Paul and Timothy went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. 7They went as far as Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them, 8so they bypassed Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia was standing there and pleading with him, gCome over to Macedonia and help us!h 10As soon as he had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia, because we were convinced that God had called us to tell the people there the good news.
11Sailing from Troas, we went straight to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, an important city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We were in this city for several days.
13On the Sabbath day, we went out the city gate and walked along the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there. 14A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple goods, was listening to us. She was a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to listen carefully to what was being said by Paul. 15When she and her family were baptized, she urged us, gIf you are convinced that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home.h And she continued to insist that we do so.
16Once, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling and who had brought her owners a great deal of money by predicting the future. 17She would follow Paul and us and shout, gThese men are servants of the Most High God and are proclaiming to you a way of salvation!h
18She kept doing this for many days until Paul became annoyed, turned to her and told the spirit, gI command you in the name of Jesus the Messiah to come out of her!h And it came out that very moment.
19When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the public square. 20They brought them before the magistrates and said, gThese men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They are Jews 21and are advocating customs that we are not allowed to accept or practice as Romans.h
22The crowd joined in the attack against them. Then the magistrates had Paul and Silas stripped of their clothes and ordered them beaten with rods. 23After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security. 24Having received these orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in leg irons.
25Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly, there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors immediately flew open, and everyonefs chains were unfastened.
27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, gDonft hurt yourself, because we are all here!h
29The jailer asked for torches and rushed inside. Trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas, 30he took them outside and asked, gSirs, what must I do to be saved?h
31They answered, gBelieve on the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved.h 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his home.
33At that hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized immediately. 34He brought Paul and Silas upstairs into his house and set food before them. He was thrilled, as was his household, to believe in God.
35When day came, the magistrates sent guards, who commanded, gRelease those men.h
36The jailer reported these words to Paul, and added, gThe magistrates have sent word to release you. So come out now and go in peace.h
37But Paul told the guards, gThe magistrates have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us into jail, even though we are Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? Certainly not! Have them come and escort us out.h
38The guards reported these words to the magistrates, and they became afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39So the magistrates came, apologized to them, and escorted them out. Then they asked them to leave the city. 40Leaving the jail, Paul and Silas went to Lydiafs house. They saw the brothers, encouraged them, and then left.
Chapter 17
1Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As usual, Paul entered there and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them. 3He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: gThis very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah.h
4Some of them were persuaded and began to be associated with Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men. 5But the Jewish leaders became jealous, and they took some contemptible characters who used to hang out in the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jasonfs home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the people. 6When they didnft find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, gThese fellows who have turned the world upside down have come here, too, 7and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperorfs decrees by saying that there is another king\Jesus!h
8The crowd and the city officials were upset when they heard this, 9but after they had gotten a bond from Jason and the others, they let them go.
10That night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so. 12Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men.
13But when the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they went there to upset and incite the crowds. 14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.
15The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to Athens and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left. 16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city full of idols. 17So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public square with anyone who happened to be there. 18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, gWhat is this blabbermouth trying to say?h while others said, gHe seems to be preaching about foreign gods.h This was because Paul was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, and asked, gMay we know what this new teaching of yours is? 20It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means.h 21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time doing nothing else other than listening to the latest ideas or repeating them.
22So Paul stood up in front of the Areopagus and said, gMen of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 23For as I was walking around and looking closely at the objects you worship, I even found an altar with this written on it: eTo an unknown god.f So I am telling you about the unknown object you worship. 24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesnft live in shrines made by human hands, 25and he isnft served by people as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the national boundaries within which they live, 27so that they might look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. Of course, he is never far from any one of us. 28For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: eFor we are his children, too.f 29So if we are Godfs children, we shouldnft think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by humans using their own imagination and skill. 30Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, 31because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.h
32When they heard about a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, gWe will hear you again about this.h 33And so Paul left the meeting. 34Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and some others along with them.
Chapter 18
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, 3and because they had the same trade he stayed with them. They worked together because they were tentmakers by trade. 4Every Sabbath he would speak in the synagogue, trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks. 5But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to the word as he emphatically assured the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. 6But when they began to oppose him and insult him, he shook out his clothes in protest and told them, gYour blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the gentiles.h
7Then he left that place and went to the home of a man named Titius Justus, who worshiped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8Now Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole family. Many Corinthians who heard Paul also believed and were baptized.
9One night, the Lord told Paul in a vision, gStop being afraid to speak out! Donft remain silent! 10For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you or harm you, because I have many people in this city.h 11So Paul lived there for a year and a half and continued to teach the word of God among the people there.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jewish leaders gathered together, attacked Paul, and brought him before the judgefs seat. 13They said, gThis man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the Law.h
14Paul was about to speak when Gallio admonished the Jewish leaders, gIf there were some misdemeanor or crime involved, it would be reasonable to put up with you Jews. 15But since it is a question about words, names, and your own Law, you will have to take care of that yourselves. I refuse to be a judge in these matters.h 16So he drove them away from the judgefs seat. 17Then all of them took Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and began beating him in front of the judgefs seat. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
18After staying there for quite a while longer, Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut in Cenchrea, since he was under a vow. 19When they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila there. Then he went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20They asked him to stay longer, but he refused. 21As he told them goodbye, he said, gI will come back to you again if it is Godfs will.h Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he arrived in Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem, greeted the church there, and then returned to Antioch. 23After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and well versed in the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the Lordfs way, and with spiritual fervor he kept speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only about Johnfs baptism. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained Godfs way to him more accurately.
27When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples there, urging them to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who, through Godfs grace, had believed. 28He successfully refuted the Jews in public and proved by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
Chapter 19
1It was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul passed through the inland districts and came to Ephesus. He found a few disciples there 2and asked them, gDid you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?h
They answered him, gNo, we havenft even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.h
3He then asked, gThen into what were you baptized?h
They answered, gInto Johnfs baptism.h
4Then Paul said, gJohn baptized when they repented, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.h 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in foreign languages and to prophesy. 7There were about twelve men in all.
8He went into the synagogue and spoke there boldly for three months, holding discussions and persuading those who heard him about the kingdom of God. 9But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and slandered the Way in front of the people, Paul left them, taking his disciples away with him, and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord. 11God continued to do extraordinary miracles through Paul. 12When handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his skin were taken to the sick, their diseases left them and evil spirits went out of them.
13Then some Jews who went around trying to drive out demons attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus on those who had evil spirits, saying, gI command you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches!h 14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
15But the evil spirit told them, gJesus I know, and I am getting acquainted with Paul, but who are you?h
16Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them, got the better of them, and so violently overpowered all of them that they fled out of the house naked and bruised. 17When this became known to everyone living in Ephesus, Jews and Greeks alike, they all became terrified, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in high honor. 18Many who became believers kept coming to confess and talk about what they had been doing. 19Moreover, many people who had practiced occult arts gathered their books and burned them in front of everybody. They estimated their value and found them to have been worth 50,000 silver coins. 20In that way the word of the Lord kept spreading and triumphing.
21After these things had happened, Paul decided to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem, saying, gAfter I have gone there, I must also see Rome.h 22Then he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia a while longer.
23Now about that time a great commotion broke out concerning the Way. 24By making silver shrines of Artemis, a silversmith named Demetrius provided a large income for skilled workers. 25He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, gMen, you well know that we get a good income from this business. 26You also see and hear that, not only in Ephesus, but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has won over and taken away a large crowd by telling them that gods made by human hands are not gods at all. 27There is a danger not only that our business will lose its reputation but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be brought into disrepute and that she will be robbed of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.h
28When they heard this, they became furious and began to shout, gGreat is Artemis of the Ephesians!h 29The city was filled with confusion, and the people rushed into the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paulfs fellow travelers from Macedonia. 30Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but the disciples wouldnft let him. 31Even some officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message urging him not to risk his life in the theater.
32Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, since the crowd was confused, and most of them didnft know why they were meeting. 33Some of the crowd concluded it was because of Alexander, since the Jews had pushed him to the front. So Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. 34But when they found out that he was a Jew, they all started to shout in unison for about two hours, gGreat is Artemis of the Ephesians!h
35When the city recorder had quieted the crowd, he said, gMen of Ephesus, who in the world doesnft know that this city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell down from heaven? 36Since these things cannot be denied, you must be quiet and not do anything reckless. 37For you have brought these men here, although they neither rob temples nor blaspheme our goddess. 38So if Demetrius and his workers have a charge against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They should accuse one another there. 39But if you want anything else, it must be settled in the regular assembly, 40because we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, and there is no good reason we can give to justify this commotion.h 41After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.
Chapter 20
1When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them. Then he said goodbye to them and left to go to Macedonia. 2He went through those regions and encouraged the people with everything he had to say. Then he went to Greece 3and stayed there for three months. When he was about to sail for Syria, a plot was initiated against him by the Jews, so he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4He was accompanied by Sopater (the son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. 5These men went on ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. 6After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and days later we joined them in Troas and stayed there for seven days.
7On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul began to address the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he went on speaking until midnight. 8Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in a window, began to sink off into a deep sleep as Paul kept speaking longer and longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down, bent over him, took him into his arms, and said, gStop being alarmed, because hefs still alive.h 11Then he went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. He talked with them for a long time, until dawn, and then left. 12They took the young man away alive and were greatly relieved.
13We proceeded to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we intended to pick up Paul. He had arranged it this way, since he had planned to travel there on foot. 14When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15We sailed from there and on the following day arrived off Chios. The next day, we crossed over to Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The day after that, we came to Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in Asia, as he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible.
17From Miletus he sent messengers to Ephesus to ask the elders of the church to meet with him. 18When they came to him, he told them, gYou know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day I set foot in Asia. 19I served the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20I never shrank from telling you anything that would help you nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house. 21I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
22gAnd now, compelled by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that in town after town the Holy Spirit assures me that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. 24But I donft place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of Godfs grace.
25gNow I know that none of you among whom I traveled preaching about the kingdom will ever see my face again. 26I therefore declare to you today that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, 27for I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God. 28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of Godfs church, which he acquired with his own blood. 29I know that when Ifm gone savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock. 30Indeed, some of your own men will arise and distort the truth in order to lure the disciples into following them. 31So be alert! Remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped tearfully warning each of you.
32gI am now entrusting you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and secure for you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33I never desired anyonefs silver, gold, or clothes. 34You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who were with me. 35In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we should help the weak and remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, eIt is more blessed to give than to receive.fh
36When Paul had said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37All of them cried and cried as they put their arms around Paul and kissed him affectionately. 38They were especially sorrowful because of what he had said\that they would never see his face again. Then they took him to the ship.
Chapter 21
1When we had torn ourselves away from those brothers, we sailed straight to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2There we found a ship going across to Phoenicia, so we went aboard and sailed on. 3We came in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it on our left, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4So we located some disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem, 5but when our time there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey. All of them with their wives and children accompanied us out of the city. We knelt on the beach, prayed, 6and said goodbye to each other. Then we reboarded the ship, and they went back home.
7When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, greeted the brothers there, and stayed with them for one day. 8The next day, we left and came to Caesarea. We went to the home of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 9He had four unmarried daughters who could prophesy.
10After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. 11He came to us, took Paulfs belt, and tied his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, gThe Holy Spirit says, eThis is how the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt. Then they will hand him over to the gentiles.fh 12When we heard this, we and the people who lived there begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13At this Paul replied, gWhat do you mean by crying and breaking my heart? Ifm ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus!h
14When he could not be persuaded otherwise, we remained silent except to say, gMay the Lordfs will be done.h
15When our time there ended, we got ready to go up to Jerusalem. 16Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to the home of Mnason to be his guests. He was from Cyprus and had been an early disciple. 17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers there welcomed us warmly.
18The next day, Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were present. 19After greeting them, Paul related one by one the things that God had done among the gentiles through his ministry. 20When they heard about it, they praised God and told him, gYou see, brother, how many tens of thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and all of them are zealous for the Law. 21But they have been told about you\that you teach all the Jews living among the gentiles to forsake the Law of Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. 22What is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. 24Take these men, go through the purification ceremony with them, and pay their expenses to shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you are carefully observing and keeping the Law. 25As for the gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our decision that they should keep away from food that has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality.h
26Then Paul took those men and the next day purified himself with them. Then he went into the Temple to announce the time when their days of purification would end and when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them. 27When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, seeing Paul in the Temple, stirred up a large crowd. They grabbed Paul, 28yelling, gMen of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere to turn against our people, the Law, and this place. More than that, he has even brought Greeks into the Temple and desecrated this Holy Place.h 29For they had earlier seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him and assumed that Paul had taken him into the Temple. 30The whole city was in chaos. The people rushed together, grabbed Paul, dragged him out of the Temple, and at once the doors were sealed shut.
31The crowd was trying to kill Paul when a report reached the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32Immediately the tribune took some soldiers and officers and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the tribune came up, grabbed Paul, and ordered him to be tied up with two chains. He then asked who Paul was and what he had done. 34Some of the crowd shouted this and some that. Since the tribune couldnft learn the facts due to the confusion, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. 35When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because the mob had become so violent. 36The crowd of people kept following him and shouting, gKill him!h
37Just as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the tribune, gMay I say something to you?h
The tribune asked, gOh, do you speak Greek? 38Youfre not the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led 4,000 assassins into the desert, are you?h
39Paul replied, gI am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. Please let me speak to the people.h 40The tribune gave him permission, and Paul, standing on the steps, motioned for the people to be silent. When everyone had quieted down, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language:
Chapter 22
1gBrothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I am now making before you.h 2When they heard him speaking to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet, and he continued:
3gI am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but raised in this city and educated at the feet of Gamaliel in the strict ways of our ancestral Law. I am as zealous for God as all of you are today. 4I persecuted this Way, even executing people, and kept tying up both men and women and putting them in prison, 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was going there to tie up those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.
6gBut while I was on my way and approaching Damascus about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, eSaul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?f
8gI answered, eWho are you, Lord?f
"He told me, eI am Jesus from Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.f 9The men who were with me saw the light but didnft understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10gThen I asked, eWhat am I to do, Lord?f
gThe Lord told me, eGet up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are destined to do.f 11Since I could not see because of the brightness of the light, the men who were with me took me by the hand and led me into Damascus.
12gA certain Ananias, who was a devout man with respect to the Law and who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, 13came to me. He stood beside me and said, eBrother Saul, receive your sight!f At that moment I could see him.
14gThen he said, eThe God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his own voice, 15because you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16What are you waiting for now? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.f
17gThen I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance 18and saw the Lord saying to me, eHurry up and get out of Jerusalem at once, because the people wonft accept your testimony about me.f
19gI said, eLord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I kept imprisoning and beating those who believe in you. 20Even when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing there approving it and guarding the coats of those who were killing him.f
21gThen he told me, eGo, because I will send you far away to the gentiles.fh
22Up to this point they listened to him, but then they began to shout, gAway with such a fellow from the earth! Hefs not fit to go on living!h 23While they were yelling, tossing their coats around, and throwing dirt into the air, 24the tribune ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks and told the soldiers to beat and question him in order to find out why the people were yelling at him like this.
25But when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul asked the centurion who was standing there, gIs it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasnft been condemned?h
26When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and told him, gWhat are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!h
27So the tribune went and asked Paul, gTell me, are you a Roman citizen?h
gYes,h he said.
28Then the tribune replied, gI paid a lot of money for this citizenship of mine.h
Paul said, gBut I was born a citizen.h 29Immediately those who were about to examine him stepped back, and the tribune was afraid when he found out that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had tied him up.
30The next day, since the tribune wanted to find out exactly what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, he released him and ordered the high priests and the entire Council to meet. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
Chapter 23
1Paul looked straight at the Council and said, gBrothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty before God up to this very day.h
2Then the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near him to strike him on the mouth. 3At this Paul told him, gGod will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there and judge me according to the Law and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?h
4The men standing near him asked, gDo you mean to insult Godfs high priest?h
5Paul answered, gI didnft realize, brothers, that he is the high priest. After all, it is written, eYou must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.fh
6When Paul saw that some of them were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he shouted in the Council, gBrothers, I am a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected.h
7After he said that, an angry quarrel broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided, 8because the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection and that there is no such thing as an angel or spirit, but the Pharisees believe in all those things.
9There was a great deal of shouting until some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued forcefully, gWe find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?h
 10The quarrel was becoming violent, and the tribune was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he ordered the soldiers to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks. 11That night the Lord stood near Paul and said, gHave courage! For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must testify in Rome, too.h
12In the morning, the Jewish leaders formed a conspiracy and took an oath not to eat or drink anything before they had killed Paul. 13More than 40 men formed this conspiracy. 14They went to the high priests and elders and said, gWe have taken a solemn oath not to taste any food before we have killed Paul. 15Now then, you and the Council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you on the pretext that you want to look into his case more carefully, but before he arrives wefll be ready to kill him.h
16But the son of Paulfs sister heard about the ambush, so he came and got into the barracks and told Paul. 17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, gTake this young man to the tribune, because he has something to tell him.h
18So the centurion took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, gThe prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.h
19The tribune took him by the hand, stepped aside to be alone with him, and asked, gWhat have you got to tell me?h
20He answered, gThe Jewish leaders have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council tomorrow as though they were going to examine his case more carefully. 21Donft believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink before they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.h
22The tribune dismissed the young man and ordered him not to tell anyone that he had notified him. 23Then he summoned two centurions and ordered, gGet 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine ofclock tonight, along with 70 mounted soldiers and 200 soldiers with spears. 24Provide a mount for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix.h 25He wrote a letter with this message:
26gFrom: Claudius Lysias
To: Governor Felix
Greetings, Your Excellency:
27This man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I went with the guard and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28I wanted to know the exact charge they were making against him, so I had him brought before their Council. 29I found that, although he was charged with questions about their Law, there was no charge against him deserving death or imprisonment. 30Since a plot against the man has been reported to me, I am at once sending him to you and have also ordered his accusers to present their charges against him before you.h
31So the soldiers, in keeping with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32The next day, they let the horsemen ride with Paul while they returned to their barracks. 33When these men came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34After reading the letter, the governor asked which province Paul was from. On learning that he was from Cilicia, 35he said, gI will hear your case when your accusers arrive.h Then he ordered Paul to be kept in custody in Herodfs palace.
Chapter 24
1Five days later, the high priest Ananias arrived with certain elders and Tertullus, an attorney, and they summarized their case against Paul before the governor. 2When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus opened the prosecution by saying:
gYour Excellency Felix, since we are enjoying lasting peace because of you, and since reforms for this nation are being brought about through your foresight, 3we always and everywhere acknowledge it with profound gratitude. 4But so as not to detain you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 5For we have found this man a perfect pest and an agitator among all Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader in the sect of the Nazarenes 6and even tried to profane the Temple, but we arrested him. 7- 8By examining him for yourself, you will be able to find out from him everything of which we accuse him.h
9The Jewish leaders supported his accusations by asserting that these things were true. 10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he replied:
gSince I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I am pleased to present my defense. 11You can verify for yourself that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago. 12They never found me debating with anyone in the Temple or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or throughout the city, 13and they cannot prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me. 14However, I admit to you that in accordance with the Way, which they call a heresy, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe in everything written in the Law and the Prophets. 15I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish\that there is to be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. 16Therefore, I always do my best to have a clear conscience before God and people. 17After many years, I have come back to my people to bring gifts for the poor and to offer sacrifices. 18They found me in the Temple doing these things just as I had completed the purification ceremony. No crowd or noisy mob was present. 19But some Jews from Asia were there, and they should be here before you to accuse me if they have anything against me. 20Otherwise, these men themselves should tell what wrong they found when I stood before the Council\ 21unless it is for the one thing I shouted as I stood among them: eIt is for the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.fh
22Felix was rather well informed about the Way, and so he adjourned the trial with the comment, gWhen Tribune Lysias arrives, I will decide your case.h 23He ordered the centurion to guard Paul but to let him have some freedom and not to keep any of his friends from caring for his needs.
24Some days later, Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Jesus the Messiah. 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, gFor the present you may go. When I get a chance, I will send for you again.h 26At the same time he was hoping to receive a bribe from Paul, and so he would send for him frequently to talk with him.
27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.
Chapter 25
1Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2The high priests and Jewish leaders informed him of their charges against Paul, urging 3and asking Festus to have Paul brought to Jerusalem as a favor. They were laying an ambush to kill him on the road.
4Festus replied that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself would be going there soon. 5gTherefore,h he said, ghave your authorities come down with me and present their charges against him there, if there is anything wrong with the man.h
 6Festus stayed with them no more than eight or ten days and then went down to Caesarea. The next day, he sat on the judgefs seat and ordered Paul brought in. 7When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and began bringing a number of serious charges against him that they couldnft prove. 8Paul said in his defense, gI have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews, or of the Temple, or of the emperor.h
9Then Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders a favor, asked Paul, gAre you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried there before me on these charges?h
10But Paul said, gI am standing before the emperorfs judgment seat where I ought to be tried. I havenft done anything wrong to the Jewish leaders, as you know very well. 11If I am guilty and have done something that deserves death, I am willing to die. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to the emperor!h
12Festus talked it over with the council and then answered, gTo the emperor you have appealed; to the emperor you will go!h
13After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14Since they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paulfs case before the king. He said, gThere is a man here who was left in prison by Felix. 15When I went to Jerusalem, the high priests and the Jewish elders informed me about him and asked me to condemn him. 16I answered them that it was not the Roman custom to sentence a man to be punished until the accused met his accusers face to face and had an opportunity to defend himself against the charge.
17gSo they came here with me, and the next day without any delay I sat down in the judgefs seat and ordered the man to be brought in. 18When his accusers stood up, they didnft accuse him of any of the crimes I was expecting. 19Instead, they had several arguments with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died\but Paul kept asserting he was alive. 20I was puzzled how I should investigate such matters, so I asked if he would like to go to Jerusalem and be tried there for these things. 21But Paul appealed his case and asked to be held in prison until the decision of his Majesty. So I ordered him to be held in custody until I could send him to the emperor.h
22Agrippa told Festus, gI would like to hear the man.h
gTomorrow,h he said, gyou will hear him.h
23The next day, Agrippa and Bernice arrived with much fanfare and went into the auditorium along with the tribunes and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24Then Festus said, gKing Agrippa and all you men who are present with us! You see this man about whom the whole Jewish nation petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25I find that he has not done anything deserving of death. But since he has appealed to his Majesty, I have decided to send him. 26I have nothing reliable to write our Sovereign about him, so I have brought him to all of you, and especially to you, King Agrippa, so that I will have something to write after he is cross-examined. 27For it seems to me absurd to send a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.h
Chapter 26
1Then Agrippa told Paul, gYou have permission to speak for yourself.h So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense.
2gI consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, that I can defend myself today against all the accusations of the Jewish leaders, 3since you are especially familiar with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen patiently to me. 4All the Jews know how I lived from the earliest days of my youth with my own people and in Jerusalem. 5They have known for a long time, if they would but testify to it, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the standards of our strictest religious party.
6gAnd now I stand here on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our ancestors. 7Our twelve tribes, worshiping day and night with intense devotion, hope to attain it. It is because of this hope, O King, that I am accused by the Jews. 8Why is it thought incredible by all of you that God should raise the dead? 9Indeed, I myself thought it my duty to take extreme measures against the name of Jesus from Nazareth. 10That is what I did in Jerusalem. I received authority from the high priests and locked many of the saints in prison. And when I cast my vote against them, they were put to death. 11I would even punish them frequently in every synagogue and try to make them blaspheme. Raging furiously against them, I would hunt them down even in distant cities.
12gThat is how I happened to be traveling to Damascus with authority based on a commission from the high priests. 13On the road at noon, O King, I saw a light from heaven that was brighter than the sun. It flashed around me and those who were traveling with me.
14gAll of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in the Hebrew language, eSaul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It is hurting you to keep on kicking against the cattle prods.f
15gI asked, eWho are you, Lord?f
gThe Lord answered, eI am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you to be my servant and witness of what you have seen and of what I will show you. 17I will continue to rescue you from your people and from the gentiles to whom I am sending you. 18You will help them understand and turn them from darkness to light and from Satanfs control to God, so that their sins will be forgiven and they will receive a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.f
19gAnd so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20Instead, I first told the people in Damascus and Jerusalem, then all the people in Judea\and after that the gentiles\to repent, turn to God, and perform deeds that are consistent with such repentance. 21For this reason the Jewish leaders grabbed me in the Temple and kept trying to kill me. 22I have had help from God to this day, and so I stand here to testify to both the powerful and the lowly alike, stating only what the prophets and Moses said would happen\ 23that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead and would bring light both to our people and to the gentiles.h
24As he continued his defense, Festus shouted, gYoufre out of your mind, Paul! Too much education is driving you crazy!h
25But Paul said, gIfm not out of my mind, Your Excellency Festus. Ifm reporting what is absolutely true. 26Indeed, the king knows about these things, and I can speak to him freely. For I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this wasnft done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe them!h
28Agrippa asked Paul, gCan you so quickly persuade me to become a Christian?h
29Paul replied, gWhether quickly or not, I wish to God that not only you but everyone listening to me today would become what I am\except for these chains!h
30Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and those who were sitting with him got up. 31As they were leaving, they began to say to each other, gThis man hasnft been doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.h
32Agrippa told Festus, gThis man could have been set free if he hadnft appealed to the emperor.h
Chapter 27
1When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were transferred to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the emperorfs division. 2After boarding a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the ports on the coast of Asia, we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.
3The next day, we arrived at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to visit his friends there and receive any care he needed. 4After putting out from there, we sailed on the sheltered side of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5We sailed along the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia and reached Myra in Lycia. 6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on it. 7We sailed slowly for a number of days and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus. Then, because the wind was against us, we sailed on the sheltered side of Crete off Cape Salome. 8Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9Much time had been lost, and because navigation had become dangerous and the day of fasting had already past, Paul began to warn those on the ship, 10gMen, I see that during this voyage there will be hardship and a heavy loss not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.h
11But the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship and not by what Paul said. 12Since the harbor was not a good place to spend the winter, most of the men favored putting out to sea from there on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix and spend the winter there. It is a Cretian harbor that faces southwest and northwest. 13When a gentle breeze began to blow from the south, they thought they could make it to Phoenix, so they hoisted anchor and began sailing along the shore of Crete.
14But it was not long before a violent wind (called a northeaster) swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught so that it couldnft face the wind, and we gave up and were swept along. 16As we drifted to the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the shipfs lifeboat. 17The shipfs crew pulled it up on deck and used ropes to brace the ship. Fearing that they would hit the large sandbank near Libya, they lowered the sail and drifted along. 18The next day, because we were being tossed so violently by the storm, they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day they threw the shipfs equipment overboard with their own hands. 20For a number of days neither the sun nor the stars were to be seen, and the storm continued to rage until at last all hope of our being saved vanished.
21After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood among his shipmates and said, gMen, you should have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete. You would have avoided this hardship and damage. 22But now I urge you to have courage because there will be no loss of life among you, but only loss of the ship. 23For just last night an angel of God, to whom I belong and whom I serve, stood by me 24and said, eStop being afraid, Paul! You must stand before the emperor. Indeed, God has given to you the lives of everyone who is sailing with you.f 25So take courage, men, because I trust God that it will turn out just as he told me. 26However, we will have to run aground on some island.h
27It was the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through the Adriatic Sea when about midnight the sailors suspected that land was near. 28After taking soundings, they found the depth to be twenty fathoms. A little later, they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms. 29Fearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and began praying for daylight to come. 30Meanwhile, the sailors had begun trying to escape from the ship. They lowered the lifeboat into the sea and pretended that they were going to lay out the anchors from the bow. 31Paul told the centurion and the soldiers, gUnless these men remain onboard, you cannot be saved.h 32Then the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and set it adrift.
33Right up to daybreak Paul kept urging all of them to eat something. He said, gToday is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, not eating anything. 34So I urge you to eat something, for it will help you survive, since none of you will lose so much as a hair from his head.h 35After he said this, he took some bread, thanked God in front of everyone, broke it, and began to eat. 36Everyone was encouraged and had something to eat. 37There were 276 of us on the ship. 38After they had eaten all they wanted, they began to lighten the ship by dumping its cargo of wheat into the sea.
39When day came, they didnft recognize the land, but they could see a bay with a beach on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if possible. 40So they cut the anchors free and left them in the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that held the steering oars, raised the foresail to the wind, and headed for the beach. 41But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow stuck and couldnft be moved, while the stern was broken to pieces by the force of the waves. 42The soldiersf plan was to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming ashore and escaping, 43but the centurion wanted to save Paul, so he prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to follow, some on planks and others on various pieces of the ship. In this way everyone got to shore safely.
Chapter 28
1When we were safely on shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2The people who lived there were unusually kind to us. It had started to rain and was cold, so they started a bonfire and invited us to join them around it. 3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put it on the fire. A poisonous snake was forced out by the heat and attached itself to Paulfs hand. 4When the people who lived there saw the snake hanging from his hand, they told one another, gThis man must be a murderer! He may have escaped from the sea, but Justice wonft let him live.h 5But he shook the snake into the fire and wasnft harmed. 6They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7The governor of the island, whose name was Publius, owned estates in that part of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us with great hospitality for three days. 8The father of Publius happened to be sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, and healed him by placing his hands on him. 9After that had happened, the rest of the sick people on the island went to him and were healed. 10The islanders honored us in many ways, and when we were about to sail again, they supplied us with everything we needed.
11Three months later, we continued our sailing onboard an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. It had the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 12We stopped at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13Then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. A day later, a south wind began to blow, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. After this, we arrived in Rome. 15The brothers there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged. 16When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
17Three days later, Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they assembled, he told them, gBrothers, although I havenft done anything against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18They examined me and wanted to let me go because there was no reason for me to receive the death penalty in my case. 19But the Jews objected and forced me to appeal to the emperor, even though I have no countercharge to bring against my own people. 20Thatfs why I asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the hope of Israel that Ifm wearing this chain.h
21The Jewish leaders told him, gWe havenft received any letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or mentioned anything bad about you. 22However, we would like to hear from you what you believe, because people are talking against this sect everywhere.h 23So they set a day to meet with Paul and came out in large numbers to see him where he was staying.
From morning until evening he continued to explain the kingdom of God to them, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others wouldnft believe. 25They disagreed with one another as they were leaving, so Paul added this statement: gThe Holy Spirit was so right when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah! 26He said,
eGo to this people and say,
gYou will listen and listen
but never understand,
and you will look and look
but never see!
27For this peoplefs minds have become stupid,
and their ears can barely hear,
and they have shut their eyes
so that they may never see with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart
and turn and let me heal them.hf
28You must understand that this message about Godfs salvation has been sent to the gentiles, and they will listen.h
29-
30For two whole years Paul lived in his own rented place and welcomed everyone who came to him. 31He continued to preach about the kingdom of God and to teach boldly and freely about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
Romans
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, a servant of Jesus the Messiah, called to be an apostle and set apart for Godfs gospel, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding his Son. He was a descendant of David with respect to his humanity 4and was declared by the resurrection from the dead to be the powerful Son of God according to the spirit of holiness\Jesus the Messiah, our Lord. 5Through him we received grace and a commission as an apostle to bring about faithful obedience among all the gentiles for the sake of his name. 6You, too, are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus the Messiah.
7To: Everyone in Rome, loved by God and called to be holy.
May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
8First of all, I thank my God through Jesus the Messiah for all of you, because the news about your faith is being reported throughout the world. 9For God, whom I serve with my spirit by preaching the gospel about his Son, is my witness how constantly I mention you 10in my prayers at all times, asking that somehow by Godfs will I may at last succeed in coming to you. 11For I am longing to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong, 12that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each otherfs faith, both yours and mine.
13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now), so that I might reap a harvest among you, just as I have among the rest of the gentiles. 14Both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to foolish people, I am a debtor. 15That is why I am so eager to proclaim the gospel to you who live in Rome, too.
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is Godfs power for the salvation of everyone who believes, of the Jew first and of the Greek as well. 17For in the gospel Godfs righteousness is being revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, gThe righteous will live by faith.h
18For Godfs wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of those who in their wickedness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God himself has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world Godfs invisible attributes\his eternal power and divine nature\have been understood and observed by what he made, so that people are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22Though claiming to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
24For this reason, God delivered them to sexual impurity as they followed the lusts of their hearts and dishonored their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged Godfs truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural. 27In the same way, their males also abandoned their natural sexual function toward females and burned with lust toward one another. Males committed indecent acts with males, and received within themselves the appropriate penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, because they did not think it worthwhile to keep knowing God fully, God delivered them to degraded minds to perform acts that should not be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, haughty, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to their parents, 31foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.32Although they know Godfs just requirement\that those who practice such things deserve to die\they not only do these things but even applaud others who practice them.
Chapter 2
1Therefore, you have no excuse\every one of you who judges. For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2Now we know that Godfs judgment against those who act like this is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on those who practice these things and then do them yourself, do you think you will escape Godfs judgment? 4Or are you unaware of his rich kindness, forbearance, and patience, that it is Godfs kindness that is leading you to repent?
5But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are reserving wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when Godfs righteous judgment will be revealed. 6For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done: 7eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing good; 8but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead. 9There will be suffering and anguish for every human being who practices doing evil, for Jews first and for Greeks as well. 10But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who practices doing good, initially for Jews but also for Greeks as well, 11because God does not show partiality.
12For all who have sinned apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. 13For it is not merely those who hear the Law who are righteous in Godfs sight. No, it is those who follow the Law, who will be justified. 14For whenever gentiles, who do not possess the Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. 15They show that what the Law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse them 16on that day when God, through Jesus the Messiah, will judge peoplefs secrets according to my gospel.
17Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the Law, and boast about God, 18and know his will, and approve of what is best because you have been instructed in the Law; 19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20an instructor of ignorant people, and a teacher of infants because you have the full content of knowledge and truth in the Law\ 21as you teach others, do you fail to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22As you forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? As you abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23As you boast about the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law? 24As it is written, gGodfs name is being blasphemed among the gentiles because of you.h
25For circumcision is valuable if you observe the Law, but if you break the Law, your having been circumcised has no more value than if you were uncircumcised. 26So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision, wonft it? 27The man who is uncircumcised physically but who keeps the Law will condemn you who break the Law, even though you have the written Law and circumcision. 28For a person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision something just external and physical. 29No, a person is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, brought about by the Spirit, not by a written law. That personfs praise will come from God, not from people.
Chapter 3
1What advantage, then, does the Jew have, or what value is there in circumcision? 2There are all kinds of advantages! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the utterances of God. 3What if some of the Jews were unfaithful? Their unfaithfulness cannot cancel Godfs faithfulness, can it? 4Of course not! God is true, even if everyone else is a liar. As it is written,
gYou are right when you speak,
and win your case when you go into court.h
5But if our unrighteousness serves to confirm Godfs righteousness, what can we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his wrath on us, is he? (I am talking in human terms.) 6Of course not! Otherwise, how could God judge the world? 7For if through my falsehood Godfs truthfulness glorifies him even more, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8Or can we say\as some people slander us by claiming that we say\gLetfs do evil that good may resulth? They deserve to be condemned!
9What, then, does this mean? Are we Jews any better off? Not at all! For we have already accused everyone, both Jews and Greeks, of being under the power of sin. 10As it is written,
gNot even one person is righteous.
11No one understands.
No one searches for God.
12All have turned away.
They have become completely worthless.
No one shows kindness, not even one person!
13Their throats are open graves.
With their tongues they deceive.
The venom of poisonous snakes is under their lips.
14Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
15They run swiftly to shed blood.
16Ruin and misery characterize their lives.
17They have not learned the path to peace.
18They donft fear God.
19Now we know that whatever the Law says applies to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore, God will not justify any human being by means of the actions prescribed by the Law, for through the Law comes the full knowledge of sin.
21But now, apart from the Law, Godfs righteousness is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets\ 22Godfs righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah\ for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people, 23since all have sinned and continue to fall short of Godfs glory. 24By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus, 25whom God offered as a place where atonement by the Messiahfs blood would occur through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past. 26He wanted to demonstrate at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies anyone who has the faithfulness of Jesus.
27What, then, is there to boast about? That has been eliminated. On what principle? On that of actions? No, but on the principle of faith. 28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the actions prescribed by the Law. 29Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the gentiles, too? Yes, of the gentiles, too, 30since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised by that same faith. 31Do we, then, abolish the Law by this faith? Of course not! Instead, we uphold the Law.
Chapter 4
1What, then, are we to say about Abraham, our human ancestor? 2For if Abraham was justified by actions, he would have had something to boast about\though not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? gAbraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.h
4Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. 5However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from actions:
7gHow blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven
and whose sins are covered!
8How blessed is the person whose sins
the Lord will never charge against him!h
9Now does this blessedness come to the circumcised alone, or also to the uncircumcised? For we say, gAbrahamfs faith was credited to him as righteousness.h 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or uncircumcised? He had not yet been circumcised, but was uncircumcised. 11Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them. 12He is also the ancestor of the circumcised\those who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. 14For if those who were given the Law are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15for the Law produces wrath. Now where there is no Law, neither can there be any violation of it.
16Therefore, the promise is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abrahamfs descendants\not only for those who were given the Law, but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17As it is written, gI have made you the father of many nations.h Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that donft yet exist. 18Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become gthe father of many nations,h just as he had been told: gThis is how many descendants you will have.h 19His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarahfs inability to have children, 20nor did he doubt Godfs promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, 21being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised. 22This is why git was credited to him as righteousness.h
23Now the words git was credited to himh were written not only for him 24but also for us. Our faith will be regarded in the same way, if we believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was sentenced to death because of our sins and raised to life to justify us.
Chapter 5
1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we have been established, and we boast because of our hope in Godfs glory. 3Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 5Now this hope does not disappoint us, because Godfs love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, the Messiah died for the ungodly. 7For it is rare for anyone to die for a righteous person, though somebody might be brave enough to die for a good person. 8But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners.
9Now that we have been justified by his blood, how much more will we be saved from wrath through him! 10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life! 11Not only that, but we also continue to boast about God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom we have now been reconciled.
12Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death resulted from sin, therefore everyone dies, because everyone has sinned. 13Certainly sin was in the world before the Law was given, but no record of sin is kept when there is no Law. 14Nevertheless, death ruled from the time of Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did when he disobeyed. He is a foreshadowing of the one who would come.
15But Godfs free gift is not like Adamfs offense. For if many people died as the result of one manfs offense, how much more have Godfs grace and the free gift given through the kindness of one man, Jesus the Messiah, been showered on many people! 16Nor can the free gift be compared to what came through the man who sinned. For the sentence that followed one manfs offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift brought justification, even after many offenses. 17For if, through one man, death ruled because of that manfs offense, how much more will those who receive such overflowing grace and the gift of righteousness rule in life because of one man, Jesus the Messiah!
18Consequently, just as one offense resulted in condemnation for everyone, so one act of righteousness results in justification and life for everyone. 19For just as through one manfs disobedience many people were made sinners, so also through one manfs obedience many people will be made righteous. 20Now the Law crept in so that the offense would increase. But where sin increased, grace increased even more, 21so that, just as sin ruled by bringing death, so also grace might rule by bringing justification that results in eternal life through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.
Chapter 6
1What should we say, then? Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2Of course not! How can we who died as far as sin is concerned go on living in it?
3Or donft you know that all of us who were baptized into union with the Messiah Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore, through baptism we were buried with him into his death so that, just as the Messiah was raised from the dead by the Fatherfs glory, we too may live an entirely new life. 5For if we have become united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old natures were crucified with him so that our sin-laden bodies might be rendered powerless and we might no longer be slaves to sin. 7For the person who has died has been freed from sin.
8Now if we have died with the Messiah, we believe that we will also live with him, 9for we know that the Messiah, who was raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10For when he died, he died once and for all as far as sin is concerned. But now that he is alive, he lives for God. 11In the same way, you too must continually consider yourselves dead as far as sin is concerned, but living for God through the Messiah Jesus.
12Therefore, do not let sin rule your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. 13Stop offering the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under Law but under grace.
15What, then, does this mean? Should we go on sinning because we are not under Law but under grace? Of course not! 16Donft you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey\either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thank God that, though you were once slaves of sin, you became obedient from your hearts to that form of teaching with which you were entrusted! 18And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.
19I am speaking in simple terms because of the frailty of your human nature. Just as you once offered the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater disobedience, so now, in the same way, you must offer the parts of your body as slaves to righteousness that leads to sanctification. 20For when you were slaves of sin, you were gfreeh as far as righteousness was concerned. 21What benefit did you get from doing those things you are now ashamed of? For those things resulted in death. 22But now that you have been freed from sin and have become Godfs slaves, the benefit you reap is sanctification, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with the Messiah Jesus our Lord.
Chapter 7
1Donft you realize, brothers\for I am speaking to people who know the Law\that the Law can press its claims over a person only as long as he is alive? 2For a married woman is bound by the Law to her husband while he is living, but if her husband dies, she is released from the Law concerning her husband. 3So while her husband is living, she will be called an adulterer if she lives with another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from this Law, so that she is not an adulterer if she marries another man.
4In the same way, my brothers, through the Messiahfs body you also died as far as the Law is concerned, so that you may belong to another person, the one who was raised from the dead, and may bear fruit for God. 5For while we were living according to our human nature, sinful passions were at work in our bodies by means of the Law, to bear fruit resulting in death. 6But now we have been released from the Law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old writings.
7What should we say, then? Is the Law sinful? Of course not! In fact, I wouldnft have become aware of sin if it had not been for the Law. I wouldnft have known what it means to covet if the Law had not said, gYou must not covet.h 8But sin seized the opportunity provided by this commandment and produced in me all kinds of sinful desires, since apart from the Law, sin is dead. 9At one time I was alive without any connection to the Law. But when the rule was revealed, sin sprang to life, 10and I died. I found that the very rule that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11For sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the rule, deceived me and used it to kill me. 12So then, the Law itself is holy, and the rule is holy, just, and good.
13Now, did something good bring me death? Of course not! But in order that sin might be recognized as being sin, it used something good to cause my death, so that through the rule, sin might become more exposed as being sinful than ever before. 14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am merely human, sold as a slave to sin. 15I donft understand what I am doing. For I donft practice what I want to do, but instead do what I hate. 16Now if I practice what I donft want to do, I am admitting that the Law is good. 17As it is, I am no longer the one who is doing it, but it is the sin that is living in me.
18For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I donft do the good I want to do, but instead do the evil that I donft want to do. 20But if I do what I donft want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it, but it is the sin that is living in me.
21So I find this to be a principle: when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me. 22For I delight in the Law of God in my inner being, 23but I see in my body a different principle waging war with the Law in my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin that exists in my body. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is infected by death? 25Thank God through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, because with my mind I myself can serve the Law of God, even while with my human nature I serve the law of sin.
Chapter 8
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus. 2For the Spiritfs law of life in the Messiah Jesus has set me free from the Law of sin and death. 3For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did. By sending his own Son in the form of humanity, he condemned sin by being incarnate, 4so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to human nature but according to the Spirit.
5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. 7That is why the mind that focuses on human nature is hostile toward God. It refuses to submit to the authority of Godfs Law because it is powerless to do so. 8Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since Godfs Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him. 10But if the Messiah is in you, your bodies are dead due to sin, but the spirit is alive due to righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then the one who raised the Messiah from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you.
12Consequently, brothers, we are not\with respect to human nature, that is\under an obligation to live according to human nature. 13For if you live according to human nature, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you continually put to death the activities of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by Godfs Spirit are Godfs children. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, gAbba! Father!h 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Godfs children. 17Now if we are children, we are heirs\heirs of God and co-heirs with the Messiah\if, in fact, we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. 19For the creation is eagerly awaiting the revelation of Godfs children, 20because the creation has become subject to futility, though not by anything it did. The one who subjected it did so in the certainty 21that the creation itself would also be set free from corrupting bondage in order to share the glorious freedom of Godfs children. 22For we know that all the rest of creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth up to the present time. 23However, not only the creation, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For we were saved with this hope in mind. Now a hope that can be observed is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet observe, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
26In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, since we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words, 27and the one who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to Godfs will. 28And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.
29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31What, then, can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32The one who did not spare his own Son, but offered him as a sacrifice for all of us, surely will give us all things, along with his Son, wonft he? 33Who will accuse Godfs elect? It is God who justifies! 34Who is the one to condemn? It is the Messiah Jesus who is interceding on our behalf. He died, and more importantly, has been raised and is seated at the right hand of God.
35Who will separate us from the Messiahfs love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this? 36As it is written,
gFor your sake we are being put to death all day long.
We are thought of as sheep headed for slaughter.h
37In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in union with the Messiah Jesus, our Lord.
Chapter 9
1I am telling the truth because I belong to the Messiah\I am not lying, and my conscience confirms it by means of the Holy Spirit. 2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart, 3for I could wish that I myself were condemned and cut off from the Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my own people, 4who are Israelis. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. 5To the Israelis belong the patriarchs, and from them, the Messiah descended, who is God over all, the one who is forever blessed. Amen.
6Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel, 7and not all of Abrahamfs descendants are his true descendants. On the contrary, gIt is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.h 8That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as Godfs children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants. 9For this is the language of the promise: gAt this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.h 10Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. 11Yet before their children had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that Godfs plan of election might continue to operate 12according to his calling and not by actions), Rebecca was told, gThe older child will serve the younger one.h 13So it is written, gJacob I loved, but Esau I hated.h
14What can we say, then? God is not unrighteous, is he? Of course not! 15For he says to Moses, gI will be merciful to the person I want to be merciful to, and I will be kind to the person I want to be kind to.h 16Therefore, Godfs choice does not depend on a personfs will or effort, but on God himself, who shows mercy. 17For the Scripture says about Pharaoh,
gI have raised you up for this very purpose,
to demonstrate my power through you
and that my name might be proclaimed
in all the earth.h
18Therefore, God has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.
19You may ask me, gThen why does God still find fault with anybody? For who can resist his will?h 20On the contrary, who are you\mere man that you are\to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, gWhy did you make me like this?h 21A potter has the right to do what he wants to with his clay, doesnft he? He can make something for a special occasion or something for ordinary use from the same lump of clay.
22Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, canft he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction? 23Canft he also reveal his glorious riches to the objects of his mercy that he has prepared ahead of time for glory\ 24including us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but from the gentiles as well? 25As the Scripture says in Hosea,
gThose who are not my people
I will call my people,
and the one who was not loved
I will call my loved one.
26In the very place where it was told them,
eYou are not my people,f
they will be called children of the living God.h
27Isaiah also calls out concerning Israel,
gAlthough the descendants of Israel
are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore,
only a few will be saved.
28For the Lord will carry out his plan decisively,
bringing it to completion on the earth.h
29It is just as Isaiah predicted:
gIf the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
had not left us some descendants,
we would have become like Sodom
and would have been compared to Gomorrah.h
30What can we say, then? Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have attained righteousness, a righteousness that comes through faith. 31But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law. 32Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble. 33As it is written,
gLook! I am placing a stone in Zion
over which people will stumble\
a large rock that will make them fall\
and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed.h
Chapter 10
1Brothers, my heartfs desire and prayer to God about the Jews is that they would be saved. 2For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge. 3For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to Godfs means to attain righteousness. 4For the Messiah is the culmination of the Law as far as righteousness is concerned for everyone who believes.
5For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law as follows: gThe person who obeys these things will find life by them.h 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, gDo not say in your heart, eWho will go up to heaven?f (that is, to bring the Messiah down), 7or eWho will go down into the depths?f (that is, to bring the Messiah back from the dead).h
8But what does it say? gThe message is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart.h This is the message about faith that we are proclaiming: 9If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with his heart and is justified, and declares with his mouth and is saved. 11The Scripture says, gEveryone who believes in him will never be ashamed.h 12There is no difference between Jew and Greek, because they all have the same Lord, who gives richly to all who call on him. 13gEveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.h
14How, then, can people call on someone they have not believed? And how can they believe in someone they have not heard about? And how can they hear without someone preaching? 15And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, gHow beautiful are those who bring the good news!h 16But not everyone has obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah asks, gLord, who has believed our message?h 17Consequently, faith results from listening, and listening results through the word of the Messiah.
18But I ask, gDidnft they hear?h Certainly they did! In fact,
gTheir voice has gone out into the whole world,
and their words to the ends of the earth.h
19Again I ask, gDid Israel not understand?h Moses was the first to say,
gI will make you jealous
by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry
by a nation that doesnft understand.h
20And Isaiah boldly says,
gI was found by those who were not looking for me;
I was revealed to those who were not asking for me.h
21But about Israel he says,
gAll day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and rebellious people.h
Chapter 11
1So I ask, gGod has not rejected his people, has he?h Of course not! I am an Israeli myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people whom he chose long ago. Do you not know what the Scripture says in the story about Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel? 3gLord, they have killed your prophets and demolished your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.h 4But what was the divine reply to him? gI have reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not knelt to worship Baal.h 5So it is at the present time: there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6But if this is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of actions. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
7What, then, does this mean? It means that Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking, but the selected group obtained it while the rest were hardened. 8As it is written,
gTo this day God has put them into deep sleep.
Their eyes do not see, and their ears do not hear.h
9And David says,
gLet their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a punishment for them.
10Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and keep their backs forever bent.h
11And so I ask, gThey have not stumbled so as to fall, have they?h Of course not! On the contrary, because of their stumbling, salvation has come to the gentiles to make the Jews jealous. 12Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their fall means riches for the gentiles, how much more will their full participation mean!
13I am speaking to you gentiles. Because I am an apostle to the gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in the hope that I can make my people jealous and save some of them. 15For if their rejection results in reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance bring but life from the dead? 16If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
17Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, 18do not boast about being better than the other branches. If you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19Then you will say, gBranches were cut off so that I could be grafted in.h 20Thatfs right! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you remain only because of faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid! 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you, either.
22Consider, then, the kindness and severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but Godfs kindness toward you\if you continue receiving his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off. 23If the Jews do not persist in their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in. 24After all, if you were cut off from what is naturally a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier it will be for these natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree!
25For I want to let you know about this secret, brothers, so that you will not claim to be wiser than you are: Stubbornness has come to part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles comes to faith. 26In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
gThe Deliverer will come from Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
27This is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.h
28As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake, but as far as election is concerned, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. 29For Godfs gifts and calling never change. 30For just as you disobeyed God in the past but now have received his mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they, too, have now disobeyed. As a result, they may receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you. 32For God has locked all people in the prison of their own disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
33O how deep are Godfs riches,
and wisdom, and knowledge!
How unfathomable are his decisions
and unexplainable are his ways!
34Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become his adviser?
35Or who has given him something
only to have him pay it back?h
36For all things are from him, by him, and for him.
Glory belongs to him forever! Amen.
Chapter 12
1I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of Godfs mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what Godfs will is\what is proper, pleasing, and perfect.
3For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you. 4For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function. 5In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in the Messiah and individual parts connected to each other. 6We have different gifts based on the grace that was given to us. So if your gift is prophecy, use your gift in proportion to your faith. 7If your gift is serving, devote yourself to serving others. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching others. 8If it is encouraging, devote yourself to encouraging others. If it is sharing, share generously. If it is leading, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping, help cheerfully.
9Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other. 11Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer. 13Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.
14Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them. 15Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying. 16Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are.
17Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people. 19Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for Godfs wrath. For it is written, gVengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.h 20But gif your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head.h 21Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Chapter 13
1Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by Godfs permission. The existing authorities have been established by God, 2so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. 4For they are Godfs servants, working for your good.
But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are Godfs servants to administer punishment to anyone who does wrong. 5Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities, not only for the sake of Godfs punishment, but also for the sake of your own conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers are Godfs servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work. 7Pay everyone whatever you owe them\taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due.
8Do not owe anyone anything\except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. 9For the commandments, gYou must not commit adultery; you must not murder; you must not steal; you must not covet,h and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: gYou must love your neighbor as yourself.h 10Love never does anything that is harmful to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law.
11This is necessary because you know the times\itfs already time for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers. 12The night is almost over, and the day is near. Letfs therefore put aside the actions of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Letfs behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy! 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and do not obey your flesh and its desires.
Chapter 14
1Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion. 2One person believes that he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3The person who eats any kind of food must not ridicule the person who does not eat them, and the person who does not eat certain foods must not criticize the person who eats them, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to criticize someone elsefs servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord\and stand he will, because the Lord makes him stand.
5One person decides in favor of one day over another, while another person decides that all days are the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind: 6The one who observes a special day, observes it to honor the Lord. The one who eats, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God. And the one who does not eat, refrains from eating to honor the Lord; yet he, too, gives thanks to God.
7For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. 8If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9For this reason the Messiah died and returned to life, so that he might become the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10Why, then, do you criticize your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For all of us will stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written,
gAs certainly as I live, declares the Lord,
every knee will bow to me,
and every tongue will praise God.h
12Consequently, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore, letfs no longer criticize each other. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14I know\and have been persuaded by the Lord Jesus\that nothing is unclean in and of itself, but it is unclean to a person who thinks it is unclean. 15For if your brother is being hurt by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not destroy the person for whom the Messiah died by what you eat. 16Do not allow what seems good to you to be spoken of as evil. 17For Godfs kingdom does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy produced by the Holy Spirit. 18For the person who serves the Messiah in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people. 19Therefore, letfs keep on pursuing those things that bring peace and that lead to building up one another.
20Do not destroy Godfs action for the sake of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make another person stumble because of what you eat. 21The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that makes your brother stumble, upset, or weak. 22As for the faith you do have, have it as your own conviction before God. How blessed is the person who has no reason to condemn himself because of what he approves! 23But the person who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act in faith; and anything that is not done in faith is sin.
Chapter 15
1Now we who are strong ought to be patient with the weaknesses of those who are not strong and must stop pleasing ourselves. 2Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building him up. 3For even the Messiah did not please himself. Instead, as it is written, gThe insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.h 4For everything that was written long ago was written to instruct us, so that we might have hope through the endurance and encouragement that the Scriptures give us.
5Now may God, the source of endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other as you follow the Messiah Jesus, 6so that with one mind and one voice you might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
7Therefore, accept one another, just as the Messiah accepted you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of Godfs truth in order to confirm the promises given to our ancestors, 9so that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
gThat is why I will praise you among the gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.h
10Again he says,
gRejoice, you gentiles, with his people!h
11And again,
gPraise the Lord, all you gentiles!
Let all the nations praise him.h
12And again, Isaiah says,
gThere will be a Root from Jesse.
He will rise up to rule the gentiles,
and the gentiles will hope in him.h
13Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are filled with goodness and full of all the knowledge you need to be able to instruct each other. 15However, on some points I have written to you rather boldly, both as a reminder to you and because of the grace given me by God 16to be a minister of the Messiah Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering brought by gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17Therefore, in the Messiah Jesus I have the right to boast about my work for God. 18For I am bold enough to tell you only about what the Messiah has accomplished through me in bringing gentiles to obedience. By my words and actions, 19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of Godfs Spirit, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of the Messiah from Jerusalem as far as Illyricum. 20My one ambition is to proclaim the gospel where the name of the Messiah is not known, so I donft build on someone elsefs foundation. 21Rather, as it is written,
gThose who were never told about him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.h
22This is why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as Ifve desired to do for many years. 24Now that I am on my way to Spain, I hope to see you when I come your way and, after I have enjoyed your company for a while, to be sent on by you.
25Right now, however, Ifm going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints, 26because the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have been eager to share their resources with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27Yes, they were eager to do this, and in fact they are obligated to help them, for if the gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to be of service to them in material things.
28So when I have completed this task and have put my seal on this contribution of theirs, I will visit you on my way to Spain. 29And I know that when I come to you I will come with the full blessing of the Messiah.
30Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and by the love that the Spirit produces, to join me in my struggle, earnestly praying to God for me 31that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32and that if itfs Godfs will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
33Now may the God who grants peace be with all of you! Amen.
Chapter 16
1Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess in the church at Cenchrea. 2Welcome her in the Lord as is appropriate for saints, and provide her with anything she may need from you, for she has assisted many people, including me.
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me for the Messiah Jesus, 4and who risked their necks for my life. I am thankful to them, and so are all the churches among the gentiles. 5Greet also the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first convert to the Messiah in Asia. 6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who are in prison with me and are prominent among the apostles. They belonged to the Messiah before I did. 8Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in the Messiah, and my dear friend Stachys. 10Greet Apelles, who has been approved by the Messiah. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the family of Narcissus, who belong to the Lord. 12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard for the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has toiled diligently for the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, the one chosen by the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of the Messiah greet you.
17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements that oppose the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them, 18because such people are not serving the Messiah our Lord, but their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19For your obedience has become known to everyone, and I am full of joy for you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with all of you!
21Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22I, Tertius, who penned this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius, who is host to me and the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you. 24May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with all of you!
25Now to the one who is able to strengthen you with my gospel and the message that I preach about Jesus, the Messiah, by revealing the secret that was kept hidden from long ago 26but now has been made known through the prophets to all the gentiles, in keeping with the decree of the eternal God to bring them to the obedience that springs from faith\ 27to the only wise God, through Jesus the Messiah, be glory forever! Amen.
First Corinthians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, called to be an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God, and from our brother Sosthenes.
2To: Godfs church in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified by the Messiah Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah\their Lord and ours.
3May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
4I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given you by the Messiah Jesus. 5For by him you have become rich in every way\in speech and knowledge of every kind\ 6while our testimony about the Messiah has been confirmed among you. 7Therefore, you donft lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus the Messiah to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the Day of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 9Faithful is the God by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.
10Brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, I urge all of you to be in agreement and not to have divisions among you, so that you may be perfectly united in your understanding and opinions. 11My brothers, some members of Chloefs family have made it clear to me that there are quarrels among you. 12This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, gI belong to Paul,h or gI belong to Apollos,h or gI belong to Cephas,h or gI belong to the Messiah.h
13Is the Messiah divided? Paul wasnft crucified for you, was he? You werenft baptized in Paulfs name, were you? 14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16(Oh yes, I also baptized the family of Stephanas. Beyond that, Ifm not sure whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah wonft be emptied of its power.
18For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is Godfs power to us who are being saved. 19For it is written,
gI will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject.h
20Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? God has turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense, hasnft he? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe through the nonsense of our preaching. 22Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach the Messiah crucified. He is a stumbling block to Jews and nonsense to gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah is Godfs power and Godfs wisdom. 25For Godfs nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and Godfs weakness is stronger than human strength.
26Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is nonsense in the world to make the wise feel ashamed. God chose what is weak in the world to make the strong feel ashamed. 28And God chose what is insignificant in the world, what is despised, what is nothing, in order to destroy what is something, 29so that no one may boast in Godfs presence. 30It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written, gThe person who boasts must boast in the Lord.h
Chapter 2
1When I came to you, brothers, I didnft come and tell you about Godfs secret with rhetorical language or wisdom. 2For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified. 3It was in weakness, fear, and great trembling that I came to you. 4My message and my preaching were not accompanied by clever, wise words, but by a display of the Spiritfs power, 5so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on Godfs power.
6However, when we are among mature people, we do speak a message of wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world, who are passing off the scene. 7Instead, we speak about Godfs wisdom in a hidden secret, which God destined before the world began for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this world understood it, because if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written,
gNo eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
the things that God has prepared
for those who love him.h
10But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.
11Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except Godfs Spirit. 12Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God. 13We donft speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people. 14A person who isnft spiritual doesnft accept the things of Godfs Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He canft understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. 15The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one elsefs evaluation. 16For
gWho has known the mind of the Lord
so that he can advise him?h
However, we have the mind of the Messiah.
Chapter 3
1Brothers, I couldnft talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in the Messiah. 2I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you werenft ready for it. And youfre still not ready! 3Thatfs because you are still worldly. As long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, you are worldly and living by human standards, arenft you? 4For when one person says, gI follow Paul,h and another person says, gI follow to Apollos,h youfre following your own human nature, arenft you?
5Who is Apollos, anyhow? Or who is Paul? Theyfre merely servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord gave to each of us his task. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept everything growing. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is significant, but God, who keeps everything growing, is the one who matters. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and each will receive a reward for his own action. 9For we are Godfs co-workers. You are Godfs farmland and Godfs building.
10As an expert builder using the grace that God gave me, I laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. 11After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that is Jesus the Messiah. 12Whether a person builds on this foundation with gold, silver, expensive stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13the workmanship of each person will become evident, for the day of judgment will show what it is, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each personfs action. 14If what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but it will be like going through fire.
16You know that you are Godfs sanctuary and that Godfs Spirit lives in you, donft you? 17If anyone destroys Godfs sanctuary, God will destroy him, for Godfs sanctuary is holy. And you are that sanctuary!
18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in the ways of this world, he must become a fool to become really wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is nonsense in Godfs sight. For it is written,
gHe catches the wise with their own trickery,h
20and again,
gThe Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless.h
21So let no one boast about human beings, since everything belongs to you, 22whether Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present, or the future\everything belongs to you, 23but you belong to the Messiah, and the Messiah belongs to God.
Chapter 4
1Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with Godfs secrets. 2Now it is required of servant managers that each one should prove to be trustworthy. 3It is a very small thing to me that I should be examined by you or by any human court. In fact, I donft even evaluate myself. 4For my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. 5Therefore, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise from God.
6Brothers, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what the Scriptures say. Then you will stop boasting about one person at the expense of another.
7For who makes you superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it? 8You already have all you want! You have already become rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, and for people to stare at. 10We are fools for the Messiahfs sake, but you are wise in the Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present. 12We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. 13When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe.
14Ifm not writing this to make you feel ashamed, but to warn you as my dear children. 15You may have 10,000 mentors who work for the Messiah, but not many fathers. For in the Messiah Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16So I urge you to imitate me. 17Thatfs why I sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and dependable son in the Lord and will help you remember how I live for the Messiah Jesus as I teach everywhere in every church.
18Some of you have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to evaluate you. 19But I will come to you soon if itfs the Lordfs will. Then Ifll discover not only what these arrogant people are saying but also what power they have, 20for the kingdom of God isnft just talk, but also power. 21Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit?
Chapter 5
1It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, and of a kind that is not found even among the gentiles. A man is actually living with his fatherfs wife! 2And you are being arrogant instead of being filled with grief and seeing to it that the man who did this is removed from among you. 3Even though I am away from you physically, I am with you in spirit. I have already passed judgment on the man who did this, as though I were present with you. 4In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are gathered together (and I am there in spirit), and the power of our Lord Jesus is there, too, 5turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
6Your boasting is not good. You know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough, donft you? 7Get rid of the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, since you are to be free from yeast. For the Messiah, our Passover, has been sacrificed. 8So letfs keep celebrating the festival, neither with old yeast nor with yeast that is evil and wicked, but with yeast-free bread that is both sincere and true.
9I wrote to you in my letter to stop associating with people who are sexually immoral\ 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, greedy, robbers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing to you to stop associating with any so-called brother if he is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunk, or a robber. You must even stop eating with someone like that. 12After all, is it my business to judge outsiders? You are to judge those who are in the community, arenft you? 13God will judge outsiders. gExpel that wicked man.h
Chapter 6
1When one of you has a complaint against another, does he dare to take the matter before those who are unrighteous and not before the saints? 2You know that the saints will rule the world, donft you? And if the world is going to be ruled by you, canft you handle insignificant cases? 3You know that we will rule angels, not to mention things in this life, donft you? 4So if you have cases dealing with this life, why do you appoint as judges people who have no standing in the church? 5I say this to make you feel ashamed. Has it come to this, that there is not one person among you who is wise enough to settle disagreements between brothers? 6Instead, one brother goes to court against another brother, and before unbelieving judges, at that! 7The very fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves is already a defeat for you. Why not rather just accept the wrong? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves practice doing wrong and cheating others, and brothers at that!
9You know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God, donft you? Stop deceiving yourselves! Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, 10thieves, greedy people, drunks, slanderers, and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11That is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and by the Spirit of our God.
12Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me. 13Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will make them both unnecessary. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14God raised the Lord, and by his power he will also raise us.
15You know that your bodies belong to the Messiah, donft you? Should I take what belongs to the Messiah and unite them with a prostitute? Certainly not! 16You know that the person who unites himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her, donft you? For it is said, gThe two will become one flesh.h 17But the person who unites himself with the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
18Keep on running away from sexual immorality. Any other sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the person who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19You know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, donft you? You do not belong to yourselves, 20because you were bought for a price. Therefore, glorify God with your bodies.
Chapter 7
1Now about what you asked: gIs it advisable for a man not to marry?h 2Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.
3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband. 4A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesnft have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5Do not withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so just for a set time, in order to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again so that Satan does not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 6But I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I would like everyone to be unmarried, like I am. However, each person has a special gift from God, one this and another that.
8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me. 9However, if they cannot control themselves, they should get married, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10To married people I give this command (not really I, but the Lord): A wife must not leave her husband. 11But if she does leave him, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. Likewise, a husband must not abandon his wife.
12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not abandon her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not abandon him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him go. In such cases the brother or sister is not under obligation. God has called you to live in peace. 16Wife, you might be able to save your husband. Husband, you might be able to save your wife.
17Nevertheless, everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him and to which God called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18Was anyone circumcised when he was called? He should not try to change that. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not get circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying Godfs commandments is everything. 20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that bother you. Of course, if you have a chance to become free, take advantage of the opportunity. 22For the slave who has been called to belong to the Lord is the Lordfs free person. In the same way, the free person who has been called is the Messiahfs slave. 23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people. 24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.
25Now concerning virgins, although I do not have any command from the Lord, I will give you my opinion as one who by the Lordfs mercy is trustworthy. 26In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is. 27Have you become committed to a wife? Stop trying to get released from your commitment. Have you been freed from your commitment to a wife? Stop looking for one. 28But if you do get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will experience trouble in this life, and I want to spare you from that.
29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not own a thing, 31and those who use the things in the world as though they were not dependent on them. For the world in its present form is passing away.
32I want you to be free from concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, that is, about how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about things of this world, that is, about how he can please his wife, 34and so his attention is divided.
An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, that is, about how she can please her husband. 35Ifm saying this for your benefit, not to put a noose around your necks, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.
36If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, and if his passion is so strong that he feels he ought to marry her, let him do what he wants; he isnft sinning. Let them get married. 37However, if a man stands firm in his resolve, feels no necessity, and has made up his mind to keep her a virgin, he will be acting appropriately. 38So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord. 40However, in my opinion she will be happier if she stays as she is. And in saying this, I think that I, too, have Godfs Spirit.
Chapter 8
1Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2If anyone thinks he really knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it. 3But anyone who loves God is known by him.
4Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in this world and that there is only one God. 5For even if there are ggodsh in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called ggodsh and glordsh), 6yet for us
there is only one God, the Father,
from whom everything came into being
and for whom we live.
And there is only one Lord, Jesus the Messiah,
through whom everything came into being
and through whom we live.
7But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idolatry that when they eat food that has been offered to an idol, their conscience becomes contaminated because it is weak. 8However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat food that has been offered to an idol, and no better off if we do.
9But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block for those who are weak. 10For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, who know better, eating in an idolfs temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, wonft he? 11In that case, the weak brother for whom the Messiah died is ruined by your knowledge. 12When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against the Messiah. 13Therefore, if food that I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from stumbling.
Chapter 9
1I am free, am I not? I am an apostle, am I not? I have seen Jesus our Lord, havenft I? You are the result of my work in the Lord, arenft you? 2If I am not an apostle to other people, surely I am one to you, for you are the evidence of my apostolic authority from the Lord.
3This is my defense to those who would examine me: 4We have the right to earn our food, donft we? 5We have the right to take a believing wife with us like the other apostles, the Lordfs brothers, and Cephas, donft we? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to keep on working for a living? 7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its grapes? Or who takes care of a flock and does not drink any of its milk? 8I am not saying this on human authority, am I? The Law says the same thing, doesnft it? 9For in the Law of Moses it is written, gYou must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.h God is not only concerned about oxen, is he? 10Isnft he really speaking for our benefit? Yes, this was written for our benefit, because the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? 12If others enjoy this right over you, donft we have a stronger claim? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we tolerate everything in order not to put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of the Messiah.
13You know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and that those who serve at the altar get their share of its offerings, donft you? 14In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living from the gospel.
15But I have not used any of these rights, and Ifm not writing this so that they may be applied in my case. I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason for boasting. 16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this obligation has been entrusted to me. How terrible it would be for me if I didnft preach the gospel! 17For if I preach voluntarily, I get a reward, but if I am unwilling to do it, I am still entrusted with that obligation. 18What, then, is my reward? It is to be able to preach the gospel free of charge, and so I never resort to demanding my rights when Ifm preaching the gospel.
19Although I am free from everyonefs expectations, I have made myself a servant to all of them to win more people. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew in order to win Jews. To those under the Law I became like a man under the Law, in order to win those under the Law (although I myself am not under the Law). 21To those who do not have the Law, I became like a man who does not have the Law in order to win those who do not have the Law. However, I am not free from Godfs Law, but Ifm subject to the Messiahfs law. 22To the weak I became weak in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some of them. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel in order to have a share in its blessings.
24You know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize, donft you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious. 25Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that withers away, but we run to win a prize that never fades. 26That is the way I run, with a clear goal in mind. That is the way I fight, not like someone shadow boxing. 27No, I keep on disciplining my body, making it serve me so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified.
Chapter 10
1Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the fact that all of our ancestors who left Egypt were under the cloud. They all went through the sea, 2and they all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that went with them. That rock was the Messiah. 5But God wasnft pleased with most of those people, and so they were struck down in the wilderness.
6Now their experiences serve as examples for us so that we wonft set our hearts on evil as they did. 7Letfs stop being idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, gThe people sat down to eat and drink and got up to play.h 8Letfs stop sinning sexually, as some of them were doing, and on a single day 23,000 fell dead. 9Letfs stop putting the Lord to the test, as some of them were doing, and were destroyed by snakes. 10You must stop complaining, as some of them were doing, and were annihilated by the destroyer. 11These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained. 12Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing securely should watch out so he doesnft fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.
14And so, my dear friends, keep on running away from idolatry. 15I am talking to sensible people. Apply what I am saying to yourselves. 16The cup of blessing that we bless is our fellowship in the blood of the Messiah, isnft it? The bread that we break is our fellowship in the body of the Messiah, isnft it? 17Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, because all of us eat from the same loaf.
18Look at the Israelis from a human point of view. Those who eat the sacrifices share in what is on the altar, donft they? 19Am I suggesting that an offering made to idols means anything, or that an idol itself means anything? 20Hardly! What they offer, they offer to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot dine with the Lord and dine with demons, 22or youfll provoke the Lord to jealousy, wonft you? Are we stronger than he is?
23Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. 24No one should seek his own welfare, but rather his neighborfs.
25Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without raising any question about it on the grounds of conscience, 26for gthe earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.h 27If an unbeliever invites you to his house and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you, raising no question on the grounds of conscience. 28However, if someone says to you, gThis was offered as a sacrifice,h donft eat it, both out of consideration for the one who told you and also for the sake of conscience. 29I mean, of course, his conscience, not yours. For why should my freedom be determined by someone elsefs conscience? 30If I eat with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of what I am thankful for?
31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32Donft become a stumbling block to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I myself try to please everybody in every way. I donft look out for my own benefit, but rather for the benefit of many people, so that they might be saved.
Chapter 11
1Imitate me, as I do the Messiah. 2I praise you for remembering everything I told you and for holding to the traditions that I passed on to you.
3Now I want you to realize that the Messiah is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head, 5and every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, which is the same as having her head shaved. 6So if a woman does not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. If it is a disgrace for a woman to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her own head.
7A man should not cover his head, because he exists as Godfs image and glory. But the woman is manfs glory. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9and man was not created for woman, but woman for man. 10This is why a woman should have authority over her own head: because of the angels.
11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But everything comes from God. 13Decide for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Nature itself teaches you neither that it is disgraceful for a man to have long hair 15nor that hair is a womanfs glory, since hair is given as a substitute for coverings. 16But if anyone wants to argue about this, we do not have any custom like this, nor do any of Godfs churches.
17Now I am not praising you in giving you the following instructions. When you gather, it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For in the first place, I hear that when you gather as a church there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. 19Of course, there must be factions among you to show which of you are genuine!
20When you gather in the same place, it is not to eat the Lordfs Supper. 21For as you eat, each of you rushes to eat his own supper, and one person goes hungry while another gets drunk. 22You have homes in which to eat and drink, donft you? Or do you despise Godfs church and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you\how the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, 24gave thanks for it, and broke it in pieces, saying, gThis is my body that is for you. Keep doing this in memory of me.h 25He did the same with the cup after the supper, saying, gThis cup is the new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink from it, keep doing this in memory of me.h 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you proclaim the Lordfs death until he comes.
27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the cup in an unworthy manner will be held responsible for the Lordfs body and blood. 28A person must examine himself and then eat the bread and drink from the cup, 29because whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30Thatfs why so many of you are weak and sick and a considerable number are dying. 31But if we judged ourselves correctly, we would not be judged. 32Now, while we are being judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so we wonft be condemned along with the world.
33Therefore, my brothers, when you gather to eat, wait for each other. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather it may not bring judgment on you. And when I come I will give instructions concerning the other matters.
Chapter 12
1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I donft want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were unbelievers, you were enticed and led astray to worship idols that couldnft even speak. 3For this reason I want you to be aware that no one who is speaking by Godfs Spirit can say, gJesus is cursed,h and no one can say, gJesus is Lord,h except by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, 5and there are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord. 6There are varieties of results, but it is the same God who produces all the results in everyone.
7To each person has been given the ability to manifest the Spirit for the common good. 8To one has been given a message of wisdom by the Spirit; to another the ability to speak with knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit; 10to another miraculous results; to another prophecy; to another the ability to distinguish between spirits; to another various kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 11But one and the same Spirit produces all these results and gives what he wants to each person.
12For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, form a single body, so it is with the Messiah. 13For by one Spirit all of us\Jews and Greeks, slaves and free\were baptized into one body and were all privileged to drink from one Spirit.
14For the body does not consist of only one part, but of many. 15If the foot says, gSince Ifm not a hand, Ifm not part of the body,h that does not make it any less a part of the body, does it? 16And if the ear says, gSince Ifm not an eye, Ifm not part of the body,h that does not make it any less a part of the body, does it? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now God has arranged the parts, every one of them, in the body according to his plan. 19Now if all of it were one part, there wouldnft be a body, would there? 20So there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, gI donft need you,h or the head to the feet, gI donft need you.h 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are in fact indispensable, 23and the parts of the body that we think are less honorable are treated with special honor, and we make our less attractive parts more attractive. 24However, our attractive parts donft need this. But God has put the body together and has given special honor to the parts that lack it, 25so that there might be no disharmony in the body, but that its parts should have the same concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is praised, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the Messiahfs body and individual parts of it. 28God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speak various kinds of languages. 29Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? 30Not all have the gift of healing, do they? Not all speak in foreign languages, do they? Not all interpret, do they? 31Keep on desiring the better gifts. And now I will show you the best way of all.
Chapter 13
1If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. 3Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but have no love, I gain nothing.
4Love is always patient;
love is always kind;
love is never envious
or arrogant with pride.
Nor is she conceited,
5and she is never rude;
she never thinks just of herself
or ever gets annoyed.
She never is resentful;
6is never glad with sin;
shefs always glad to side with truth,
and pleased that truth will win.
7She bears up under everything;
believes the best in all;
there is no limit to her hope,
and never will she fall.
8Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete. 10But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.
11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. 12Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Chapter 14
1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. 2For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit. 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. 4The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.
6Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching? 7In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if therefs no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? 8For example, if a bugle doesnft sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? Youfll be talking into the air!
 10There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If I donft know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12In the same way, since youfre so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.
 13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. 14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive. 15What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind. 16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person say gAmenh to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what youfre saying? 17Itfs good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person. 18I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you. 19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.
20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults. 21In the Law it is written,
gBy means of foreign languages
and through the mouths of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,h
declares the Lord.
22Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers. 23Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, wonft they? 24But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything thatfs happening. 25His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, gGod is truly among you!h
26What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding. 27If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret. 28If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. 30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. 31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34the women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral law also says. 35If they want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out in church.
36Did Godfs word originate with you? Are you the only people it has reached? 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lordfs command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored.
39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages. 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.
Chapter 15
1Now Ifm making known to you, brothers, the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you accepted, on which you have taken your stand, 2and by which you are also being saved if you hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you\unless, of course, your faith was worthless.
3For I passed on to you the most important points that I received: The Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures\and is still alive!\ 5and he was seen by Cephas, and then by the Twelve. 6After that, he was seen by more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Next he was seen by James, then by all the apostles, 8and finally he was seen by me, as though I were born abnormally late.
9For I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted Godfs church. 10But by Godfs grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others\not I, of course, but Godfs grace that was with me. 11So, whether it was I or the others, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
12Now if we preach that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, how can some of you keep claiming there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then the Messiah has not been raised, 14and if the Messiah has not been raised, then our message means nothing and your faith means nothing. 15In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God because we testified on Godfs behalf that he raised the Messiah\whom he did not raise if in fact it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then the Messiah has not been raised, 17and if the Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless and you are still imprisoned by your sins. 18Yes, even those who have died believing in the Messiah are lost. 19If we have set our hopes on the Messiah in this life only, we deserve more pity than any other people.
20But at this moment the Messiah stands risen from the dead, the first one offered in the harvest of those who have died. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in the Messiah will all be made alive. 23However, this will happen to each person in the proper order: first the Messiah, then those who belong to the Messiah when he comes. 24Then the end will come, when after he has done away with every ruler and every authority and power, the Messiah hands over the kingdom to God the Father. 25For he must rule until God puts all the Messiahfs enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be done away with is death, 27for gGod has put everything under his feet.h Now when he says, gEverything has been put under him,h this clearly excludes the one who put everything under him. 28But when everything has been put under him, then the Son himself will also become subject to the one who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
29Otherwise, what will those people do who are being baptized because of those who have died? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they being baptized because of them? 30And why in fact are we being endangered every hour? 31I face death every day! That is as certain, brothers, as it is that I am proud of you in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord. 32If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus from merely human motives, what do I get out of it? If the dead are not raised,
gLetfs eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.h
33Stop being deceived:
gWicked friends lead to evil ends.h
34Come back to your senses as you should, and stop sinning! For some of you\I say this to your shame\donft fully know God.
35But someone will ask, gHow are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come back?h 36You fool! The seed you plant does not come to life unless it dies, 37and what you plant is not the form that it will be, but a bare kernel, whether it is wheat or something else. 38But God gives the plant the form he wants it to have, and to each kind of seed its own form. 39Not all flesh is the same. Humans have one kind of flesh, animals in general have another, birds have another, and fish have still another. 40There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of those in heaven is of one kind, and that of those on earth is of another. 41One kind of splendor belongs to the sun, another to the moon, and still another to the stars. In fact, one star differs from another star in splendor.
42This is how it will be at the resurrection of the dead. What is planted is decaying, what is raised cannot decay. 43The body is planted in a state of dishonor but is raised in a state of splendor. It is planted in weakness but is raised in power. 44It is planted a physical body but is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.
45This, indeed, is what is written: gThe first man, Adam, became a living being.h The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual does not come first, but the physical does, and then comes the spiritual. 47The first man came from the dust of the earth; the second man came from heaven. 48Those who are made of the dust are like the man from the dust; those who are heavenly are like the man who is from heaven. 49Just as we have borne the likeness of the man who was made from dust, we will also bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
50Brothers, this is what I mean: Mortal bodies cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what decays cannot inherit what does not decay. 51Let me tell you a secret. Not all of us will die, but all of us will be changed\ 52in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed. 53For what is decaying must be clothed with what cannot decay, and what is dying must be clothed with what cannot die. 54Now, when what is decaying is clothed with what cannot decay, and what is dying is clothed with what cannot die, then the written word will be fulfilled: gDeath has been swallowed up by victory!h
55gWhere, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?h
56Now deathfs stinger is sin, and sinfs power is the Law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the Messiah!
58Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isnft wasted.
Chapter 16
1Now concerning the collection for the saints, you should follow the directions I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2After the Sabbath ends, each of you should set aside and save something from your surplus in proportion to what you have, so that no collections will have to be made when I arrive. 3When I arrive, I will send letters along with the men you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it is worthwhile for me to go, too, they can go with me.
5I will visit you when I go through Macedonia\for I intend to go through Macedonia\ 6and will probably stay with you for a while or even spend the winter with you. Then you can send me on my way, wherever I decide to go. 7I do not want to visit with you now just in passing, because I hope to spend a longer time with you if the Lord permits. 8However, Ifll stay on in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9because a door has opened wide for me to do effective work, although many people are opposing me.
10If Timothy comes, see to it that he does not have anything to be afraid of while he is with you, for he is doing the Lordfs work as I am. 11Therefore, no one should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me, because I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but he was not inclined to do so just now. However, he will visit you when the time is right.
13Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong. 14Everything you do should be done lovingly. 15Now I urge you, brothers\for you know that the members of the family of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to serving the saints\ 16to submit yourselves to people like these and to anyone else who shares their labor and hard work. 17I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus came here, because what was lacking they have supplied through you. 18They refreshed my spirit\and yours, too. Therefore, appreciate men like that.
19The churches in Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca and the church in their house greet you warmly in union with the Lord. 20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand.
22If anyone doesnft love the Lord,
let him be condemned!
May our Lord come!
23May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you!
24May my love remain with all of you
in union with the Messiah Jesus.
Second Corinthians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.
To: Godfs church in Corinth, and to all the holy people throughout Achaia.
2May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! He is our merciful Father and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our suffering, so that we may be able to comfort others in all their suffering, as we ourselves are being comforted by God. 5For as the Messiahfs sufferings overflow into us, so also our comfort overflows through the Messiah. 6If we suffer, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are suffering. 7Our hope for you is unshaken, because we know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort.
8For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about the suffering we experienced in Asia. We were so crushed beyond our ability to endure that we even despaired of living. 9In fact, we felt that we had received a death sentence so we would not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will continue to rescue us. Yes, he is the one on whom we have set our hope, and he will rescue us again, 11as you also help us by your prayers for us. Then many people will thank God on our behalf because of the favor shown us through the prayers of many.
12For this is what we boast about: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world with pure motives and godly sincerity, without earthly wisdom but with Godfs grace\especially toward you. 13For what we are writing you is nothing more than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely, 14just as you have already understood us partially, so that on the Day of our Lord Jesus we can be your reason to boast, even as you are ours.
15Because I was confident, I planned to come to you first so you might receive a double blessing. 16I planned to leave you in order to go to Macedonia, and then come back to you from Macedonia, and let you send me on to Judea.
17When I planned this, I did not do it lightly, did I? Are my plans so fickle that I can say gYesh and gNoh at the same time? 18As certainly as God is faithful, we havenft talked to you with mixed messages like that. 19For Godfs Son, Jesus the Messiah, who was preached among you by us\by me, Silvanus, and Timothy\was not gYesh and gNo.h But with him it is always gYes.h 20For all Godfs promises are gYesh in him. And so through him we can say gAmen,h to the glory of God. 21Now the one who makes us\and you as well\secure in union with the Messiah and has anointed us is God, 22who has placed his seal on us and has given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.
23I call upon God as a witness on my behalf that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24It is not that we are trying to rule over your faith, but rather to work with you for your joy, because you have been standing firm in the faith.
Chapter 2
1Now I decided not to pay you another painful visit. 2After all, if I were to grieve you, who should make me happy but the person I am making sad? 3This is the very reason I wrote you, so that when I did come I might not be made sad by those who should have made me happy. For I had confidence that all of you would share the joy that I have. 4I wrote to you out of great sorrow and anguish of heart\along with many tears\not to make you sad but to let you know how much love I have for you.
5But if anyone has caused grief, he didnft cause me any grief. To some extent\I donft want to emphasize this too much\it has affected all of you. 6This punishment by the majority is severe enough for such a man. 7So forgive and comfort him, or else he will drown in his excessive grief. 8Thatfs why Ifm urging you to assure him of your love. 9I had also written to you to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in every way. 10When you forgive someone, I do, too. Indeed, what I have forgiven\if there was anything to forgive\I did in the presence of the Messiah for your benefit, 11so that we may not be outsmarted by Satan. After all, we are not unaware of his intentions.
12When I went to Troas on behalf of the gospel of the Messiah, the Lord opened a door for me, 13but my spirit could not find any relief, because I couldnft find Titus, my brother. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
14But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly by the Messiah and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him. 15To God we are the aroma of the Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. 16To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a living fragrance. Who is qualified for this? 17At least we are not commercializing Godfs word like so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiahfs name, like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God.
Chapter 3
1Are we beginning to recommend ourselves again? Unlike some people, we do not need letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? 2You are our letter, written in our hearts and known and read by everyone. 3You are demonstrating that you are the Messiahfs letter, produced by our service, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4Such is the confidence that we have in God through the Messiah. 5By ourselves we are not qualified to claim that anything comes from us. Rather, our credentials come from God, 6who has also qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, which is not written but spiritual, because the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
7Now if the ministry of death that was inscribed in letters of stone came with such glory that the people of Israel could not gaze on Mosesf face (because the glory was fading away from it), 8will not the Spiritfs ministry have even more glory? 9For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, then the ministry of justification has an overwhelming glory. 10In fact, that which once had glory lost its glory, because the other glory surpassed it. 11For if that which fades away came through glory, how much more does that which is permanent have glory?
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we speak very boldly, 13not like Moses, who kept covering his face with a veil to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of what was fading away. 14However, their minds were hardened, for to this day the same veil is still there when they read the old covenant. Only in union with the Messiah is that veil removed. 15Yet even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lordfs Spirit is, there is freedom. 18As all of us reflect the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, we are becoming more like him with ever-increasing glory by the Lordfs Spirit.
Chapter 4
1Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown to us, we do not get discouraged. 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use trickery or pervert Godfs word. By clear statements of the truth we commend ourselves to everyonefs conscience before God.
3So if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying. 4In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is the image of God.
 5For we do not preach ourselves, but rather Jesus the Messiah as Lord, and ourselves as merely your servants for Jesusf sake. 6For God, who said, gLet light shine out of darkness,h has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of Godfs glory in the face of Jesus the Messiah.
7But we have this treasure in clay jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us. 8In every way wefre troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair, 9persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. 10We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies. 11While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesusf sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies. 12And so death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13Now since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with this Scripture: gI believed, and so I spoke,h we also believe and therefore speak. 14We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to God together with you. 15All this is for your sake so that, as his grace spreads, more and more people will give thanks and glorify God.
 16Thatfs why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day. 17This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting weight of glory, far beyond any comparison, 18because we do not look for things that can be seen but for things that cannot be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that cannot be seen are eternal.
Chapter 5
1We know that if the earthly tent we live in is torn down, we have a building in heaven that comes from God, an eternal house not built by human hands. 2For in this one we sigh, since we long to put on our heavenly dwelling. 3Of course, if we do put it on, we will not be found without a body. 4So while we are still in this tent, we sigh under our burdens, because we do not want to put it off but to put it on, so that our dying bodies may be swallowed up by life. 5God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit as a guarantee.
6Therefore, we are always confident, and we know that as long as we are at home in this body we are away from the Lord. 7For we live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away from home, our goal is to be pleasing to him. 10For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what he has done in his body, whether good or worthless.
11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade people. We ourselves are perfectly known to God. I hope we are also really known to your consciences. 12We are not recommending ourselves to you again but are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who are proud of outward things rather than inward character. 13So if we were crazy, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you. 14The love of the Messiah controls us, for we are convinced of this: that one person died for all people; therefore, all people have died. 15He died for all people, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose for them.
16So then, from now on we do not think of anyone from a human point of view. Even if we did think of the Messiah from a human point of view, we donft think of him that way anymore. 17Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and\look!\all things have become new!
18All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19for through the Messiah, God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us. 20Therefore, we are the Messiahfs representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on the Messiahfs behalf: gBe reconciled to God!h 21God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that Godfs righteousness would be produced in us.
Chapter 6
1Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept Godfs grace in vain. 2For he says,
gAt the right time I heard you,
and on a day of salvation I helped you.h
Listen, now is really the gright timeh! Now is the gday of salvationh!
3We do not put an obstacle in anyonefs way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry. 4Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are Godfs servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities; 5in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; 6with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands; 8through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived as deceivers and yet true, 9as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet\as you see\very much alive, as punished and yet not killed, 10as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.
11We have spoken frankly to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open. 12We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us. 13Do us a favor\I ask you as my children\and open wide your hearts.
14Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony exists between the Messiah and Beliar, or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? 16What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said:
gI will live and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.h
17Therefore,
gGet away from them
and separate yourselves from them,h
declares the Lord,
gand donft touch anything unclean.
Then I will welcome you.
18I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,h
declares the Lord Almighty.
Chapter 7
1Since we have these promises, dear friends, letfs cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.
2Make room for us in your hearts! We have not treated anyone unjustly, harmed anyone, or cheated anyone. 3I am not saying this to condemn you. I told you before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. 4I have great confidence in you. I am very proud of you. I am very much encouraged. I am overjoyed in all our troubles.
5For even when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest. We suffered in a number of ways. Outwardly there were conflicts, inwardly there were fears. 6Yet God, who comforts those who feel miserable, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, 7and not only by his arrival but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing for me, your sorrow, and your eagerness to take my side, and this made me even happier.
8If I made you sad with my letter, I do not regret it, although I did regret it then. I see that the letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while. 9Now I am happy, not because you had such sorrow, but because your sorrow led you to repent. For you were sorry in a godly way, and so you were not hurt by us in any way. 10For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death.
11See what great earnestness godly sorrow has produced in you! How ready you are to clear yourselves, how indignant, how alarmed, how full of longing and enthusiasm, how eager to seek justice! In every way you have demonstrated that you are innocent in this matter. 12So, even though I wrote to you, it wasnft because of the man who did the wrong or because of the man who was hurt. Instead, I wrote to you so that your devotion to us might be made perfectly clear to you before God. 
13This is what comforted us. In addition to our own comfort, we were even more delighted at the joy of Titus, because his spirit had been set at rest by all of you. 14For if I have been doing some boasting about you to him, I have never been ashamed of it. Moreover, since everything we told you was true, our boasting to Titus has also proved to be true. 15His affection for you is even greater as he remembers how obedient all of you were and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.
Chapter 8
1We want you to know, brothers, about Godfs grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia. 2In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous. 3I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability. 4They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this ministry to the saints. 5We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was Godfs will. 6So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it. 7Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.
8I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.
10I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it. 11Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it. 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.
13Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness. 14At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair. 15As it is written,
gThe person who had much did not have too much,
and the person who had little did not have too little.h
16But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have. 17He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will. 18With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel. 19More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help. 20We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking. 21We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.
22We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much confidence in you.
23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah. 24Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.
Chapter 9
1I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to the saints. 2For I know how willing you are, and I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year, and your enthusiasm has stimulated most of them. 3Now I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter may not prove to be an idle boast, and so that you may stand ready, just as I said. 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find out that you are not ready, we would be humiliated\to say nothing of you\in this undertaking. 5Therefore, I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to visit you ahead of me, to make arrangements in advance for this gift you promised, and to have it ready as something given generously and not forced.
6Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. 9As it is written,
gHe scatters everywhere and gives to the poor;
his righteousness lasts forever.h
10Now he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness. 11In every way you will grow richer and become even more generous, and this will cause others to give thanks to God because of us, 12since this ministry you render is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, it is also overflowing with more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God. 13Because your service in giving proves your love, you will be glorifying God as you obey what your confession of the Messiahfs gospel demands, since you are generous in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And so in their prayers for you they will long for you because of Godfs exceptional grace that was shown to you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Chapter 10
1Now I myself, Paul, plead with you with the gentleness and kindness of the Messiah\I who am humble when I am face to face with you but forceful toward you when I am away! 2I beg you that when I come I will not need to be courageous by daring to oppose some people who think that we are living according to the flesh. 3Of course, we are living in the world, but we do not wage war in a world-like way. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not those of the world. Instead, they have the power of God to demolish fortresses. We tear down arguments 5and every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive in order to obey the Messiah. 6Once your obedience is complete, we will be ready to reprimand every type of disobedience.
7Look at the plain facts! If anyone is confident that he belongs to the Messiah, he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to the Messiah, so do we. 8So if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave us to build you up and not to tear you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
9I do not want you to think that I am trying to frighten you with my letters. 10For someone is saying, gHis letters are impressive and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.h 11Someone like this should take note of the following: What we say by letter when we are absent is what we will do when present!
12We would not dare put ourselves in the same class with, or compare ourselves to, those who recommend themselves. Whenever they measure themselves by their own standards or compare themselves among themselves, they show how foolish they are. 13We will not boast about what cannot be evaluated. Instead, we will stay within the field that God assigned us, so as to reach even you. 14For it is not as though we were overstepping our limits when we came to you. We were the first to reach you with the gospel of the Messiah. 15We are not boasting about work done by others that cannot be evaluated. On the contrary, we cherish the hope that your faith may continue to grow and enlarge our sphere of action among you until it overflows. 16Then we can preach the gospel in the regions far beyond you without boasting about things already accomplished by someone else.
17gThe person who boasts should boast in the Lord.h 18It is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person whom the Lord commends.
Chapter 11
1I wish you would tolerate a little of my foolishness. Yes, please tolerate me! 2I am jealous of you with Godfs own jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to the Messiah. 3However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.
4For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you are all too willing to listen. 5I do not think Ifm inferior in any way to those gsuper-apostles.h 6Even though I may be untrained as an orator, I am not so in the field of knowledge. We have made this clear to all of you in every possible way.
7Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by proclaiming to you the gospel of God free of charge, so that you could be exalted? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9When I was with you and needed something, I did not bother any of you, because our brothers who came from Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
10As surely as the truth of the Messiah is in me, my boasting will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do!
12But I will go on doing what Ifm doing in order to deny an opportunity to those people who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in the work they are boasting about. 13Such people are false apostles, dishonest workers who are masquerading as apostles of the Messiah. 14And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their doom will match their deeds!
16I will say it again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, then treat me like a fool so that I can also boast a little. 17When I talk as a confident boaster, I am not talking with the Lordfs authority but like a fool. 18Since many people boast in a fleshly way, I will do it, too. 19You are wise, so you will gladly be tolerant of fools. 20You tolerate anyone who makes you his slaves, devours what you have, takes what is yours, orders you around, or slaps your face!
21I am ashamed to admit it, but we have been too weak for that. Whatever anyone else dares to claim\I am talking like a fool\I can claim it, too. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelis? So am I. Are they among Abrahamfs descendants? So am I. 23Are they the Messiahfs servants? I am insane to talk like this, but I am a far better one! I have been involved in far greater efforts, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, and have faced death more than once. 24Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with a stick, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night. 26I have traveled extensively and have been endangered from rivers, robbers, my own people, and gentiles. Ifve also been in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea, from false brothers, 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, through hunger, thirst, many periods of fasting, coldness, and nakedness. 28Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches. 29Who is weak without me being weak, too? Who is caused to stumble without me becoming indignant?
30If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me, 33but I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.
Chapter 12
1I must boast, although it does not do any good. Letfs talk about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man who belongs to the Messiah. Fourteen years ago\whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows\that man was snatched away to the third heaven. 3I know that this man\whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows\ 4was snatched away to Paradise and heard things that cannot be expressed in words, things that no human being has a right even to mention.
5I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about me.
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satanfs messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.
8I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, 9but he has told me, gMy grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.h Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiahfs power may rest on me. 10That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiahfs sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. Really, I should have been commended by you, for I am not in any way inferior to your gsuper-apostles,h even if I am nothing. 12The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience\signs, wonders, and powerful actions. 13How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong! 14Now Ifm ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents their children. 15I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?
16Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick? 17I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I? 18I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent along with him the brother you know so well. Titus didnft take advantage of you, did he? We conducted ourselves with the same spirit, didnft we? We took the very same steps, didnft we?
19Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up. 20I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. 21I am afraid that when I come my God may again humble me before you and that I may have to grieve over many who formerly lived in sin and have not repented of their impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity that they once practiced.
Chapter 13
1This will be the third time I am coming to you. gEvery accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses.h 2I have already warned those who sinned previously and all the rest. Although I am absent now, I am warning them as I did on my second visit: If I come back, I will not spare you, 3since you want proof that the Messiah is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is making his power felt among you. 4Though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by Godfs power. We are weak with him, but by Godfs power we will live for you.
5Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, donft you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? 6I hope you will realize that we havenft failed our test. 7We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong\not to show that we have not failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for\your maturity.
10For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.
11Finally, brothers, goodbye. Keep on growing to maturity. Keep listening to my appeals. Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All the saints greet you.
14May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you!
Galatians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul\an apostle not sent from men or by a man, but by Jesus the Messiah, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead\ 2and all the brothers who are with me.
To: The churches in Galatia.
3May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours! 4He gave himself for our sins in order to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father. 5To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of the Messiah and, instead, are following a different gospel, 7not that another one really exists. To be sure, there are certain people who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel about the Messiah. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned! 9What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be condemned! 10Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be the Messiahfs servant.
11For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin. 12For I did not receive it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it was revealed to me by Jesus the Messiah. 13For you have heard about my earlier life in Judaism\how I kept violently persecuting Godfs church and was trying to destroy it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries, because I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
15But when God, who set me apart before I was born and who called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him among the gentiles, I did not confer with another human being at any time, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went away to Arabia and then came back to Damascus.
18Then three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19But I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lordfs brother. 20(Before God, what Ifm writing to you is the truth.) 21Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22But the churches of the Messiah that are in Judea did not yet know me personally. 23The only thing they kept hearing was this: gThe man who used to persecute us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy!h 24So they kept glorifying God for what had happened to me.
Chapter 2
1Then fourteen years later, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus with me. 2I went in response to a revelation, and in a private meeting with the reputed leaders, I explained to them the gospel that Ifm proclaiming to the gentiles. I did this because I was afraid that I was running or had run my lifefs race for nothing. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, was forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4However, false brothers were secretly brought in. They slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in the Messiah Jesus so that they might enslave us. 5But we did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you.
6Now those who were reputed to be important added nothing to my message. (What sort of people they were makes no difference to me, since God pays no attention to outward appearances.) 7In fact, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised. 8For the one who worked through Peter by making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me by sending me to the gentiles. 9So when James, Cephas, and John (who were reputed to be leaders) recognized the grace that had been given me, they gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10The only thing they asked us to do was to remember the destitute, the very thing I was eager to do.
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong. 12Until some men arrived from James, he was in the habit of eating with the gentiles, but after those men came, he withdrew from the gentiles and would not associate with them any longer, because he was afraid of the circumcision party. 13The other Jews also joined him in this hypocritical behavior, to the extent that even Barnabas was caught up in their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, gThough you are a Jew, you have been living like a gentile and not like a Jew. So how can you insist that the gentiles must live like Jews?h
15We ourselves are Jews by birth, and not gentile sinners, 16yet we know that a person is not justified by doing what the Law requires, but rather by the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. We, too, have believed in the Messiah Jesus so that we might be justified by the faithfulness of the Messiah and not by doing what the Law requires, for no human being will be justified by doing what the Law requires. 17Now if we, while trying to be justified by the Messiah, have been found to be sinners, does that mean that the Messiah is serving the interests of sin? Of course not! 18For if I rebuild something that I tore down, I demonstrate that I am a wrongdoer. 19For through the Law I died to the Law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with the Messiah. 20I no longer live, but the Messiah lives in me, and the life that I am now living in this body I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not misapply Godfs grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing.
Chapter 3
1You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified? 2I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the actions of the Law or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? Having started out with the Spirit, are you now ending up with the flesh? 4Did you suffer so much for nothing? (If it really was for nothing!) 5Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do the actions of the Law or because you believe what you heard? 6In the same way, Abraham gbelieved God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.h
7You see, then, that those who have faith are Abrahamfs real descendants. 8Because the Scripture saw ahead of time that God would justify the gentiles by faith, it announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand when it said, gThrough you all nations will be blessed.h 9Therefore, those who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the one who believed.
10Certainly all who depend on the actions of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, gA curse on everyone who does not obey everything that is written in the Book of the Law!h 11Now it is obvious that no one is justified in the sight of God by the Law, because gThe righteous will live by faith.h 12But the Law has nothing to do with faith. Instead, gThe person who keeps the commandments will have life in them.h 13The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written, gA curse on everyone who is hung on a tree!h 14This happened in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the gentiles through the Messiah Jesus, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
15Brothers, let me use an example from everyday life. Once a personfs will has been ratified, no one can cancel it or add conditions to it. 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It doesnft say gdescendants,h referring to many, but gyour descendant,h referring to one person, who is the Messiah. 17This is what I mean: The Law that came 430 years later did not cancel the covenant that God ratified previously. The promise was never nullified. 18For if the inheritance comes about through the Law, it no longer comes about through the promise. But it was through a promise that God so graciously gave it to Abraham.
19Why, then, was the Law added? Because of transgressions, until the descendant came about whom the promise pertained. It was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. 20Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one. 21So is the Law in conflict with the promises of God? Of course not! For if a law had been given that could give us life, then certainly righteousness would come through the Law. 22But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sinfs net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of the Messiah might be granted to those who believe. 23Now before faith came about, we were held in custody and confined under the Law in preparation for the faith that was to be revealed. 24And so the Law was our guardian until the Messiah came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come about, we are no longer under a guardian.
26For all of you are Godfs children through faith in the Messiah Jesus. 27Indeed, all of you who were baptized into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah. 28Because all of you are one in the Messiah Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female. 29And if you belong to the Messiah, then you are Abrahamfs descendants indeed, and heirs according to the promise.
Chapter 4
1Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. 2Instead, he is placed under the care of guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father. 3It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world. 4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children. 6Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, gAbba! Father!h 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.
8However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all. 9But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid for you! I donft want my work for you to have been wasted!
12I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me. 13You know that it was because I was ill that I brought you the gospel the first time. 14Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah Jesus. 15What, then, happened to your positive attitude? For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth?
17These people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them. 18(Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.) 19My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah is formed in you. 20Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you!
21Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. 23Now the slave womanfs son was conceived through human means, while the free womanfs son was conceived through divine promise. 24This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children. 26But the heavenly Jerusalem is the free woman, and she is our spiritual mother. 27For it is written,
gRejoice, you childless woman,
who cannot give birth to any children!
Break into song and shout,
you who feel no pains of childbirth!
For the children of the deserted woman
are more numerous than the children
of the woman who has a husband.h
28So you, brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac. 29But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now. 30But what does the Scripture say? gDrive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.h 31So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
Chapter 5
1The Messiah has set us free so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. So keep on standing firm in it, and stop putting yourselves under the yoke of slavery again. 2Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah will be of no benefit to you. 3Again, I insist that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised is obligated to obey the entire Law. 4Those of you who are trying to be justified by the Law have been cut off from the Messiah. You have fallen away from grace.
5Through the Spirit by faith we confidently await the fulfillment of our righteous hope, 6for in union with the Messiah Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. What matters is faith expressed through love.
7You were running the race beautifully. Who cut in on you and stopped you from obeying the truth? 8Such influence does not come from the one who calls you. 9A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view of this. However, the one who is troubling you will suffer Godfs judgment, whoever he is. 11As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching the necessity of circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12I wish that those who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!
13For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another. 14For the whole Law is summarized in a single statement: gYou must love your neighbor as yourself.h 15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not destroyed by each other. 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do. 18But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19Now the actions of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity, 20idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, rivalry, jealously, outbursts of anger, quarrels, conflicts, factions, 21envy, murder, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also be guided. 26Letfs stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.
Chapter 6
1Brothers, if a person is caught doing something wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore that person gently. Watch out for yourself so that you are not tempted as well. 2Practice carrying each otherfs burdens. In this way you will fulfill the law of the Messiah. 3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is only fooling himself. 4Each person must examine his own actions, and then he can boast about his own accomplishments and not about someone else. 5For everyone must carry his own load.
6The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher. 7Stop being deceived; God is not to be ridiculed. A person harvests whatever he plants: 8The person who sows through human means will harvest decay from human means, but the person who sows in the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. 9Letfs not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest\if we do not give up. 10So then, whenever we have the opportunity, letfs practice doing good to everyone, especially to the family of faith.
11Look at how large these letters are because I am writing with my own hand! 12These people who want to impress others by their external appearance are trying to force you to be circumcised, simply to avoid being persecuted for the cross of the Messiah. 13Why, not even those who are circumcised obey the Law! They simply want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your external appearance. 14But may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. 16Now may peace be on all those who live by this principle, and may mercy be on the Israel of God. 17Let no one make any more trouble for me, because I carry the scars of Jesus on my own body.
18May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with your spirit, brothers! Amen.
Ephesians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by Godfs will.
To: His holy and faithful people in Ephesus who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.
2May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! He has blessed us in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, 4just as he chose us in the Messiah before the creation of the universe to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus the Messiah, according to the pleasure of his will, 6so that we would praise his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One. 7In union with him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of Godfs grace 8that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, 9when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in the Messiah 10to usher in the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiah all things in heaven and on earth.
11In the Messiah we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything that he wills to do, 12so that we who had already fixed our hope on the Messiah might live for his praise and glory. 13You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in the Messiah, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until God redeems his own possession for his praise and glory.
15Therefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the most glorious Father, would give you a wise spirit, along with revelation that comes through knowing the Messiah fully. 18Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the confidence that is produced by God having called you, the rich glory that is his inheritance among the saints, 19and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength, 20which he brought about in the Messiah when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm. 21He is far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come. 22God has put everything under the Messiahfs feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way.
Chapter 2
1You used to be dead because of your offenses and sins 2that you once practiced as you lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient. 3Indeed, all of us once behaved like them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we were destined for wrath, just like everyone else. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us 5even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with the Messiah (by grace you have been saved), 6raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in the Messiah Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace that comes to us through his kindness in the Messiah Jesus. 8For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God 9and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting. 10For we are Godfs masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.
11So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth were called gthe uncircumcisedh by those who called themselves gthe circumcised.h They underwent physical circumcision done by human hands. 12At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. You had no hope and were in the world without God. 13But now, in union with the Messiah Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
14For it is he who is our peace. Through his mortality he made both groups one by tearing down the wall of hostility that divided them. 15He rendered the Law inoperative, along with its commandments and regulations, thus creating in himself one new humanity from the two, thereby making peace, 16and reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross, on which he eliminated the hostility. 17He came and proclaimed peace for you who were far away and for you who were near. 18For through him, both of us have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of Godfs household, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah Jesus himself being the cornerstone. 21In union with him the whole building is joined together and rises into a holy sanctuary for the Lord. 22You, too, are being built in him, along with the others, into a place for Godfs Spirit to dwell.
Chapter 3
1For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah Jesus for the sake of you gentiles. 2Surely you have heard about the responsibility of administering Godfs grace that was given to me on your behalf, 3and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past. 4By reading this, you will be able to grasp my understanding of the secret about the Messiah, 5which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to Godfs holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret: 6The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel.
7I have become a servant of this gospel according to the gift of Godfs grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah 9and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things. 10He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm 11in keeping with the eternal purpose that God carried out through the Messiah Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and confident access through his faithfulness. 13So then, I ask you not to become discouraged because of my troubles on your behalf, which work toward your glory.
14This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16I pray that he would give you, according to his glorious riches, strength in your inner being and power through his Spirit, 17and that the Messiah would make his home in your hearts through faith. Then, having been rooted and grounded in love, 18you will be able to understand, along with all the saints, what is wide, long, high, and deep\ 19that is, you will know the love of the Messiah\ which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among us\ 21to him be glory in the church and in the Messiah Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Chapter 4
1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2demonstrating all expressions of humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another in love. 3Do your best to maintain the unity of the Spirit by means of the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit. Likewise, you were called to the one hope of your calling.
5There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6one God and Father of all,
who is above all, through all, and in all.
7Now to each one of us grace has been given proportionate to the measure of the Messiahfs gift. 8That is why God says,
gWhen he went up to the highest place,
he led captives into captivity
and gave gifts to people.h
9Now what does this ghe went uph mean except that he also had gone down into the lower parts of the earth? 10The one who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens so that all things would be fulfilled. 11And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah 13until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of Godfs Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah. 14Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by peoplefs trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray. 15Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely and become one with the head, that is, one with the Messiah, 16in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.
17Therefore, I tell you and insist on in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. 19Since they have lost all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to sensuality and practice every kind of sexual perversion without restraint. 20However, that is not the way you came to know the Messiah. 21Surely you have listened to him and have been taught by him, since truth is in Jesus. 22Regarding your former way of life, you were taught to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires, 23to be renewed in your mental attitude, 24and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to Godfs image in righteousness and true holiness.
25Therefore, stripping off falsehood, glet each of us speak the truth to his neighbor,h for we belong to one another. 26gBe angry, yet do not sin.h Do not let the sun set while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil an opportunity to work. 28The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might earn something to give to the needy.
29Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you. 30Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred. 32And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.
Chapter 5
1So be imitators of God, as his dear children. 2Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. 3Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. 4Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
6Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey. 7So do not be partners with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9for the fruit that the light produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10Determine what pleases the Lord, 11and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 12For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret. 13But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible, 14for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says,
gWake up, sleeper!
Arise from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you.ff
15So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, 16making the best use of your time because the times are evil. 17Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lordfs will is. 18Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. 19Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; 20you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah; 21and you will submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.
22Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body. 24Indeed, just as the church is submissive to the Messiah, so wives must be submissive to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it, 26so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, 27and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault. 28In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.
30For we are parts of his body\of his flesh and of his bones. 31gThat is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.h 32This is a great secret, but I am talking about the Messiah and the church. 33But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves himself; and may the wife fear her husband.
Chapter 6
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2gHonor your father and motherch (This is a very important commandment with a promise.) 3gcso that it may go well for you, and that you may have a long life on the earth.h
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up by training and instructing them about the Lord.
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear, trembling, and sincerity, as when you obey the Messiah. 6Do not do this only while youfre being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah, who are determined to obey Godfs will. 7Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people, 8because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.
9Masters, treat your slaves the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord, relying on his mighty strength. 11Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devilfs strategies. 12For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. 13For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.
14Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace. 16In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, 17also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, so that, when I begin to speak, the right words will come to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel, 20for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare the gospel as boldly as I should.
21So that you may know what has happened to me and how I am doing, Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in service to the Lord, will tell you everything. 22I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.
23May peace and love, with faith, be with the brothers, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah!
24May grace be with all who sincerely love the Lord Jesus, the Messiah!
Philippians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul and Timothy, servants of the Messiah Jesus.
To: All the holy ones in Philippi, along with their overseers and ministers, who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.
2May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4always praying joyfully in every one of my prayers for all of you 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good action among you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah Jesus. 7For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because youfre constantly on my mind. Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege. 8For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the compassion that the Messiah Jesus provides.
9And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and more with full knowledge and insight, 10so that you may be able to choose what is best and be pure and blameless until the day when the Messiah returns, 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus the Messiah so that God will be glorified and praised.
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually caused the gospel to advance. 13As a result, it has become clear to the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that I am in prison for preaching about the Messiah. 14Moreover, because of my imprisonment the Lord has caused most of the brothers to become confident to speak Godfs word more boldly and courageously than ever before. 15Some are preaching the Messiah because of jealousy and dissension, while others do so because of their good will. 16The latter are motivated by love, because they know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel. 17The former proclaim the Messiah because they are selfishly ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.
18But so what? Just this\that in every way, whether by false or true motives, the Messiah is being proclaimed. Because of this, I rejoice and will continue to rejoice. 19I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus the Messiah. 20I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of, because through my boldness the Messiah will be exalted through me, now as always, whether I live or die.
21For to me, to go on living is the Messiah, and to die is gain. 22Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know which I would prefer. 23Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better. 24But for your sake it is better that I remain alive.
25Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you, so you will mature in the faith and know joy in it. 26Then your rejoicing in the Messiah Jesus will increase along with mine when I visit with you again.
27The only thing that matters is that you continue to live as good citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Messiah. Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I may hear all about you\that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and that you are not intimidated by your opponents in any way. This is evidence that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved\and all because of God. 29For you have been given the privilege for the Messiahfs sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. 30You have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear that I am still having.
Chapter 2
1Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion and sympathy, 2then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind. 3Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. 4Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. 5Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus:
6In Godfs own form existed he,
and shared with God equality,
deemed nothing needed grasping.
7Instead, poured out in emptiness,
a servantfs form did he possess,
a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
8and lived in all humility,
death on a cross obeying.
9Now lifted up by God to heaven,
a name above all others given,
this matchless name possessing.
10And so, when Jesusf name is called,
the knees of everyone should fall
wherever theyfre residing.
11Then every tongue in one accord,
will say that Jesus the Messiah is Lord,
while God the Father praising.
12And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him. 14Do everything without complaining or arguing 15so that you may be blameless and innocent, Godfs children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the Messiah returns that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.
17Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you. 18In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.
19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of Jesus the Messiah. 22But you know his proven worth\how like a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me. 24Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you soon.
25Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus\my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need\back to you. 26For he has been longing for all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick. 27Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another. 28Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved. 29So joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly, 30because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah by risking his life to complete what remained unfinished in your service to me.
Chapter 3
1So then, my brothers, keep on rejoicing in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you; indeed, it is for your safety.
2Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators! 3For it is we who are the circumcision\we who worship in the Spirit of God and find our joy in the Messiah Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh, 4although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so. 5Having been circumcised on the eighth day, I am of the nation of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As far as the Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee. 6As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as righteousness in the Law is concerned, I was blameless.
7But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah. 8What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness of the Messiah, the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith. 10I want to know the Messiah\what his resurrection power is like and what it means to share in his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead.
12Itfs not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize of Godfs heavenly call in the Messiah Jesus.
15Therefore, those of us who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think. 16However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.
17Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you. 18For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things.
20Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. 21He will change our unassuming bodies and make them like his glorious body through the power that enables him to bring everything under his authority.
Chapter 4
1Therefore, my dear brothers whom I long for, my joy and my victorfs crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. 2I urge Euodia and Syntyche to have the same attitude in the Lord. 3Yes, I also ask you, my true partner, to help these women. They have worked hard with me to advance the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4Keep on rejoicing in the Lord at all times. I will say it again: Keep on rejoicing! 5Let your gracious attitude be known to all people. The Lord is near: 6Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with thanksgiving. 7Then Godfs peace, which goes far beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy\keep thinking about these things. 9Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
10Now I rejoice in the Lord greatly, because once again you have shown your concern for me. Of course, you were concerned for me but you did not have an opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in. 12I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.
15You Philippians also know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church participated with me in the matter of giving and receiving except for you. 16Even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs not once, but twice. 17It is not that I am looking for a gift. No, I want to see that you receive the fruit that increases to your benefit. 18I have been paid in full and have more than enough. I am fully supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus what you sent\a fragrant aroma, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus. 20Glory belongs to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.
21Greet every saint who is in union with the Messiah Jesus. The brothers who are with me send their greetings to you. 22All the saints, especially those of the emperorfs household, greet you.
23May the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with your spirit! Amen.
Colossians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.
2To: The holy and faithful brothers in Colossae who are in union with the Messiah.
May grace and peace from God our Father be yours!
3We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, praying always for you, 4because we have heard about your faith in the Messiah Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints, 5based on the hope laid up for you in heaven. Some time ago you heard about this hope through the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and spreading all over the world, so it has been doing among you from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth. 7You learned about this gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of the Messiah on your behalf. 8He has told us about your love in the Spirit.
9For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of Godfs will with respect to all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you might live in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God. 11You are being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that you might patiently endure everything with joy 12and might thank the Father, who has enabled us to share in the saintsf inheritance in the light. 13God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves, 14through whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15The Son is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
things visible and invisible,
whether they are kings, lords, rulers, or powers.
All things have been created through him and for him.
17He himself existed before anything else did,
and he holds all things together.
18He is also the head of the body,
which is the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he himself might have first place in everything.
19For God was pleased to have
all of his divine essence inhabit him.
20Through the Son, God also reconciled all things to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
thereby making peace
through the blood of his cross.
21You who were once alienated with a hostile attitude, doing evil, 22he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him. 23However, you must remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith, without being moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of the Messiahfs sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church. 25I became its servant as God commissioned me to work for you, so that I may complete my ministry of the word of God. 26This secret was hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints, 27to whom God wanted to make known the glorious riches of this secret among the gentiles\which is the Messiah in you, our glorious hope. 28It is he whom we proclaim as we admonish and wisely teach everyone, so that we may present everyone mature in the Messiah. 29I work hard and struggle to do this, using the energy that he powerfully provides in me.
Chapter 2
1For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face. 2Because they are united in love, I pray that their hearts may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of the full knowledge of the Messiah, who is the mystery of God. 3In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I say this so that no one will mislead you with nice-sounding rhetoric. 5For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah is.
6So then, just as you have received the Messiah Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on him. 7For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful. 8See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah, 9because all the essence of deity inhabits him in bodily form. 10And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11In union with him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without human hands by stripping off the corrupt nature by the circumcision performed by the Messiah. 12When you were buried with the Messiah in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses, 14having erased the charges that were brought against us, along with their obligations that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross. 15And when he had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.
16Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a New Moon, or Sabbath days. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Messiah. 18Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind. 19He does not hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, which is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God enables it.
20If you have died with the Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world? 21gDonft handle this! Donft taste or touch that!h 22All of these things will be destroyed as they are used, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence.
Chapter 3
1Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God. 2Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. 3For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God. 4When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.
5So put to death your worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7You used to behave like them as you lived among them. 8But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, and all such sins. 9Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the one who created it. 11In him there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah is all and in all.
12Therefore, as Godfs chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity. 15Let the peace of the Messiah also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16Let the word of the Messiah inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is appropriate for those who belong to the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, do not make your children resentful. Otherwise, theyfll become discouraged.
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched in order to please them, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people. 24You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah whom you are serving! 25For the person who does what is wrong will be paid back for what he has done without favoritism.
Chapter 4
1Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
2Devote yourselves to prayer. Be alert and thankful when you pray. 3At the same time also pray for us\that God would open before us a door for the word so that we may tell the secret about the Messiah, for which I have been imprisoned. 4May I reveal it as clearly as I should!
5Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of your time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
7Tychicus will tell you everything that has happened to me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. 9He is coming with Onesimus, that faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him. 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God. They have been an encouragement to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of the Messiah Jesus, sends you his greetings. He is always wrestling in his prayers for you, so that you may stand mature, completely convinced of the entire will of God. 13For I can testify on his behalf that he has a deep concern for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15Give my greetings to the brothers in Laodicea, especially to Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and be sure to read the one from Laodicea. 17Tell Archippus, gSee that you complete the ministry you have received from the Lord.h
18This greeting is written with my own signature\gPaul.h Remember that I remain imprisoned. May grace be with you! Amen.
First Thessalonians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
To: The church of the Thessalonians in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
2We always thank God for all of you when we mention you in our prayers. 3In the presence of our God and Father, we constantly remember how your faith is active, your love is hard at work, and your hope in our Lord Jesus the Messiah is enduring. 4Brothers whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you, 5for the gospel we brought did not come to you in words only, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. Indeed, you know what kind of people we proved to be while we were with you, acting on your behalf.
6You became imitators of us and of the Lord. In spite of a great deal of suffering, you welcomed the word with the joy that the Holy Spirit produces. 7As a result, you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8From you the word of the Lord has spread out not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where your faith in God has become known. As a result, we do not need to say anything about it.
9For people keep telling us what kind of welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve a living and true God 10and to wait for his Son whom he raised from the dead to come back from heaven. This Jesus is the one who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Chapter 2
1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time. 2As you know, we suffered persecution and were mistreated in Philippi. Yet we were encouraged by our God to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3For our appeal to you does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery. 4Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives.
5As you know, we did not come with flattering words or with a scheme to make money. God is our witness! 6We did not seek praise from people\from you or from anyone else\ 7even though as apostles of the Messiah we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children. 8We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us. 9Brothers, you remember our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. 10You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless our conduct was among you who believe. 11You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children. 12We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13Here is another reason why we constantly give thanks to God: When you received Godfs word, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of humans but for what it really is\the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in union with the Messiah Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as they did from those Jews 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who have persecuted us, and who please neither God nor any group of people, 16as they try to keep us from telling the gentiles how they can be saved. As a result, they are constantly adding to the number of sins they have committed. However, wrath has overtaken them at last!
17Brothers, although we have been separated from you for a little while\in person but not in heart\we eagerly desire to see you again face to face. 18That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way. 19After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isnft it? 20Yes, you are our glory and joy!
Chapter 3
1Therefore, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens 2and send Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in the gospel of the Messiah, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions, for which you are aware that we were destined. 4In fact, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer persecution. And as you know, that is what happened. 5But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time.
6But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you. 7Thatfs why, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you by your faith. 8For now we can go on living, as long as you continue to stand firm in the Lord. 9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in Godfs presence because of you? 10We pray very hard night and day that we may see you again face to face, so that we may equip you with whatever is lacking in your faith.
11Now may our God and Father and our Lord Jesus provide a way for us to visit you. 12May the Lord greatly increase your love for each other and for all people, just as we love you. 13Then your hearts will be strong, blameless, and holy in the presence of God, who is our Father, when our Lord Jesus appears with all his saints.
Chapter 4
1Now then, brothers, you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, as in fact you are doing. We ask and encourage you in the Lord to do so even more. 2You know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For it is Godfs will that you be sanctified: You must abstain from sexual immorality. 4Each of you must know how to control his own body in a holy and honorable manner, 5not with passion and lust like the gentiles who do not know God. 6Furthermore, you must never take advantage of or exploit a brother in this regard, because the Lord avenges all these things, just as we already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to be holy. 8Therefore, whoever rejects this instruction is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9Now you do not need anyone to write to you about brotherly love, since you have been taught by God to love each other. 10In fact, you are showing love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia, but we urge you, brothers, to keep on doing this even more. 11Also, make it your goal to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you, 12so that you may win the respect of outsiders, and have need of nothing.
13But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve like other people who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus God will bring those who have died with him. 15For we declare to you what the Lord has told us to say: We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have died. 16With a shout of command, with the archangelfs call, and with the sound of Godfs trumpet, the Lord himself will come down from heaven, and the dead who belong to the Messiah will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18So then, encourage one another with these words.
Chapter 5
1Now you do not need to have anything written to you about times and dates, brothers, 2for you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When people say, gThere is peace and security,h destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape.
4However, brothers, you are not in the darkness, in order that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief. 5For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness. 6Therefore, letfs not fall asleep like others do, but letfs stay awake and be sober. 7For people who go to sleep, go to sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, letfs be sober. We must put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God has not destined us to receive wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, 10who died for us in order that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11So then, encourage one another and build each other up, as you are doing.
12Brothers, we ask you to show your appreciation for those who work among you, set an example for you in the Lord, and instruct you. 13Hold them in the highest regard, loving them because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14We urge you, brothers, to admonish those who are idle, cheer up those who are discouraged, and help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Instead, always pursue what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16Always be joyful. 17Continually be prayerful. 18In everything be thankful, because this is Godfs will for you in the Messiah Jesus. 19Do not put out the Spiritfs fire. 20Do not despise prophecies. 21Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. 22Keep away from every kind of evil.
23May the God of peace himself make you holy in every way. And may your whole being\spirit, soul, and body\remain blameless when our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, appears. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will continue to be faithful. 25Brothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27I order you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with you! Amen.
Second Thessalonians
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
To: The church of the Thessalonians in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
2May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
3Brothers, at all times we are obligated to thank God for you. It is right to do this because your faith is growing all the time and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4As a result, we rejoice about you among Godfs churches\about your endurance and faith through all the persecutions and afflictions you are experiencing. 5This is evidence of Godfs righteous judgment and is intended to make you worthy of Godfs kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6Certainly it is right for God to pay back those who afflict you with affliction 7and to give us who are afflicted relief when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in blazing fire. He will take revenge on those who do not know God and on those who refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9Such people will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction by being separated from the Lordfs presence and from his glorious power, 10when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be regarded with wonder on that day by all who have believed\including you\because you believed our testimony.
11With this in mind, we always pray for you, asking that our God might make you worthy of his calling and that through his power he might help you accomplish every good desire and faithful action. 12That way the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus, the Messiah.
Chapter 2
1Now we ask you, brothers, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and our gathering together to him, 2not to be so quickly upset or alarmed when someone claims that we said, either by some spirit, conversation, or letter that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the rebellion takes place first and the man of sin, who is destined for destruction, is revealed. 4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and himself declares that he is God.
5Donft you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you? 6You know what it is that is now holding him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes. 7For the secret of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the person now holding it back gets out of the way. 8Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his mouth, rendering him powerless by the manifestation of his coming.
9The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders, 10and every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them. 11For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. 12Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
13At all times we are obligated to thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you to be the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through faith in the truth. 14With this purpose in mind, he called you through our proclamation of the gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. 15So then, brothers, stand firm, and cling to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. 16May our Lord Jesus, the Messiah himself, and may God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good action and word.
Chapter 3
1Finally, brothers, pray for us\that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you. 2Also pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith. 3But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of the Messiah.
6In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness and not living according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness among you. 8We did not eat anyonefs food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. 9It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10While we were with you, we gave this order: gIf anyone doesnft want to work, he shouldnft eat.h
11We hear that some of you are living in idleness. You are not busy working\you are busy interfering in other peoplefs lives! 12We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.
14If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed. 15Yet, donft treat him like an enemy, but warn him like a brother. 16Now may the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.
17I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine. It is the way I write. 18May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with all of you. Amen.
First Timothy
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus, by the command of God our Savior and the Messiah Jesus, our hope.
2To: Timothy, my genuine child in the faith.
May grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Messiah Jesus, our Lord, be yours!
3When I was on my way to Macedonia, I urged you to stay in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain people to stop teaching false doctrine 4and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These things promote controversies rather than Godfs ongoing purpose, which involves faith. 5The goal of this instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith. 6Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to fruitless discussion. 7They want to be teachers of the Law, yet they do not understand either what they are talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.
8Of course, we know that the Law is good if a person uses it legitimately, 9that is, if he understands that the Law is not intended for righteous people but for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who are unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people, 10for those involved in sexual immorality, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for false witnesses, and for whatever else goes against the healthy teaching 11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
12I thank the Messiah Jesus, our Lord, who gives me strength, that he has considered me faithful and has appointed me to his service. 13In the past I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed toward me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus. 15This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance:
To this world Messiah came,
sinful people to reclaim.
I am the worst of them. 16But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the worst sinner, the Messiah Jesus might demonstrate all of his patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17Now to the King Eternal\the immortal, invisible, and only God\be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
18Timothy, my child, I am instructing you in keeping with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may continue to fight the good fight 19with faith and a good conscience. By ignoring their consciences, some people have destroyed their faith like a wrecked ship. 20These include Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Chapter 2
1First of all, then, I urge you to offer to God petitions, prayers, intercessions, and expressions of thanks for all people, 2for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to know the truth fully. 5There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and human beings\a human, the Messiah Jesus. 6He gave himself as a ransom for everyone, the testimony at the proper time. 7For this reason I was appointed to be an announcer, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the gentiles. (I am telling you the truth. I am not lying.)
8Therefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without being angry or argumentative. 9Women, for their part, should display their beauty by dressing modestly and decently in appropriate clothes, not with elaborate hairstyles or by wearing gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, 10but through good actions. This is proper for women who claim to revere God.
11A woman must learn quietly and submissively. 12Moreover, in the area of teaching, I am not allowing a woman to instigate conflict toward a man. Instead, she is to remain calm. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve, 14and it was not Adam who was deceived. It was the woman who was deceived and became disobedient. 15However, women will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, along with good judgment.
Chapter 3
1This is a trustworthy saying:
The one who would an elder be,
a noble task desires he.
2Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable. 3He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money. 4He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way. 5For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of Godfs church? 6He must not be a recent convert, so that he wonft become arrogant and fall into the devilfs condemnation. 7He must be well thought of by outsiders, so he doesnft fall into disgrace and the trap set for him by the devil.
8Ministers, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, addicted to wine, or greedy for money. 9They must hold firmly to the secret of the faith with clear consciences. 10But they must first be tested. Then, if they prove to be blameless, they may become ministers. 11Their wives must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything. 12Ministers must be husbands of one wife and must manage their children and their families well. 13Those ministers who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance by their faith in the Messiah Jesus.
14I hope to come to you soon. However, Ifm writing this to you 15in case I am delayed, so that you may know how to behave in Godfs household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16By common confession, the secret of our godly worship is great:
In flesh was he revealed to sight,
kept righteous by the Spiritfs might,
adored by angels singing.
To nations was he manifest,
believing souls found peace and rest,
our Lord in heaven reigning!
Chapter 4
1Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons, 2and the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences have been burned by a hot iron. 3They will try to stop people from marrying and from eating certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6If you continue to point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of the Messiah Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the healthy teaching that you have followed closely. 7Do not have anything to do with godless myths and fables of old women. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8Physical exercise is of limited value, but
Godliness is very dear,
a pledge of life, both there and here.
9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance. 10To this end we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe.
11These are the things you must insist on and teach. 12Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity. 13Until I arrive, give your full concentration to the public reading of Scripture, to exhorting, and to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you. 15Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. 16Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Chapter 5
1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity.
3Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in Godfs sight. 5A woman who has no other family members to care for her and who is left all alone has placed her hope in God and devotes herself to petitions and prayers night and day. 6But the self-indulgent widow is just as good as dead.
7Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. 8If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9A widow may be put on the widowsf list if she is at least sixty years old and has been the wife of one husband. 10She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saintsf feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.
11But do not include younger widows on your list. For whenever their natural desires cause them to lose their devotion to the Messiah, they want to remarry. 12They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah. 13At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other peoplefs lives, saying things they should not say.
14Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. 15For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. 16If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. The church should not be burdened, so it can help those widows who have no other family members to care for them.
17Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, gYou must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain,h and, gA worker deserves his pay.h 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported gby two or three witnesses.h 20As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid. 21With God as my witness, as well as the Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels, I solemnly call on you to carry out these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. 22Do not ordain anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses.
24The sins of some people are obvious, leading them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. 25In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden.
Chapter 6
1All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their own masters as deserving of the highest respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be discredited. 2Moreover, those who have believing masters should be respectful to them, because they are fellow believers. In fact, they must serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dear to them. These are the things you must teach and exhort.
3If anyone teaches false doctrine and refuses to agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and godly teaching, 4he is a conceited person and does not understand anything. He has an unhealthy craving for arguments and debates. This produces jealousy, rivalry, slander, evil suspicions, 5and incessant conflict between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth. They think that godliness is a way to make a profit. 6Of course, godliness with contentment does bring a great profit.
7Nothing to this world we bring;
from it take we nothing.
8With food to eat and clothes to wear;
content we are in everything.
9But people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.
11But you, man of God, must flee from all these things.
Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness,
love, endurance, and gentleness.
12Fight the good fight for the faith.
Keep holding on to eternal life, to which you were called
and about which you gave a good testimony
in front of many witnesses.
13Since you are in the presence of God, who gives life to everything, and in the presence of the Messiah Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, I solemnly charge you 14to keep these commands stainlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. 15At the right time, he will make him known.
God is the blessed and only Ruler,
the King of kings
and Lord of lords.
16He alone has endless life
and lives in inaccessible light.
No one has ever seen him,
nor can anyone see him.
Honor and eternal power belong to him!
Amen.
17Tell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good actions, to be generous, and to share. 19By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the life that is real.
20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. 21Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!
Second Timothy
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by Godfs will in keeping with the promise of life that is in the Messiah Jesus.
2To: Timothy, my dear child.
May grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Messiah Jesus our Lord be yours!
3I constantly thank my God\whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did\when I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4recalling your tears and longing to see you so that I can be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first existed in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that this faith also exists in you. 6For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline. 8Therefore, never be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, by Godfs power, join me in suffering for the sake of the gospel.
9He saved us
and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our own accomplishments,
but according to his own purpose and the grace
that was given to us in the Messiah Jesus
before time began.
10Now, however, that grace has been revealed
through the coming of our Savior the Messiah Jesus,
who has destroyed death
and through the gospel has brought life
and release from death into full view.
11For the sake of this gospel I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles. 12That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and Ifm convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes. 13Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus. 14With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, protect the good treasure that has been entrusted to you.
15You know that everyone in Asia has abandoned me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often took care of me and was not ashamed that I was a prisoner. 17Instead, when he arrived in Rome he searched diligently for me and found me. 18May the Lord grant that he finds mercy on the day he comes again. You know very well how much he assisted me in Ephesus.
Chapter 2
1As for you, my child, be strong by the grace that is in the Messiah Jesus. 2What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 3Join me in suffering like a good soldier of the Messiah Jesus. 4No one serving in the military gets mixed up in civilian matters, for his aim is to please his commanding officer. 5Moreover, no one who is an athlete wins a prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6Furthermore, it is the hard working farmer who should have the first share of the crops. 7Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you to understand all these things.
8Meditate on Jesus, the Messiah, who was raised from the dead and is a descendant of David. This is the gospel I tell others. 9Because of it I am experiencing trouble, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. However, Godfs word is not chained. 10For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive the salvation that is in the Messiah Jesus, along with eternal glory. 11This saying is trustworthy:
In dying with the Messiah,
true life we gain.
12Enduring, we with him will reign.
Who him denies,
he will disclaim.
13Our faith may fail,
his never wanes\
Thatfs who he is,
he cannot change!
14Remind others about these things, and warn them before God not to argue over words. Arguing does not do any good but only destroys those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of truth with precision. 16However, avoid pointless discussions. For people will become more and more ungodly, 17and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that. 18They have abandoned the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place, and so they destroy the faith of others.
19However, Godfs solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: gThe Lord knows those who belong to him,h and gEveryone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.h 20In a large house there are not only utensils made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some are for special use, while others are for ordinary use. 21Therefore, if anyone stops associating with these people, he will become a special utensil, set apart for the ownerfs use, prepared for every good action.
22Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. 23Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid discussions, because you know they breed arguments. 24A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong, 25and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth, 26so that they might escape from the devilfs snare, even though theyfve been held captive by him to do his will.
Chapter 3
1You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, 4traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 5They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people. 6For some of these men go into homes and deceive foolish women who are burdened with sins and swayed by all kinds of desires. 7These women are always studying but are never able to arrive at a full knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and their faith is a counterfeit. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those two men, their stupidity will be plain to everyone.
10But you have observed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, 11and how I was persecuted and suffered in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with the Messiah Jesus will be persecuted. 13But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and found to be true, because you know from whom you learned it. 15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiah Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.
Chapter 4
1In the presence of God and the Messiah Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly appeal to you 2to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach. 3For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their peoplefs own desires. 4They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths. 5But you must be clear-headed about everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry.
6I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. 8The victorfs crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.
9Do your best to come to me soon, 10because Demas, having fallen in love with this present world, has abandoned me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. 12I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13When you come, bring the coat I left with Carpus in Troas, as well as the scrolls and especially the parchments. 14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did. 15You, too, must watch out for him, for he violently opposed our message.
16At my first trial no one came to my defense. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be held against them! 17However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles could hear it. I was rescued out of a lionfs mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will take me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to him forever and ever! Amen.
19Greet Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus because he was sick. 21Do your best to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22May the Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you! Amen.
Titus
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, a servant of God, and also an apostle of Jesus the Messiah, to bring the faith to those chosen by God, along with full knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2which is based on the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began. 3At the right time he revealed his message through the proclamation that was entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.
4To: Titus, a genuine child in the faith that we share.
May grace and peace from God the Father and the Messiah, Jesus our Savior, be yours!
5The reason I left you in Crete was to complete what still needed to be done and to appoint elders in every city, as I myself commanded you. 6An elder must be blameless. He must be the husband of one wife and have children who are believers and who are not accused of having wild lifestyles or of being rebellious. 7Because an overseer is Godfs servant manager, he must be blameless. He must not be arrogant or irritable. He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or make money in shameful ways. 8Instead, he must be hospitable to strangers, must appreciate what is good, and be sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled. 9He must be devoted to the trustworthy message that agrees with what we teach, so that he may be able to encourage others with healthy doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10For there are many people who are rebellious, especially those who are converts from Judaism. They speak utter nonsense and deceive people. 11They must be silenced, because they are the kind of people who ruin whole families by teaching what they should not teach in order to make money in a shameful way. 12One of their very own prophets said,
gLiars ever, men of Crete,
savage brutes that live to eat.h
13That statement is true. For this reason, refute them sharply so that they may become healthy in the faith 14and not pay attention to Jewish myths or commands given by people who reject the truth. 15Everything is clean to those who are clean, but nothing is clean to those who are corrupt and unbelieving. Indeed, their very way of thinking and their consciences have been corrupted. 16They claim to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified to do anything good.
Chapter 2
1But as for you, teach what is consistent with healthy doctrine. 2Older men are to be sober, serious, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 3Likewise, older women are to show their reverence for God by their behavior. They are not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of goodness. 4They should encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible and pure, to manage their households, to be kind, and to submit themselves to their husbands. Otherwise, the word of God may be discredited.
6Likewise, encourage the younger men to be sensible. 7Always set an example for others by doing good actions. Teach with integrity and dignity. 8Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us.
9Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, aiming to please them and not argue with them 10or steal from them. Instead, they are to show complete and perfect loyalty, so that in every way they may make the teaching about God our Savior more attractive.
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age 13as we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. 14He gave himself for us to set us free from every wrong and to cleanse us so that we could be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good deeds.
15These are the things you should teach. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.
Chapter 3
1Remind believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do any honorable kind of work. 2They are not to insult anyone or be argumentative. Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone. 3After all, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and misled. We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures, spending our days in malice and jealousy. We were despised, and we hated one another.
4In grace our Savior God appeared,
to make his love for mankind clear.
5eTwas not for deeds that we had done,
 but by his steadfast love alone,
he saved us through a second birth,
renewed us by the Spiritfs work,
6and poured him out upon us, too,
through Jesus the Messiah our Savior true.
7And so, made heirs by his own grace,
eternal life we now embrace.
8This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may devote themselves to good actions. These things are good and helpful to other people.
9But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the Law. These things are useless and worthless. 10Have nothing to do with a divisive person after you have warned him once or twice. 11For you know that a person like this is corrupt and keeps on sinning, being self-condemned.
12As soon as I send Artemas to you, or perhaps Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13Do all you can to send Zenas the expert in the Law and Apollos on their way, and see that they have everything they need. 14Our own people should also learn to make good deeds a priority when urgent needs arise, so they wonft be unproductive.
15All who are with me send you greetings. Greet our fellow believers who love us. May grace be with all of you! Amen.
Philemon
Chapter 1
1From: Paul, a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus, and Timothy our brother.
To: Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
3May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
4I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5because I keep hearing about your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every blessing that is ours in the Messiah. 7For I have received considerable joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed, brother, through you.
8For this reason, although in the Messiah I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper, 9I prefer to make my appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus, 10appeal to you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful both to you and to me. 12As I send him back, itfs like Ifm coming along with him. 13I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel. 14Yet I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be something forced, but voluntary. 15Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you could have him back forever, 16no longer as a slave but better than a slave\as a dear brother, especially to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a believer.
17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. (I will not mention to you that you owe me your very life.) 20Yes, brother, I desire this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah! 21Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I know that you will do even more than I ask. 22Meanwhile, prepare a guest room for me, too, for I am hoping through your prayers to be returned to you.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in the Messiah Jesus, sends you greetings, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with your spirit! Amen.
Hebrews
Chapter 1
1God, having spoken in former times in fragmentary and varied fashion to our forefathers by the prophets, 2has in these last days spoken to us by a Son whom he appointed to be the heir of everything and through whom he also made the universe. 3He is the reflection of Godfs glory and the exact likeness of his being, and he holds everything together by his powerful word. After he had provided a cleansing from sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Highest Majesty 4and became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is better than theirs.
5For to which of the angels did God ever say, gYou are my Son. Today I have become your Fatherh? Or again, gI will be his Father, and he will be my Sonh? 6And again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, gLet all Godfs angels worship him.h 7Now about the angels he says,
gHe makes his angels winds,
and his servants flames of fire.h
8But about the Son he says,
gYour throne, O God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a righteous scepter.
9You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness.
That is why God, your God,
anointed you rather than your companions
with the oil of gladness.h
10And,
gIn the beginning, Lord,
you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11They will come to an end,
but you will remain forever.
They will all wear out like clothes.
12You will roll them up like a robe,
and they will be changed like clothes.
But you remain the same,
and your life will never end.h
13But to which of the angels did he ever say,
gSit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feeth?
14All of them are spirits on a divine mission, sent to serve those who are about to inherit salvation, arenft they?
Chapter 2
1For this reason we must pay closer attention to the things we have heard, or we may drift away, 2because if the message spoken by angels was reliable, and every violation and act of disobedience received its just punishment, 3how will we escape if we neglect a salvation as great as this? It was first proclaimed by the Lord himself, and then it was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4while God added his testimony through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
5For he did not put the coming world we are talking about under the control of angels. 6Instead, someone has declared somewhere,
gWhat is man that you should remember him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels,
yet you crowned him with glory and honor
8and put everything under his feet.h
Now when God put everything under him, he left nothing outside his control. However, at the present time we do not yet see everything put under him. 9But we do see someone who was made a little lower than the angels. He is Jesus, who is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might experience death for everyone.
10It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering as part of his plan to glorify many children, 11because both the one who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers 12when he says, gI will announce your name to my brothers. I will praise you within the congregation.h 13And again, gI will trust him.h And again, gI am here with the children God has given me.h
14Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, he himself also shared the same things, so that by his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death (that is, the devil) 15and might free those who were slaves all their lives because they were terrified by death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels. No, he came to help Abrahamfs descendants, 17thereby becoming like his brothers in every way, so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and could atone for the peoplefs sins. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Chapter 3
1Therefore, holy brothers, partners in a heavenly calling, keep your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was in all Godfs household, 3because he is worthy of greater glory than Moses in the same way that the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4After all, every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5Moses was faithful in all Godfs household as a servant who was to testify to what would be said later, 6but the Messiah was faithful as the Son in charge of Godfs household, and we are his household if we hold on to our courage and the hope in which we rejoice.
7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
gToday, if you hear his voice,
8do not harden your hearts
as they did when they provoked me
during the time of testing in the wilderness.
9There your ancestors tested me,
even though they had seen my actions 10for 40 years.
That is why I was indignant with that generation and said,
eThey are always going astray in their hearts,
and they have not known my ways.f
11So in my anger I swore a solemn oath
that they would never enter my rest.h
12See to it, my brothers, that no evil, unbelieving heart is found in any of you, as shown by your turning away from the living God. 13Instead, continue to encourage one another every day, as long as it is called gToday,h so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, 14because we are the Messiahfs partners only if we hold on to our original confidence to the end. 15As it is said,
gToday, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as they did when they provoked me.h
16Now who heard him and provoked him? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was he angry for 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned and whose bodies fell dead in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would never enter his rest? It was to those who disobeyed him, was it not? 19So we see that they were unable to enter because of their unbelief.
Chapter 4
1Therefore, as long as the promise of entering his rest remains valid, let us be afraid! Otherwise, some of you will fail to reach it, 2because we have had the good news told to us as well as to them. But the message they heard did not help them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened to it. 3We who have believed are entering that rest, just as he has said,
gSo in my anger I swore a solemn oath
that they would never enter my rest,h
even though his actions had been finished since the creation of the world. 4Somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day as follows: gOn the seventh day God rested from all his actions,h 5and again in this passage, gThey will never enter my rest.h 6Therefore, since it is still true that some will enter it, and since those who once heard the good news failed to enter it because of their disobedience, 7he again fixes a definite day\gTodayh\saying long afterward through David, as already quoted,
gToday, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.h
8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken later about another day.
9There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God to keep, 10because the one who enters Godfs rest has himself rested from his own actions, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fail by following their example of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow, as it judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. 13No creature can hide from him, but everyone is exposed and helpless before the eyes of the one to whom we must give a word of explanation.
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us live our lives consistent with our confession of faith. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned. 16So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Chapter 5
1For every high priest selected from among men is appointed to officiate on their behalf in matters relating to God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3For that reason he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.
5In the same way, the Messiah did not take upon himself the glory of being a high priest. No, it was God who said to him,
gYou are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.h
6As he also says in another place,
gYou are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.h
7As a mortal man, he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. 8Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
11We have much to say about this, but it is difficult to explain because you have become too lazy to understand. 12In fact, though by now you should be teachers, you still need someone to teach you the basic truths of Godfs word. You have become people who need milk instead of solid food. 13For everyone who lives on milk is still a baby and does not yet know the difference between right and wrong. 14But solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.
Chapter 6
1Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about the Messiah, let us continue to be carried along to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead actions, faith toward God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do, if God permits.
4For it is impossible to keep on restoring to repentance time and again people who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have become partners with the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of Godfs word and the powers of the coming age, 6and who have fallen away, as long as they continue to crucify the Son of God to their own detriment by exposing him to public ridicule. 7For when the ground soaks up rain that often falls on it and continues producing vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated, it receives a blessing from God. 8However, if it continues to produce thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be burned.
9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, things that point to salvation. 10For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister to them. 11But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. 12Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.
13For when God made his promise to Abraham, he swore an oath by himself, since he had no one greater to swear by. 14He said, gI will certainly bless you and give you many descendants.h 15And so he obtained what he had been promised, because he patiently waited for it. 16For people swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all argument. 17In the same way, when God wanted to make the unchangeable character of his purpose perfectly clear to the heirs of his promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that by these two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to prove false, we who have taken refuge in him might be encouraged to seize the hope set before us. 19That hope, firm and secure like an anchor for our souls, reaches behind the curtain 20where Jesus, our forerunner, has gone on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Chapter 7
1Now this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him when he was returning from defeating the kings. 2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. In the first place, his name means gking of righteousness,h and then he is also king of Salem, that is, gking of peace.h 3He has no father, mother, or genealogy, no birth date recorded for him, nor a date of death. Like the Son of God, he continues to be a priest forever.
4Just look at how great this man was! Even Abraham\the patriarch himself\gave him a tenth of what he had captured! 5The descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they are also descendants of Abraham. 6But this man, whose descent is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the man who had received the promises. 7It is beyond dispute that the less important person is blessed by the more important person. 8Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scripture that Melchizedek keeps on living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because Levi was still inside his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood\for on this basis the people received the Law\what further need would there be to speak of appointing another kind of priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not one according to the order of Aaron? 12When a change in the priesthood takes place, there must also be a change in the Law. 13For the person we are talking about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14Furthermore, it is obvious that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe. 15This point is even more obvious in that another priest who is like Melchizedek has appeared 16who was appointed to be a priest, not on the basis of a genealogical registry, but rather on the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared about him,
gYou are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.h
18Indeed, because it was weak and ineffective, the former commandment has been annulled, 19since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is presented, by which we approach God.
20Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath, 21but Jesus became a priest with an oath when God told him,
gThe Lord has taken an oath
and will not change his mind.
You are a priest forever.h
22In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23There have been many priests, since each one of them had to stop serving in office when he died. 24But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.
26We need such a high priest\one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself. 28For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect.
Chapter 8
1Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we do have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tent set up by the Lord and not by any human. 3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, this high priest had to offer something, too. 4Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because other men offer the gifts prescribed by the Law. 5They serve in a sanctuary that is a copy, a shadow of the heavenly one. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tent: gSee to it that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.h 6However, Jesus has now obtained a more superior ministry, since the covenant he mediates is founded on better promises.
7If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one, 8but God found something wrong with his people when he said,
gLook! The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
9It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors at the time
when I took them by the hand
and brought them out of the land of Egypt.
Because they did not remain loyal to my covenant,
I ignored them, declares the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11Never again will everyone teach his neighbor
 or his brother by saying, eKnow the Lord,f
because all of them will know me,
from the least important to the most important.
12For I will be merciful regarding their wrong deeds,
and I will never again remember their sins.h
13In speaking of a gnewh covenant, he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Chapter 9
1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the Presence. This was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the Most Holy Place, 4which had the gold altar for incense and the Ark of the Covenant completely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar holding the manna, Aaronfs staff that had budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant. 5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)
6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties. 7But only the high priest went into the second part, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins committed by the people in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was indicating by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first part of the tent was still standing. 9This illustration for today indicates that the gifts and sacrifices being offered could not clear the conscience of a worshiper, 10since they deal only with food, drink, and various washings, which are required for the body until the time when things would be set right.
11But when the Messiah came as a high priest of the good things that have come, he went through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not a part of this creation. 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are unclean purifies them physically, 14how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead actions so that we may serve the living God!
15This is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant. 16For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect as long as the one who made it is alive. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19For after every commandment in the Law had been spoken to all the people by Moses, he took the blood of calves and goats, together with some water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, 20saying, gThis is the blood of the covenant that God ordained for you.h 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and everything used in worship. 22In fact, under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness.
23Thus it was necessary for these earthly copies of the things in heaven to be cleansed by these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves are made clean with better sacrifices than these. 24For the Messiah did not go into a sanctuary made by human hands that is merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear now in Godfs presence on our behalf. 25Nor did he go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again, the way the high priest goes into the Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the creation of the world. But now, at the end of the ages, he has appeared once for all to remove sin by his sacrifice. 27Indeed, just as people are destined to die once and after that to be judged, 28so the Messiah was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. And he will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.
Chapter 10
1For the Law, being only a reflection of the blessings to come and not their substance, can never make perfect those who come near by the same sacrifices repeatedly offered year after year. 2Otherwise, would they not have stopped offering them, because the worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer be aware of any sins? 3Instead, through those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year, 4for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5For this reason, the Scriptures say, when the Messiah was about to come into the world:
gYou did not want sacrifices and offerings,
but you prepared a body for me.
6In burnt offerings and sin offerings
you never took delight.
7Then I said, eSee, I have come to do your will, O Godf
In the volume of the scroll this is written about me.h
8In this passage he says, gYou never wanted or took delight in sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sin offerings,h which are offered according to the Law. 9Then he says, gSee, I have come to do your will.h He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10By Godfs will we have been sanctified once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah.
11Day after day every priest stands and repeatedly offers the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, ghe sat down at the right hand of God.h 13Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet. 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15The Holy Spirit also assures us of this, for he said:
16gThis is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts
and will write them on their minds,
17and I will never again remember their sins
and their lawless deeds.h
18Now where there is forgiveness of these sins, there is no longer any offering for sin.
19Therefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, 22let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. 24And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lord coming nearer.
26For if we choose to go on sinning after we have learned the full truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who violates the Law of Moses dies without mercy gon the testimony of two or three witnesses.h 29How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on Godfs Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace? 30For we know the one who said, gVengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back,h and again, gThe Lord will judge his people.h 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32But you must continue to remember those earlier days, how after you were enlightened you endured a hard and painful struggle. 33At times you were made a public spectacle by means of insults and persecutions, while at other times you associated with people who were treated this way. 34For you sympathized with the prisoners and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, because you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.
35So donft lose your confidence, since it holds a great reward for you. 36For you need endurance, so that after you have done Godfs will you can receive what he has promised. 37For
gin a very little while
the one who is coming will return\
he will not delay;
38but my righteous one will live by faith,
and if he turns back,
my soul will take no pleasure in him.h
39Now, we do not belong to those who turn back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Chapter 11
1Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists. 2By faith our ancestors won approval.
3By faith we understand that time was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are invisible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who pleased God. 6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by faith he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise, 10because he was waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful. 12Abraham was as good as dead, yet from this one man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth. 14For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac\he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice, 18about whom it had been said, gIt is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.h 19Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Josephfs sons gand worshiped while leaning on the top of his staff.h
22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelis and gave them instructions about burying his bones.
23By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the kingfs order.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaohfs daughter, 25because he preferred being mistreated with Godfs people to enjoying the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
27By faith he left Egypt, without being afraid of the kingfs anger, and he persevered because he saw the one who is invisible.
28By faith he established the Passover and the sprinkling of blood to keep the destroyer of the firstborn from touching the people.
29By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies with a greeting of peace.
32And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies. 35Women received their dead raised back to life. Other people were brutally tortured, but refused to be ransomed, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Still others endured taunts and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world wasnft worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and from caves to holes in the ground.
39All these people won approval for their faith but they did not receive what was promised, 40since God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be perfected without us.
Chapter 12
1Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us, 2fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3Think about the one who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you may not become tired and give up. 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5You have forgotten the encouragement that is addressed to you as sons:
gMy son, do not think lightly of the Lordfs discipline
or give up when you are corrected by him.
6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he punishes every son he accepts.h
7What you endure disciplines you: God is treating you as sons. Is there a son whom his father does not discipline? 8Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not Godfs sons. 9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. We should submit even more to the Father of our spirits and live, shouldnft we? 10For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.
12Therefore, strengthen your tired arms and your weak knees, 13and straighten the paths of your life, so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed.
14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled. 16No one should be immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he could not find any opportunity to repent, even though he begged to repent with tears.
18You have not come to something that can be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom, 19to a trumpetfs blast, or to a voice that made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20For they could not endure the command that was given: gIf even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.h 21Indeed, the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, gI am trembling with fear.h 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together, 23to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect, 24to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abelfs.
25See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if the hearers did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is from heaven! 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, gOnce more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.h 27The expression gonce moreh signifies the removal of what can be shaken, that is, what he has made, so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God in reverence and fear in a way that pleases him. 29For gour God is an all-consuming fire.h
Chapter 13
1Let brotherly love continue. 2Stop neglecting to show hospitality to strangers, for by showing hospitality some have had angels as their guests without being aware of it. 3Continue to remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them, as well as those who are mistreated, since they also are only mortal.
4Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.
5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, gI will never leave you or abandon you.h 6Hence we can confidently say, gThe Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?h
7Remember your leaders, those who have spoken Godfs word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus, the Messiah, is the same yesterday and today\and forever!
9Stop being carried away by all kinds of unusual teachings, for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by food laws that have never helped those who follow them.
10We have an altar, and those who serve in the tent have no right to eat at it. 11For the bodies of animals, whose blood is taken into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12That is why Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, also suffered outside the city gate. 13Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. 14For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming. 15Therefore, through him let us always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess his name. 16Do not neglect to do good and to be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.
18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19I especially ask you to do this so that I may be brought back to you sooner.
20Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good to do his will, accomplishing in us what pleases him through Jesus, the Messiah. To him be glory forever and ever! Amen.
22I urge you, brothers, to listen patiently to my encouraging message, for I have written you a short letter. 23You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.
24Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy greet you.
25May grace be with all of you!
James
Chapter 1
1From: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
To: The twelve tribes in the Dispersion.
Greetings.
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he undertakes.
9A brother of humble means should rejoice in his having been exalted, 10and a rich person in his having been humbled, because he will fade away like a wild flower. 11For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass. The flower in it drops off, and its beauty is gone. That is how the rich person will fade away in his pursuits.
12How blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victorfs crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him. 13When someone is tempted, he should not say, gI am being tempted by God,h because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it. 15When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.
16Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow. 18In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.
19You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.
22Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror 24and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it\thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law requires\will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives himself, his religion is worthless. 27A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Chapter 2
1My brothers, do not let your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be tainted by favoritism. 2Suppose a man wearing gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in. 3If you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, gPlease take this seat,h but you say to the poor man, gStand over thereh or gSit on the floor at my feet,h 4then you will have made false distinctions among yourselves and will have judged from evil motives, will you not?
5Listen, my dear brothers! God has chosen the poor in the world to become rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who keep on loving him, has he not? 6But you have humiliated the man who is poor. Are not rich people the ones who oppress you and drag you into court? 7Are not they the ones who blaspheme the noble Name by which you have been called?
8Nevertheless, you are doing the right thing if you obey the royal Law in keeping with the Scripture, gYou must love your neighbor as yourself.h 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and will be convicted by the Law as violators. 10For whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For the one who said, gNever commit adultery,h also said, gNever murder.h Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you become a violator of the Law. 12You must make it your habit to speak and act like people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For the one who has shown no mercy will be judged without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14What good does it do, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not prove it with actions? This kind of faith cannot save him, can it? 15Suppose a brother or sister does not have any clothes or daily food 16and one of you tells them, gGo in peace! Stay warm and eat heartily.h If you do not provide for their bodily needs, what good does it do? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead.
18But someone may say, gYou have faith, and I have actions.h Show me your faith without any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions. 19You believe that there is one God. Thatfs fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear. 20Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless? 21Our ancestor Abraham was justified by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, wasnft he? 22You see that his faith worked together with what he did, and by his actions his faith was made complete. 23And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, gAbraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.h And so he was called Godfs friend. 24You observe that a person is justified through actions and not through faith alone. 25Likewise, Rahab the prostitute was justified through actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them away on a different road, wasnft she? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without actions is also dead.
Chapter 3
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others. 2For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body. 3Now if we put bits into horsesf mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. 4And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs.
5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame. 6The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in Godfs likeness. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
 17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers.
Chapter 4
1Where do those fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your selfish desires that are at war in your bodies, donft they? 2You want something but do not get it, so you commit murder. You covet something but cannot obtain it, so you quarrel and fight. You do not get things because you do not ask for them! 3You ask for something but do not get it because you ask for it for the wrong reason\for your own pleasure.
4You adulterers! Donft you know that friendship with the world means hostility with God? So whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God. 5Or do you think the Scripture means nothing when it says that the Spirit that God caused to live in us jealously yearns for us? 6But he gives all the more grace. And so he says,
gGod opposes the arrogant
but gives grace to the humble.h
7Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the Lordfs presence, and he will exalt you.
11Do not criticize each other, brothers. Whoever makes it his habit to criticize his brother or to judge his brother is judging the Law and condemning the Law. But if you condemn the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but its judge. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge\the one who can save and destroy. So who are you to judge your neighbor?
13Now listen, you who say, gToday or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.h 14You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead you should say, gIf the Lord wants us to, we will live\and do this or that.h 16But you boast about your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.
17Therefore, anyone who knows what is right but fails to do it is guilty of sin.
Chapter 5
1Now listen, you rich people! Cry and moan over the miseries that are overtaking you. 2Your riches are rotten, your clothes have been eaten by moths, 3your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasures in these last days. 4Look! The wages that you kept back from the workers who harvested your fields are shouting out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 5You have lived in luxury and pleasure on earth. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and murdered the one who is righteous, even though he did not rebel against you.
7So be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious crop from his land, being patient with it until it receives the fall and the spring rains. 8You, too, must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near. 9Do not complain about each other, brothers, or you will be condemned. Look! The Judge is standing at the door! 10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11We consider those who endured to be blessed. You have heard about Jobfs endurance and have seen the purpose of the Lord\that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12Above all, brothers, do not swear oaths by heaven, by earth, or by any other object. Instead, let your gYesh mean yes and your gNoh mean no! Otherwise, you may fall under condemnation.
13Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying. Is anyone cheerful? He should keep reciting psalms. 14Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will save the person who is sick. The Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
16Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a person just like us, and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and rain never came to the land for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the skies poured out rain, and the ground produced its crops.
19My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth and somebody brings him back, 20you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his wrong path will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
First Peter
Chapter 1
1From: Peter, an apostle of Jesus, the Messiah.
To: The exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2the people chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctifying action of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus, the Messiah, and to be sprinkled with his blood.
May grace and peace be yours in abundance!
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! Because of his great mercy he has granted us a new birth, resulting in an immortal hope through the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, from the dead 4and to an inheritance kept in heaven for you that canft be destroyed, corrupted, or changed. 5Through faith you are being protected by Godfs power for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of this era. 6You greatly rejoice in this, even though you have to suffer various kinds of trials for a little while, 7so that your genuine faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.
8Though you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Even the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours, carefully researched and investigated this salvation. 11They tried to find out what era or specific time the Spirit of the Messiah in them kept referring to when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things that even the angels desire to look into.
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that used to influence you when you were ignorant. 15Instead, be holy in every aspect of your life, just as the one who called you is holy. 16For it is written, gYou must be holy, because I am holy.h
17If you call gFatherh the one who judges everyone impartially according to what they have done, you must live in reverent fear as long as you are strangers in a strange land. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things like silver or gold that you have been ransomed from the worthless way of life handed down to you by your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of the Messiah, like that of a lamb without blemish or defect. 20On the one hand, he was foreknown before the creation of the world, but on the other hand, he was revealed at the end of time for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.
22Now that you have obeyed the truth and have purified your souls to love your brothers sincerely, you must love one another intensely and with a pure heart. 23For you have been born again, not by a seed that perishes but by one that cannot perish\by the living and everlasting word of God. 24For
gAll human life is like grass,
and all its glory is like a flower in the grass.
The grass dries up and the flower drops off,
25but the word of the Lord lasts forever.h
Now this word is the good news that was announced to you.
Chapter 2
1Therefore, rid yourselves of every kind of evil and deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. 2Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation. 3Surely you have tasted that the Lord is good!
4As you come to him, the living stone who was rejected by people but was chosen and precious in Godfs sight, 5you, too, as living stones, are building yourselves up into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, so that you may offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus, the Messiah. 6This is why it says in Scripture:
gLook! I am laying a chosen, precious cornerstone in Zion.
The one who believes in him will never be ashamed.h
7Therefore he is precious to you who believe, but to those who do not believe,
gThe stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,
8a stone they stumble over
and a rock they trip on.h
They keep on stumbling because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people,
but now you are the people of God.
Once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. 12Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them.
13For the Lordfs sake submit yourselves to every human authority: whether to the king as supreme, 14or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is Godfs will that by doing right you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16Live like free people, and do not use your freedom as an excuse for doing evil. Instead, be Godfs servants. 17Honor everyone. Keep on loving the community of believers, fearing God, and honoring the king.
18You household servants must submit yourselves to your masters out of respect, not only to those who are kind and fair, but also to those who are unjust. 19For it is a fine thing if, when moved by your conscience to please God, you suffer patiently when wronged. 20What good does it do if, when you sin, you patiently receive punishment for it? But if you suffer for doing good and receive it patiently, you have Godfs approval. 21This is, in fact, what you were called to do, because:
The Messiah also suffered for you
and left an example for you
to follow in his steps.
22gHe never sinned,
and he never told a lie.h
23When he was insulted,
he did not retaliate.
When he suffered,
he did not threaten.
It was his habit
to commit the matter to the one who judges fairly.
24gHe himself bore our sinsh in his body on the tree,
so that we might die to those sins
and live righteously.
gBy his wounds
you have been healed.h
25You were glike sheep that kept going astray,h
but now you have returned to the shepherd
and overseer of your souls.
Chapter 3
1In a similar way, you wives must submit yourselves to your husbands so that, even if some of them refuse to obey the word, they may be won over without a word through your conduct as wives 2when they see your pure and reverent lives.
3Your beauty should not be an external one, consisting of braided hair or the wearing of gold ornaments and dresses. 4Instead, it should be the inner disposition of the heart, consisting in the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which God values greatly. 5After all, this is how holy women who set their hope on God used to make themselves beautiful in the past. They submitted themselves to their husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters by doing good and by not letting anything terrify you.
7In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate partner. Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers.
8Finally, all of you must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble. 9Do not pay others back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, keep blessing them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.
10gFor the person who wants to love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11He must turn away from evil and do good.
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the Lord watches the righteous,
and he pays attention to their prayers.
But the Lord opposes those who do wrong.h
13Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. gNever be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. 15Instead, exalt the Messiahh as Lord in your lives. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. 16But do this gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah will be ashamed of slandering you. 17After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.
18For the Messiah also suffered for sins once for all,
an innocent person for the guilty,
so that he could bring you to God.
He was put to death in a mortal body
but was brought to life by the Spirit,
19in which he went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits 20who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water. 21Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, 22who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him.
Chapter 4
1Therefore, since the Messiah suffered in a mortal body, you, too, must arm yourselves with the same determination, because the person who has suffered in a mortal body has stopped sinning, 2so that he can live the rest of his mortal life guided, not by human desires, but by the will of God. 3For you spent enough time in the past doing what the gentiles like to do, living in sensuality, sinful desires, drunkenness, wild celebrations, drinking parties, and detestable idolatry. 4They insult you now because they are surprised that you are no longer joining them in the same excesses of wild living. 5They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6Indeed, this is why the gospel was proclaimed even to those who have died, so that they could be judged in their mortal flesh like all humans and live in the spiritual realm like God.
7Because everything will soon come to an end, be sensible and clear-headed, so you can pray. 8Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without complaining. 10As good servant managers of Godfs grace in its various forms, serve one another with the gift each of you has received. 11Whoever speaks must speak Godfs words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus, the Messiah. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen.
12Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13Instead, because you are participating in the sufferings of the Messiah, keep on rejoicing, so that you may be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of the Messiah, you are blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God is resting on you.
15Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. 16But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who refuse to obey the gospel of God?
18gIf it is hard for the righteous person to be saved,
what will happen to the ungodly and sinful person?h
19So then, those who suffer according to Godfs will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do what is good.
Chapter 5
1Therefore, as a fellow elder, a witness of the Messiahfs sufferings, and one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2Be shepherds of Godfs flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires. 3Do not lord it over the people entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victorfs crown of glory that will never fade away.
5In a similar way, you young people must submit to the elders. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because:
gGod opposes the arrogant,
but gives grace to the humble.h
6Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 7Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you. 8Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him and be firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you by the Messiah Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, establish you, strengthen you, and support you. 11Power belongs to him forever and ever! Amen.
12Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is to be the true grace of God in which you are to stand firm! 13Your sister church in Babylon, chosen along with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, whom I regard as a son. 14Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace be to all of you who are in the Messiah!
Second Peter
Chapter 1
1From: Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus, the Messiah.
To: Those who have received faith that is as valuable as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah.
2May grace and peace be yours in abundance through full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge, 6your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness, 7your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love. 8For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. 9For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.
10So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail. 11For in this way you will be generously granted entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah.
12Therefore, I intend to keep on reminding you about these things, even though you already know them and are firmly established in the truth that you now have. 13Yet I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I am living in this bodily tent, 14because I know that the removal of my bodily tent will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, has shown me. 15And I will make every effort to see that you will always remember these things after I am gone.
16When we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, we did not follow any clever myths. Rather, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when these words from the Majestic Glory were spoken about him: gThis is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him.h 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19Therefore we regard the message of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp that is shining in a gloomy place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of onefs own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever originated through a human decision. Instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 2
1Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. 3In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed.
4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but threw them into the lowest hell and imprisoned them in chains of deepest darkness, holding them for judgment; 5and if he did not spare the ancient world but protected Noah, a righteous preacher, along with seven others when he brought the flood on the world of ungodly people; 6and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them by burning them to ashes, making them an example to ungodly people of what is going to happen to them; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was greatly distressed by the immoral conduct of lawless people\ 8for as long as that righteous man lived among them, day after day he was being tortured in his righteous soul by what he saw and heard in their lawless actions\ 9then the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials and to hold unrighteous people for punishment on the day of judgment, 10especially those who satisfy their flesh by indulging in its passions and who despise authority.
Being bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to slander glorious beings. 11Yet even angels, although they are greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous accusation against them from the Lord. 12These people, like irrational animals, are mere creatures of instinct that are born to be caught and killed. They insult what they donft understand, and like animals they, too, will be destroyed, 13suffering harm as punishment for their wrongdoing. They take pleasure in wild parties in broad daylight. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceitful pleasures while they eat with you. 14With eyes full of adultery, they cannot get enough of sin. They seduce unsteady souls and have had their hearts expertly trained in greed. They are doomed to a curse. 15They have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Bosorfs son Balaam, who loved the reward he got for doing wrong. 16But he was rebuked for his offense. A donkey that normally cannot talk spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophetfs insanity.
17These men are dried-up springs, mere clouds driven by a storm. Gloomy darkness is reserved for them. 18By talking high-sounding nonsense and using sinful cravings of the flesh, they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error. 19Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves to depravity, for a person is a slave to whatever conquers him.
20For if, after escaping the worldfs corruptions through a full knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah, they are again entangled and conquered by those corruptions, then their last condition is worse than their former one. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn their backs on the holy commandment that was committed to them. 22The proverb is true that describes what has happened to them: gA dog returns to its vomit,h and gA pig that is washed goes back to wallow in the mud.h
Chapter 3
1Dear friends, this is now the second of two letters I am writing to you, in which I have been trying to stimulate your pure minds by reminding you 2to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of our Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles.
3First of all you must understand this: In the last days mockers will come and, following their own desires, will ridicule us 4by saying, gWhat happened to the Messiahfs promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of creation.h 5But they deliberately ignore the fact that long ago the heavens existed and the earth was formed by Godfs word out of water and with water, 6by which the world at that time was deluged with water and destroyed. 7Now by that same word, the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire and are being kept for the day when ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.
8Donft forget this fact, dear friends: With the Lord a single day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a single day. 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent. 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will disappear with a roaring sound, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be exposed.
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, think of the kind of holy and godly people you ought to be 12as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved and the elements will melt with fire. 13But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to have the Lord find you at peace and without spot or fault. 15Think of our Lordfs patience as facilitating salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. 16He speaks about this subject in all his letters. Some things in them are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, leading to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures.
17And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continually be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position. 18Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen.
First John
Chapter 1
1What existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we observed and touched with our own hands\this is the Word of life! 2This life was revealed to us, and we have seen it and testify about it. We declare to you this eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. 3What we have seen and heard we declare to you so that you, too, can have fellowship with us. Now this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus, the Messiah. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be full.
5This is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness\none at all! 6If we claim that we have fellowship with him but keep living in darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. 7But if we keep living in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we do not have any sin, we are deceiving ourselves and wefre not being truthful to ourselves. 9If we make it our habit to confess our sins, in his faithful righteousness he forgives us for those sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have never sinned, we make him a liar and his word has no place in us.
Chapter 2
1My little children, Ifm writing these things to you so that you might not sin. Yet if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father\Jesus, the Messiah, one who is righteous. 2It is he who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole worldfs.
3This is how we can be sure that we have come to know him: if we continually keep his commandments. 4The person who says, gI have come to know him,h but does not continually keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth has no place in that person. 5But whoever continually keeps his commandments is the kind of person in whom Godfs love has truly been perfected. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God: 6The one who says that he abides in him must live the same way he himself lived.
7Dear friends, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning. This old commandment is the word you have heard. 8On the other hand, I am writing to you a new commandment that is truly in him and in you. For the darkness is fading away, and the true light is already shining.
9The person who says that he is in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10The person who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no reason for him to stumble. 11But the person who hates his brother is in the darkness and lives in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins have been forgiven
on account of his name.
13I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have known the one who
has existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14I have written to you, little children,
because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have known the one who
has existed from the beginning.
I have written to you, young people,
because you are strong
and because Godfs word remains in you
and you have overcome the evil one.
15Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. If anyone persists in loving the world, the Fatherfs love is not in him. 16For everything that is in the world\the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance\is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And the world and its desires are fading away, but the person who does Godfs will remains forever.
18Little children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They left us, but they were not part of us, for if they had been part of us, they would have stayed with us. Their leaving made it clear that none of them was really part of us.
20You have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things. 21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because lies donft come from truth. 22Who is a liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? The person who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.
24What you have heard from the beginning must abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you will also abide in the Son and in the Father. 25The message that the Son himself declared to us is eternal life. 26I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27The anointing you received from God abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you this. Instead, because Godfs anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not a lie, abide in him, as he taught you to do.
28Even now, little children, abide in him. Then, when he appears, we will have confidence and will not turn away from him in shame when he comes. 29Since you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by God.
Chapter 3
1See what kind of love the Father has given us: We are called Godfs children\and that is what we are! For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not recognize him, either.
2Dear friends, we are now Godfs children, but what we will be like has not been revealed yet. We know that when the Messiah is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is. 3And everyone who has this hope based on him keeps himself pure, just as the Messiah is pure. 4Everyone who keeps living in sin also practices disobedience. In fact, sin is disobedience. 5You know that the Messiah was revealed to take away sins, and there is not any sin in him. 6No one who remains in union with him keeps on sinning. The one who keeps on sinning hasnft seen him or known him.
7Little children, donft let anyone deceive you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, just as the Messiah is righteous. 8The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason that the Son of God was revealed was to destroy what the devil has been doing. 9No one who has been born from God practices sin, because Godfs seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God. 10This is how Godfs children and the devilfs children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God.
11This is the message that you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because what he was doing was evil and his brotherfs actions were righteous. 13So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love one another. The person who does not love remains spiritually dead. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life present in him. 16This is how we have come to know love: the Messiah gave his life for us. We, too, ought to give our lives for our brothers. 17Whoever has earthly possessions and notices a brother in need and yet withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God be present in him? 18Little children, we must stop expressing love merely by our words and manner of speech; we must love also in action and in truth. 19This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be able to keep ourselves strong in his presence.
20If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God. 22Whatever we request we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23And this is his commandment: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus the Messiah, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24The person who keeps his commandments abides in God, and God abides in him. This is how we can be sure that he remains in us: he has given us his Spirit.
Chapter 4
1Dear friends, stop believing every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2This is how you can recognize Godfs Spirit: Every spirit who acknowledges that Jesus the Messiah has become human\and remains so\is from God. 3But every spirit who does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist. You have heard that he is coming, and now he is already in the world. 4Little children, you belong to God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5These people belong to the world. That is why they speak from the worldfs perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We belong to God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
7Dear friends, let us continually love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. 8The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how Godfs love was revealed among us: God sent his unique Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love one another. 12No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13This is how we know that we abide in him and he in us: he has given us his Spirit.
14We have seen for ourselves and can testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15God abides in the one who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, and he abides in God. 16We have come to know and rely on the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, during our time in this world, we are just like him. 18There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love.
19We love because God first loved us. 20Whoever says, gI love God,h but hates his brother is a liar. The one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love the God whom he has not seen. 21And this is the commandment that we have from him: the person who loves God must also love his brother.
Chapter 5
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves the child. 2This is how we know that we love Godfs children: we love God and keep his commandments. 3For this demonstrates our love for God: We keep his commandments, and his commandments are not difficult, 4because everyone who is born from God has overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. 5Who overcomes the world? Is it not the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This man, Jesus the Messiah, is the one who came by water and blood\not with water only, but with water and with blood. The Spirit is the one who verifies this, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three witnesses\ 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood\and these three are one.
9If we accept human testimony, Godfs testimony is greater, because it is the testimony of God and because he has testified about his Son. 10The person who believes in the Son of God believes this testimony personally. The person who does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony that he has given about his Son.
11This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in his Son. 12The person who has the Son has this life. The person who does not have the Son of God does not have this life.
13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14And this is the confidence that we have in him: if we ask for anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15And if we know that he listens to our requests, we can be sure that we have what we ask him for.
16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray that God would give him life. This applies to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not telling you to pray about that. 17Every kind of wrongdoing is sin, yet there are sins that do not lead to death.
18We know that the person who has been born from God does not go on sinning. Rather, the Son of God protects them, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19We know that we are from God and that the whole world lies under the control of the evil one. 20We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true God. We are in union with the one who is true, his Son Jesus the Messiah, who is the true God and eternal life.
21Little children, keep yourselves away from idols.
Second John
Chapter 1
1From: The Elder
To: The chosen lady and her children, whom I genuinely love, and not only I but also all who know the truth, 2that is present in us and will be with us forever.
3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah, the Fatherfs Son, in truth and love.
4I was overjoyed to find some of your children living truthfully, just as the Father has commanded us. 5Dear lady, I am now requesting of you that we all continue to love one another. It is not as though I am writing to give you a new commandment, but one that we have had from the beginning. 6And this is what demonstrates love: that we live according to Godfs commandments. Just as you have heard from the beginning what he commanded, you must live by it.
7For many deceivers have gone out into the world. They refuse to acknowledge Jesus the Messiah as having become human. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8See to it that you donft destroy what we have worked for, but that you receive your full reward. 9Everyone who does not remain true to the teaching of the Messiah, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The person who remains true to the teaching of the Messiah has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you but does not present his teachings, do not receive him into your house or even welcome him, 11because the one who welcomes him shares in his evil deeds.
12Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13The children of your chosen sister greet you.
Third John
Chapter 1
1From: The Elder
To: My dear friend Gaius, whom I genuinely love.
2Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. 3I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
5Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. 6They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7After all, they went on their trip for the sake of the Name, accepting no support from gentiles. 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them.
9I wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority. 10For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.
11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God. 12Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this report, and you know that our testimony is true.
13Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak face to face.
May peace be with you! Your friends greet you. Greet each of our friends by name.
15-
Jude
Chapter 1
1From: Jude, a servant of Jesus the Messiah, and yet a brother of James.
To: Those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept safe by Jesus, the Messiah.
2May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance!
3Dear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write to you and urge you to continue your vigorous defense of the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all. 4For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Messiah.
5Now I want to remind you, even though you are fully aware of these things, that the Lord who once saved his people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not believe. 6He has also held in eternal chains those angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their assigned place. They are held in deepest darkness for judgment on the great day. 7Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities near them, which like them committed sexual sins and pursued homosexual activities, serve as an example of the punishment of eternal fire.
8In a similar way, these dreamers also defile their flesh, reject the Lordfs authority, and slander his glorious beings. 9Even the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil and fought over the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him. Instead, he said, gMay the Lord rebuke you!h 10Whatever these people do not understand, they slander. Like irrational animals, they are destroyed by the very things they know by instinct. 11How terrible it will be for them! For they lived like Cain did, rushed headlong into Balaamfs error to make a profit, and destroyed themselves, as happened in Korahfs rebellion. 12These people are stains on your love feasts. They feast with you without any sense of awe. They are shepherds who care only for themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by the winds. They are autumn trees that are fruitless, totally dead, and uprooted. 13They are wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.
14Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied about these people when he said,
gLook! The Lord has come with countless thousands of his holy ones. 15He will judge all people and convict everyone of all the ungodly things that they have done in such an ungodly way, including all the harsh things that these ungodly sinners have said about him.h
16These people are complainers and faultfinders, following their own desires. They say arrogant things and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.
17But you, dear friends, must remember the statements and predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. 18They kept telling you, gIn the last times there will be mockers, following their own ungodly desires.h 19These are the people who cause divisions. They are worldly, devoid of the Spirit.
20But you, dear friends, must continue to build your most holy faith for your own benefit. Furthermore, continue to pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Remain in Godfs love as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, which brings eternal life. 22Show mercy to those who have doubts. 23Save others by snatching them from the fire. To others, show mercy with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their sinful lives.
24Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand joyful and faultless in his glorious presence, 25to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and for all eternity! Amen.
Revelation
Chapter 1
1This is the revelation of Jesus the Messiah, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. He made it known by sending his messenger to his servant John, 2who testified about this message from God and the testimony about Jesus the Messiah. 3How blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and obey what is written in it, for the time is near!
4From John to the seven churches in Asia. May grace and peace be yours from the one who is, who was, and who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne, 5and from Jesus the Messiah, the witness, the faithful one, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and has made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
7Look! He is coming in the clouds.
Every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him,
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn
because of him.
So be it! Amen.
8gI am the Alpha and the Omega,h declares the Lord God, gthe one who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.h
9I am John, your brother and partner in the oppression, kingdom, and patience that comes because of Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. 10I came to be in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord, when I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet, 11saying, gWrite on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.h
12Then I turned to see who was talking to me, and when I turned I saw seven gold lamp stands. 13Among the lamp stands there was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash around his chest. 14His head and his hair were white like wool, in fact, as white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire, 15his feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of raging waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines with full force.
17When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, gStop being afraid! I am the first and the last, 18the living one. I was dead, but look\I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19Therefore, write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after this. 20The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands is this: the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.h
Chapter 2
1gTo the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write:
eThe one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says this:
2eI know what youfve been doing, your toil, and your endurance. I also know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false. 3You have endured and suffered because of my name, yet you have not grown weary. 4However, I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Therefore, remember how far you have fallen. Repent and go back to what you were doing at first. If you donft, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place\unless you repent. 6But this is to your credit: You hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in Godfs paradise.fh
8gTo the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write:
eThe first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this:
9eI know your suffering and your poverty\though you are rich\and the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of Satan. 10Donft be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victorfs crown of life.
11eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be hurt by the second death.fh
12gTo the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write:
eThe one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword, says this:
13eI know where you live. Satanfs throne is there. Yet you hold on to my name and have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. 14But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, the one who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. 15You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16So repent. If you donft, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it.fh
18gTo the messenger of the church in Thyatira, write:
eThe Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this:
19eI know what youfve been doing\your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance\and that your last actions are greater than the first. 20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refused to repent of her immorality. 22Look! I am going to strike her with illness. Those who commit adultery with her will also suffer greatly, unless they repent from acting like her. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will reward each of you as your actions deserve.
24eBut as for the rest of you in Thyatira\you who do not hold to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan\I wonft burden you with anything else. 25Just hold on to what you have until I come. 26To the person who conquers and continues to do what Ifve commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27eHe will rule them with an iron scepter;
shattering them like clay pots.f
28eJust as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star.
29eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.fh
Chapter 3
1gTo the messenger of the church in Sardis, write:
eThe one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this:
eI know what youfve been doing. You are known for being alive, but you are dead. 2Be alert, and strengthen the things that are left, which are about to die. I note that your actions are incomplete before my God. 3So remember what you received and heard. Obey it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you wonft know the time when I will come to you. 4But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me in white clothes because they are worthy. 5The person who conquers in this way will wear white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and his angels.
6eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.fh
7gTo the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write:
eThe one who is holy, who is true,
who has the key of David,
who opens a door that no one can shut,
and who shuts a door that no one can open,
esays this:
8eI know what youfve been doing. Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have only a little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan\those who claim to be Jews and arenft, but are lying\come and bow down at your feet. Then they will realize that I have loved you. 10Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of testing that is coming to the whole world to test those living on the earth. 11I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your victorfs crown. 12I will make the one who conquers to become a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he will never go out of it again. I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God), and my own new name.
13eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.fh
14gTo the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write:
eThe Amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the originator of Godfs creation, says this:
 15eI know your actions, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, gI am rich. I have become wealthy. I donft need anything.h Yet you donft realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so you may be rich, white clothes to wear so your shameful nakedness wonft show, and ointment to put on your eyes so you may see. 19I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent! 20Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. 21To the one who conquers I will give a place to sit with me on my throne, just as I have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne.
 22eLet everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.fh
Chapter 4
1After these things, I saw a door standing open in heaven. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, gCome up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.h 2Instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven with a person seated on the throne. 3The person sitting there looked like jasper and carnelian, and there was a rainbow around the throne that looked like an emerald. 4Around the throne were 24 other thrones, and on these thrones sat 24 elders wearing white robes and gold victorfs crowns on their heads. 5Flashes of lightning, noises, and peals of thunder came from the throne. Burning in front of the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God.
6In front of the throne was something like a sea of glass as clear as crystal. In the center of the throne and on each side of the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature was like an ox, the third living creature had a face like a human, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were full of eyes inside and out. Without stopping day or night they were saying,
gHoly, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is coming.h
9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the 24 elders bow down and worship in front of the one who sits on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever. They throw their victorfs crowns in front of the throne and say,
11gYou are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory, honor, and power,
because you created all things;
they came into existence
and were created because of your will.h
Chapter 5
1Then I saw in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the outside, sealed with seven seals. 2I also saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, gWho is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?h 3No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. 4I began to cry bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.
5gStop crying,h one of the elders told me. gLook! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered. He can open the scroll and its seven seals.h
6Then I saw a lamb standing in the middle of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. He looked like he had been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne.
 8When the lamb had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed down in front of him. Each held a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, the prayers of the saints. 9They sang a new song:
gYou are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals,
because you were slaughtered.
With your blood you purchased people for God
from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on the earth.h
11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels, the living creatures, and the elders surrounding the throne. They numbered 10,000fs times 10,000 and thousands times thousands. 12They sang with a loud voice,
gWorthy is the lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!h
13I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying,
gTo the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and power forever and ever!h
14Then the four living creatures said, gAmen!h, and the elders bowed down and worshiped.
Chapter 6
1Then I saw the lamb open the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, gGo!h 2Then I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow, and a victorfs crown had been given to him. He went out as a conqueror to conquer.
3When the lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, gGo!h 4A second horse went out. It was fiery red, and its rider was given permission to take peace away from the earth and to make people slaughter one another. So he was given a large sword.
5When the lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, gGo!h I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a scale in his hand. 6I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, gA quart of wheat for a denarius, or three quarts of barley for a denarius. But donft damage the olive oil or the wine!h
7When the lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, gGo!h 8I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its riderfs name was Death, and Hades followed him. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth to kill people using wars, famines, plagues, and the wild animals of the earth.
9When the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. 10They cried out in a loud voice,
gHoly and true Sovereign,
how long will it be before you judge
and take revenge on those living on the earth
who shed our blood?h
11Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed as they themselves had been.
12Then I saw the lamb open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned as red as blood. 13The stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its fruit when it is shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. 16They told the mountains and rocks, gFall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?h
Chapter 7
1After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the land, on the sea, or on any tree. 2I saw another angel coming from the east having the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been permitted to harm the land and sea, 3gDonft harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.h
4I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, and 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
9After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice,
gSalvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the lamb!h
11All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God, 12saying,
gAmen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength
be to our God forever and ever! Amen!h
13gWho are these people wearing white robes,h one of the elders asked me, gand where did they come from?h
14I told him, gSir, you know.h
Then he told me, gThese are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. 15That is why:
gThey are in front of the throne of God
and worship him night and day in his Temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
16They will never be hungry or thirsty again.
Neither the sun nor its heat will ever beat down on them,
17because the lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd.
He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life,
and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.h
Chapter 8
1When the lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2Then I saw the seven angels who stand in Godfs presence, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3Another angel came with a gold censer and stood at the altar. He was given a large quantity of incense to offer on the gold altar before the throne, along with the prayers of all the saints. 4The smoke from the incense and the prayers of the saints went up from the angelfs hand to God. 5The angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there were peals of thunder, noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. 6The seven angels who had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them.
7When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood and thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a huge mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea turned into blood, 9one-third of the creatures that were living in the sea died, and one-third of the ships was destroyed.
10When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star blazing like a torch fell from heaven. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. One-third of the water turned into wormwood, and many people died from the water because it had turned bitter.
12When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were struck so that one-third of them turned dark. One-third of the day was kept from having light, as was the night.
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying overhead say in a loud voice,
gHow terrible, how terrible, how terrible
for those living on the earth,
because of the blasts of the remaining trumpets
that the three angels are about to blow!h
Chapter 9
1When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky. The star was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2It opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and smoke came out of the shaft like the smoke from a large furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3Locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth, and they were given power like that of earthly scorpions. 4They were told not to harm the grass on the earth, any green plant, or any tree. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were not allowed to kill them, but were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6In those days people will seek death, but never find it. They will long to die, but death will escape them.
7The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were victorfs crowns that looked like gold, and their faces were like human faces. 8They had hair like womenfs hair and teeth like lionsf teeth. 9They had breastplates like iron, and the noise of their wings was like the roar of chariots with many horses rushing into battle. 10They had tails and stingers like scorpions, and they had the power to hurt people with their tails for five months. 11They had the angel of the bottomless pit ruling over them as king. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
12The first catastrophe is over. After these things, there are still two more catastrophes to come.
13When the sixth angel blew his trumpet, I heard a voice from the four horns of the gold altar in front of God. 14It told the sixth angel who had the trumpet, gRelease the four angels who are held at the great Euphrates River.h 15So the four angels who were ready for that hour, day, month, and year were released to kill one-third of humanity. 16The number of cavalry troops was 200,000,000. I heard how many there were.
17This was how I saw the horses in my vision: The riders wore breastplates that had the color of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like lionsf heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18By these three plagues\the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths\one-third of humanity was killed. 19For the power of these horses is in their mouths and their tails. Their tails have heads like snakes, which they use to inflict pain.
20The rest of the people who survived these plagues did not repent from their evil actions or stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. 21They did not repent from their murders, their witchcraft, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
Chapter 10
1Then I saw another powerful angel come down from heaven. He was dressed in a cloud, and there was a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like columns of fire. 2He held a small, opened scroll in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3he shouted in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with voices of their own. 4When the seven thunders spoke, I was going to write, but I heard a voice from heaven say, gSeal up what the seven thunders have said, and donft write it down.h
5Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6He swore an oath by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: gThere will be no more delay. 7When the time approaches for the seventh angel to blow his trumpet, Godfs secret plan will be fulfilled, as he had announced to his servants, the prophets.h
8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, gGo and take the opened scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.h
9So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll. gTake it and eat it,h he told me. gIt will turn bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.h
10So I took the small scroll from the angelfs hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it turned bitter in my stomach. 11Then the seven thunders told me, gYou must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.h
Chapter 11
1Then I was given a stick like a measuring rod. I was told, gStand up and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there. 2But donft measure the courtyard outside the Temple. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the Holy City for 42 months. 3I will give my two witnesses who wear sackcloth the authority to prophesy for 1,260 days.h
4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing in the presence of the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone should want to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths and burns up their enemies. If anyone wants to hurt them, he must be killed in this manner. 6These witnesses have authority to close the heavens in order to keep rain from falling while they are prophesying. They also have authority to turn bodies of water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague, as often as they desire.
7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will wage war against them, conquer them, and kill them. 8Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some members of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be placed in a tomb. 10Those living on earth will gloat over them, celebrate, and send gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth.
11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Those who watched them were terrified. 12Then the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, gCome up here!h So they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13At that moment a powerful earthquake struck. One-tenth of the city collapsed, 7,000 people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The second catastrophe is over. The third catastrophe is coming very soon.
15When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
gThe worldfs kingdom has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will rule forever and ever.h
16Then the twenty-four elders who were sitting on their thrones in Godfs presence fell on their faces and worshiped God. 17They said,
gWe give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to rule.
18The nations were angry,
but the time for your wrath has come.
It is time for the dead to be judged\
to reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all who fear your name,
both unimportant and important,
and to destroy those who destroy the earth.h
19Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen inside his Temple. There were flashes of lightning, noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Chapter 12
1A spectacular sign appeared in the sky: a woman dressed with the sun, who had the moon under her feet and a victorfs crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and was crying out from her labor pains, the agony of giving birth.
3Then another sign appeared in the sky: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on its heads. 4Its tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky and knocked them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it could devour her child when it was born. 5She gave birth to a son, a boy, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne. 6Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where a place had been prepared for her by God so that she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels fought back. 8But it was not strong enough, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels.
10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
gNow the salvation, the power,
the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah have come.
For the one who accuses our brothers,
who accuses them day and night
in the presence of our God,
has been thrown out.
11Our brothers conquered him by the blood of the lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to their lives
even in the face of death.
12So be glad, heavens, and those who live in them!
How terrible it is for the earth and the sea,
because the Devil has come down to you, filled with rage,
knowing that his time is short!h
13When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the boy. 14However, the woman was given the two wings of a large eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time. 15From its mouth the serpent spewed water like a river behind the woman in order to sweep her away with the flood. 16But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed from its mouth. 17The dragon became angry with the woman and went away to do battle against the rest of her children, the ones who keep Godfs commandments and hold on to the testimony about Jesus. 18Then the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Chapter 13
1I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns, seven heads, and ten royal crowns on its horns. On its heads were blasphemous names. 2The beast that I saw was like a leopard. Its feet were like bearfs feet, and its mouth was like a lionfs mouth. The dragon gave it his power, his throne, and complete authority.
3One of the beastfs heads looked like it had sustained a mortal wound, but its fatal wound was healed. Rapt with amazement, the whole world followed the beast. 4They worshiped the dragon because it had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, gWho is like the beast, and who can fight a war with it?h 5The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and blasphemous things, and it was given authority for 42 months. 6It uttered blasphemies against God, against his name, and against his residence, that is, against those who are living in heaven. 7It was allowed to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8All those who had become settled down and at home, living on the earth, will worship it, everyone whose name had not been written in the Book of Life belonging to the lamb that had been slaughtered since the foundation of the world.
9Let everyone listen:
10If anyone is to be taken captive,
into captivity he will go.
If anyone is to be killed with a sword,
with a sword he will be killed.
Here is a call for endurance and faith of the saints:
11I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it talked like a dragon. 12It uses all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and those living on it worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13It performs spectacular signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14It deceives those living on earth with the signs that it is allowed to do on behalf of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who was wounded by a sword and yet lived. 15The second beast was allowed to impart life to the image of the first beast so that the image of the beast could talk and order the execution of those who would not worship the image of the beast. 16The second beast forces all people\important and unimportant, rich and poor, free and slaves\to be marked on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the mark, which is the beastfs name or the number of its name.
18In this case wisdom is needed: Let the person who has understanding calculate the total number of the beast, because it is a human total number, and the sum of the number is 666.
Chapter 14
1Then I looked, and there was the lamb, standing on Mount Zion! With him were 144,000 people who had his name and his Fatherfs name written on their foreheads.
2Then I heard a sound from heaven like that of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. 3They were singing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4They have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins, and they follow the lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from among humanity as the first fruits for God and the lamb. 5In their mouth no lie was found. They are blameless.
6Then I saw another angel flying overhead with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth\to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7He said in a loud voice,
gFear God and give him glory,
because the time for him to judge has arrived.
Worship the one who made heaven and earth,
the sea and springs of water.h
8Then another angel, a second one, followed him, saying,
gFallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has made all nations drink the wine,
the wrath earned for her sexual sins.h
9Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying in a loud voice, gWhoever worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or his hand 10will drink the wine of Godfs wrath, which has been poured undiluted into the cup of his anger. He will be tortured with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the lamb. 11The smoke from their torture goes up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.h
12Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to their faithfulness in Jesus:
13I heard a voice from heaven say, gWrite this:
How blessed are the dead,
that is, those who die in the Lord from now on!h
gYes,h says the Spirit.
gLet them rest from their labors,
for their actions follow them.h
14Then I looked, and there was a white cloud! On the cloud sat someone who was like the Son of Man, with a gold victorfs crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15Another angel came out of the Temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud,
gSwing your sickle,
and gather the harvest,
for the hour has come to gather it,
because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.h
16The one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17Then another angel came out of the Temple in heaven. He, too, had a sharp sickle. 18From the altar came another angel who had authority over fire. He called out in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle,
gSwing your sharp sickle,
and gather the bunches of grapes
from the vine of the earth,
because those grapes are ripe.h
19So the angel swung his sickle in the earth, gathered the grapes from the earth, and threw them into the great winepress of Godfs wrath. 20The wine press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press as high as a horsefs bridle for about 183 miles.
Chapter 15
1I saw another sign in heaven. It was both spectacular and amazing. There were seven angels with the seven last plagues, with which Godfs wrath is completed.
2Then I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing on the sea of glass holding Godfs harps in their hands. 3They sang the song of Godfs servant Moses and the song of the lamb:
gYour deeds are both spectacular and amazing,
Lord God Almighty.
Your ways are just and true,
King of the nations.
4Lord, who wonft fear and praise your name?
For you alone are holy,
and all the nations will come and worship you
because your judgments have been revealed.h
5After these things, I looked, and the Temple, which is the Tent of Testimony in heaven, was open! 6The seven angels with the seven plagues came out of the Temple wearing clean, shining linen with gold sashes around their chests. 7One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven gold bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8The Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and his power, and no one could enter the Temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels came to an end.
Chapter 16
1Then I heard a loud voice from the Temple saying to the seven angels, gGo and pour the seven bowls of Godfs wrath on the earth.h 2So the first angel went and poured his bowl on the earth. A horrible, painful sore appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped the image.
3The second angel poured his bowl into the sea. It became like the blood of a dead body, and every living thing in the sea died.
4The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. 5Then I heard the angel in charge of the water say,
gYou are just. You are the one who is
and who was, the Holy One,
because you have judged these things.
6You have given them blood to drink
because they spilled the blood of saints and prophets.
This is what they deserve.h
7Then I heard the altar reply,
gYes, Lord God Almighty,
your judgments are true and just.h
8The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, which then was allowed to burn people with fire, 9and they were burned by the fierce heat. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
10The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast. Its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed on their tongues in anguish 11and cursed the God of heaven because of their pain-filled sores. But they did not repent of their behavior.
12The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great Euphrates River. Its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13Then I saw three disgusting spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14They are demonic spirits that perform signs. They go to the kings of the whole earth and gather them for the war of the great Day of God Almighty.
15gSee, I am coming like a thief.
How blessed is the person who remains alert
and keeps his clothes on!
He wonft have to go naked
and let others see his shame.h
16The spirits gathered the kings to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.
17The seventh angel threw the contents of his bowl across the sky. A loud voice came from the throne in the Temple and said, gIt has happened!h 18There were flashes of lightning, noises, peals of thunder, and a powerful earthquake. There has never been such a powerful earthquake since people have been on the earth. 19The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered to give Babylon the Great the cup of wine filled with the fury of his wrath. 20Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be found. 21Huge hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds, fell from the sky on people, who cursed God because the plague of hail was so terrible.
Chapter 17
1Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and told me, gCome, I will show you how the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters will be judged. 2The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those living on earth became drunk with the wine of her immorality.h
3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was controlled by blasphemy. It had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman wore purple and scarlet clothes and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls. In her hand she was holding a gold cup filled with detestable things and the impurities of her immorality. 5On her forehead was written a secret name:
Babylon the Great,
the Mother of Prostitutes
and Detestable Things of the Earth
6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.
7gWhy are you surprised?h The angel asked me. gI will tell you the secret of the woman and the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her. 8The beast that you saw existed once, but is no longer, and is going to crawl out of the bottomless pit and then proceed to its destruction. Those living on earth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be surprised when they see the beast because it was, is no longer, and will come again. 9This calls for a mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is sitting. They are also seven kings. 10Five of them have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain in power for a little while. 11The beast that was and is no longer is the eighth king, but it belongs with the seven kings and goes to its destruction. 12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. They will receive authority to rule as kings with the beast for one hour. 13They have one purpose: to give their power and authority to the beast. 14They will wage war against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him.h
 15The angel also told me, gThe bodies of water you saw, on which the prostitute is sitting, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her abandoned and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17for God has placed within them a desire to carry out his purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast until Godfs words are fulfilled. 18The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.h
Chapter 18
1After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was made bright by his splendor. 2He cried out in a powerful voice,
gFallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has become a home for demons.
She is a prison for every unclean spirit,
a prison for every unclean bird,
and a prison for every unclean
and hated beast.
3For all the nations have drunk
from the wine of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her.
The worldfs businesses have become rich
from her luxurious excesses.h
4Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
gCome out of her, my people,
so that you donft participate in her sins
and also suffer from her diseases.
5For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
6Do to her as she herself has done,
and give her double for her deeds.
Mix a double drink for her in the cup she mixed.
7Just as she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
inflict on her just as much torture and misery.
In her heart she says,
eI am a queen on a throne, not a widow.
I will never see misery.f
8For this reason, her diseases that result in death, misery, and famine
will come in a single day.
She will be burned up in a fire,
because powerful is the Lord God who judges her.h
9The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury with her, will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. 10Frightened by the torture that she experiences, they will stand far away and cry out,
gHow terrible, how terrible it is for that great city,
the powerful city Babylon,
because your judgment arrived in a single hour!h
11The worldfs businesses cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore\ 12cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all articles made of ivory, all articles made of very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble, 13cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves (that is, human souls)\
14gThe fruit that you crafted has abandoned you.
All your dainties and your splendor are lost,
and no one will ever find them again.h
15Frightened by the severity of her punishment, businesses that had become rich because of her will stand at a distance, crying and mourning:
16gHow terrible, how terrible it is for the great city
that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet
and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls,
17because all this wealth has been destroyed in a single hour!h
Every shipfs captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made a living from the sea stood far away. 18When they saw the smoke rising from the fire that consumed her, they began to cry out, gWhat city was like that great city?h 19Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning:
gHow terrible, how terrible it is for the great city,
where all who had ships at sea became rich from her wealth,
because it has been destroyed in a single hour!
20Be happy about her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets,
for God has condemned her for you!h
21Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
gThe great city Babylon will be thrown down violently\
and will never be found again.
22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters
will never be heard within you again.
No artisan of any trade
will ever be found within you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard within you again.
23The light from a lamp
 will never shine within you again.
The voice of a bridegroom and bride
will never be heard within you again.
For your merchants were the important people of the world,
and all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.
24The blood of the worldfs prophets, saints,
and all who had been murdered
was found within her.h
Chapter 19
1After these things, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying,
gHallelujah!
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.
2His judgments are true and just.
He has condemned the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the world with her immorality.
He has taken revenge on her
for the blood of his servants.h
3A second time they said,
gHallelujah!
The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.h
4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, gAmen! Hallelujah!h 5A voice came from the throne, saying,
gPraise our God,
all who serve and fear him,
from the least important
to the most important.h
6Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying,
gHallelujah!
The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning.
7Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the lamb has come
and his bride has made herself ready.
8She has been given the privilege of wearing fine linen,
dazzling and pure.h
(The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.)
9Then the angel told me, gWrite this: eHow blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!fh He also told me, gThese are the true words of God.h 10I bowed down at his feet to worship him, but he told me, gDonft do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who rely on what Jesus is saying. Worship God, because what Jesus is saying is the spirit of prophecy!h
11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is named Faithful and True. He administers justice and wages war righteously. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that nobody knows except himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, follow him on white horses. 15A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod and tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and his thigh he has a name written:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, gCome! Gather for the great supper of God. 18Eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, both unimportant and important.h
19Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf. By these signs the false prophet had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21The rest were killed by the sword that belonged to the rider on the horse and that came from his mouth, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
Chapter 20
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit, with a large chain in his hand. 2He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, also known as the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. 3He threw him into the bottomless pit, locked it, and sealed it over him to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that, he must be set free for a little while.
4Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came back to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. 6How blessed and holy are those who participate in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and the Messiah, and will rule with him for a thousand years.
7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be freed from his prison. 8He will go out to deceive Gog and Magog, the nations at the four corners of the earth, and gather them for war. They are as numerous as the sands of the seashore. 9They marched over the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came from God out of heaven and burned them up, 10and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever.
11Then I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12I saw the dead, both unimportant and important, standing in front of the throne, and books were open. Another book was opened\the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their actions, as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to their actions. 14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. (This is the second death\the lake of fire.) 15Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Chapter 21
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. 2I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3I heard a loud voice from the throne say,
gSee, the tent of God is among humans!
He will make his home with them,
and they will be his people.
God himself will be with them,
and he will be their God.
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There wonft be death anymore.
There wonft be any grief, crying, or pain,
because the first things have disappeared.h
5The one sitting on the throne said, gSee, I am making all things new!h
He said, gWrite this: eThese words are trustworthy and true.fh
6Then he told me, gIt has happened! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give a drink from the spring of the water of life to the one who is thirsty. 7The person who conquers will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.h
9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came to me and said, gCome! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.h 10He carried me away in the Spirit to a large, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11The glory of God was its radiance, and its light was like a valuable gem, like jasper, as clear as crystal. 12It had a large, high wall with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the lamb were written on them.
15The angel who was talking to me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16The city was square: its length was the same as its width. He measured the city with his rod, and it was about 1,374 miles long. Its length, width, and height were the same. 17He also measured its wall. According to the human measurement that the angel was using, it was 252 feet. 18Its wall was made of jasper. The city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.
19The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of gems: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth and the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, and each gate was made of a single pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.
22I saw no temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple. 23The city doesnft need any sun or moon to give it light, because the glory of God gave it light, and the lamb was its lamp. 24The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day\because there will be no night there. 26People will bring the glory and wealth of the nations into it. 27Nothing unclean, or anyone who does anything detestable, and no one who tells lies will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the lambfs Book of Life will enter it.
Chapter 22
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb. 2Between the city street and the river, the tree of life was visible from each side. It produced twelve kinds of fruit, each month having its own fruit. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him 4and see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule forever and ever.
6He told me, gThese words are trustworthy and true. The Lord God of the spirits and of the prophets has sent his messenger to show his servants the things that must happen soon.h
7gSee! I am coming soon! How blessed is the person who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book!h
8I, John, heard and saw these things. When I had heard and seen them, I bowed down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing me these things. 9But he told me, gDonft do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words in this book. Worship God!h
10Then he told me, gDonft seal up the words of the prophecy in this book, because the time is near. 11Let the one who does what is evil continue to do what is evil. Let the filthy person continue to be filthy. Let the righteous person continue to do what is right. And let the holy person continue to be holy.h
12gSee! I am coming soon! My reward is with me to repay everyone according to his action. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
14gHow blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city! 15Outside are dogs, sorcerers, immoral people, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16gI, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendent of David, the bright morning star.h
17The Spirit and the bride say, gCome!h
Let everyone who hears this say, gCome!h
Let everyone who is thirsty come!
Let anyone who wants the water of life take it as a gift!
18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book. 19If anyone takes away any words from the book of this prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.
20The one who is testifying to these things says, gYes, I am coming soon!h
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.
Amen.

